My Journey into Coaching
In brief I came across Dandelion Training and Development in 2023 when the Level 4 Qualification popped up on my Facebook, to be held in Crawley and running on the days I could attend! It was calling me, and as I believe things happen for a reason I went for it. Never once was I thinking I wanted to be a Coach, but embarked on the course for personal development and to learn some strategies to help my family. After 10 months of studying and completing 60 hours practice, I am proud to be a qualified Child & Adolescent Mental Health Coach (April 2024) registered with the ACCPH and am part of the Dandelion Army, passionate and ready to help children and young people work through their struggles when in need. (Perfecting my website is my next challenge!) For your reassurance; the course is fully accredited and I meet all legal requirements such as having an enhanced DBS, being registered on the DBS update service and with the ICO. I also hold valid Insurance and other little extras on my CPD page.
About Me, Donna the Coach
I am 52 years old and live in Crawley. I’ve been a Registered Childminder for more than 20 years and have 6 children of my own, now aged between 9 and 30 years old. I have a wealth of personal knowledge and experiences that have empowered me to invest my time and energy into learning new ways to support others, in a safe and professional way. My knowledge & experiences include issues such as:
- Child loss,
- Addiction,
- Self-harm,
- ASC
Why the name Understanding Differences?
I was all set up to call my new Coaching business Reams of Special Stuff, the acronym of Ross my precious little boy, and current Childcare business, feeling it fitted as it’s all about working with children. I also considered how helping others to feel better also fits with my other business, ‘Precious Holistic & Beauty’ but after spending hours designing logos I had the lightbulb moment and decided that as one door closes and another opens and tying in with my belief of things happening for a reason, I should continue with the name Understanding Differences, as ultimately we are all ‘Different’ and unique individuals and sometimes in life we are in need to ‘Understand’ some of those differences on a deeper level to reach our full potential. Understanding others is also a big investment in our friendships, relationships and connections too. Understanding Differences was originally born as a result of my son being diagnosed at an early scan with HLHS; half a heart, when in 2003 I set up a self help group called Understanding Differences. to raise awareness & support families left isolated after a diagnosis or loss. The Congenital Heart Disease changed our lives forever and took our family on a journey that is unimaginable when, at the age of 3, Ross died after his 3rd surgery…in 2005… Due to other ventures, understandingdifferences.org.uk was dormant from around 2011 until March 2024 when I was finally able to make the obvious, but tough decision to close it officially..- I hate endings! In Coaching we are offering a safe and confidential space to explore feelings and emotions, mental health and wellbeing but typically triggers and root causes may be around a diagnosis or a type of loss. Also, Coaching with me will be a safe space to UNDERSTAND your challenges and needs to find the DIFFERENT options that will work for us to make positive change. I hope you agree the name Understanding Differences – Coaching with Donna is apt on more than one level but please note this in now a business with a new domain name (.co.uk) and no longer a community group (.org.uk).
Please contact me for more information or look at my page that explains ‘what Coaching is and how it can help’