FAQ

No. It's perfectly possible to do attachment style work without using attachment style labels. Attachment styles are generalisations that are useful up to a point but don't always apply cleanly to individuals, and can change depending on circumstances. They're often more useful to the coach than the client in informing pattern exploration. We will focus on the patterns that are actually showing up for YOU, specifically.

My primary coaching certification is in Integrated Attachment Theory, and this forms the backdrop to my coaching work. My emphasis is on understanding precisely what is driving a pattern before deciding how to address it. I draw from IAT, and attachment and learning theories more generally to identify and change the specific patterns that are causing problems, rather than working broadly across a whole style without focus.

Yes, where it is relevant. Core wounds are useful because they reveal the meaning attached to a pattern. Tackling a core wound isn't the only end point; we also aim to change the pattern it’s driving.

No. This is coaching, not psychotherapy or medical treatment. It is practical, structured, and focused on identifying and changing repeating patterns.

Attachment theory places current behaviour in the context of past experience, but it isn't necessary (and it can in fact be counter-productive) to unearth those experiences in detail in order to overcome them. Sometimes it can be helpful to look to the past to understand the origins of current behaviour, but it's not a mainstay of the process. If exploring the past is of paramount importance, traditional psychotherapy may be a better fit for you.

No. Attachment patterns often show up most obviously in relationships, but they can also affect work, confidence, authority, conflict, boundaries, and performance.

That's not uncommon. The process isn't reliant on insight though. Many people who already have insight find that the same responses continue to happen anyway.

If you have a specific issue, start with Problem Specific coaching. If the pattern feels wider or unclear, start with Style Focused coaching. Not sure? Book a free call and we'll work it out.

Nothing in life is guaranteed where human beings are involved. The techniques we will use are effective but they do require consistent engagement and a genuine willingness to change. With that, most clients can expect to see significant improvements.

I hold an Integrated Attachment Theory™ coaching certificate, issued by the Personal Development School founded by Dr Thais Gibson, which specialises in attachment theory and personal development education.

I am not a clinical psychologist or psychotherapist, and though I am a qualified medical doctor, I do not offer attachment style coaching as a form of medical treatment.

Session numbers are agreed provisionally at the outset and serve as a guide rather than a fixed commitment. In practice, the number depends on the breadth of the issue, what emerges during the sessions, and how quickly things move forward.

Style Focused programmes typically run across 12 sessions; Problem Specific programmes across four to five.

No. There is no fixed minimum number of sessions and no obligation to complete a programme in full.

If the programme isn't meeting your expectations, we can discuss your concerns directly and review or adjust the work. You are free to stop at any point if the approach doesn't feel right for you.

All sessions are conducted online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

In some ways, once a doctor always a doctor, but technically no. Legally, definitely not. I have an MD / MB.CHB qualification and maintain my registration with the General Medical Council in the UK, but I don’t practice medicine anymore and I relinquished my licence to practice medicine in 2022. I no longer offer medical advice or treatment.

GMC registration requires certain standards of conduct to be maintained. These standards are generally more stringent than those required by most professional coaching associations (or any organisation for that matter!) and continue to guide my coaching practice. 

While I may not practice medicine, I don’t ignore situations where I'm concerned that a medical problem may exist and/or be contributing to a client’s problems and I will explore symptoms if an underlying medical problem seems possible. In such cases I will discuss my concerns with a client and sign-post them to the most appropriate service to seek further advice.