Autumn with Beatha Coaching

Well, it’s been a while. Summer feels like it’s already fast receding in the rear-view mirror with cool winds and rain arriving here in Scotland and the leaves starting to change colour. It has been a long hot couple of months though, I hope you survived it and found ways to stay cool. My summer was largely taken up with the Summer Coaching Programme, which comes to an end this week. I can hardly believe that the whole ten weeks is wrapping up with our final group coaching call on Friday. Together we have shared writing time, worked through ten weeks worth of prompts on the theme of ‘Writing in Hard Times’, and met to connect and discuss our experiences. Participants will be sharing some of their words from the programme with one another this week, and I am lucky enough to be getting to read some really outstanding research in topics I wouldn’t otherwise have known existed – parasitic wasps, late medieval Ukrainian queens, trauma informed criminology, and the collective aftermaths of genocide in Rwanda. I am awed by the incredible work being done inside and out of the academy and feel so fortunate that my position as coach allows me to support these projects in a small way.

Some changes to my practice…

I am now taking clients again for the Autumn, and I have a few changes to update you on. Firstly, given the context in Academia at the moment I am offering short-term intensive packages of coaching for those facing a crisis at work – that might be redundancy talks, it would also suit meeting writing deadlines, burnout recovery (or prevention), returning from mat leave, or dealing with a tricky workplace relationship. The packages are outlined here and I’m offering two options to suit different budgets.

Hourly coaching on an ongoing basis is, of course, still available. I am no longer offering 90 minute sessions, however, except for members of Beatha Coaching Community or for clients with institutional support (if you are an existing client with a contract for 90 minute sessions don’t worry, I will continue to work with you as agreed). I strongly encourage clients to explore whether financial support is available for coaching from your institution, or via an Access to Work grant. If you want to apply for funding and need to discuss coaching provision with me for the application please get in touch.

My days of work for 1-2-1 clients this autumn will be: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning. I will not be offering slots on Thursdays.

Refresh Your Writing!

30th October – 1st November

Refresh Your Writing, my three day virtual retreat with guided workshops, co-writing and coaching, is back in October for an Autumn-themed mid-semester pick-me-up. All the workshop content will be new, so even if you have joined us before you are welcome to join us again. Over the three days we will explore our writing identity, our automatic thoughts, the role of our inner perfectionist and inner critic, how to practice playful creativity, and how to build the confidence to share our words with others. The workshops will combine creative coaching tools with prompts and passages designed to help you feel less constrained in your writing, and to reconnect with your authentic voice. You’ll also receive journaling prompts and guided movement practices by email in the morning. There will be space to co-write on your current project, and group coaching for sharing and discussion. The 3 day retreat is followed by a week of further prompts sent to you by email.

I offer a maximum of 10 places on the retreat, on a first-come first-served basis. To register, head over here and pay the deposit (£60) which secures your place. The remaining cost of the retreat (£60) is due on the 30th October. I’m really looking forward to writing with you!

Flourishing as an ECR

A project very close to my heart is taking off this Autumn with the first iteration of my new support programme specifically for ECRs. I sat down a while ago and thought about the things I wish I had known or been given support with when I started working in academia post-PhD, as well as the main themes that have come up with ECR clients over the past three years. I whittled those thoughts down into ten topics, and designed ‘Flourshing as an ECR’ – and you are the first people to hear about it!

Designed specifically for post-PhD academics in early career roles (teaching, postdoc, or RA) this ten week programme covers:

• Navigating departmental culture and professional relationships as an ECR
• Caring for your mental and physical health
• Establishing emotional self-care and boundaries
• Tools for practical challenges like marking loads
• Balancing authenticity and precarity
• Maintaining connection to your writing and research

It is practical, realistic, based on experience, and focused on addressing the real challenges faced by ECRs in the current HE landscape.

The programme has two components:

The Course – ten weeks of journaling prompts and resources via email PLUS four drop-in coaching hours starting 29th September

The Coaching – three 1-2-1 coaching sessions over the semester following on from the course to help you stay connected and supported.

I am incredibly passionate about this project, when I say this is why I started Beatha Coaching I really mean it. I am excited to launch it here and I would love for your help to get it out there to the junior academics who need it.

What you can do…

Please SHARE this newsletter with anyone you know who might value the support of the programme. If you are in a departmental role, please consider sending the details of the programme to new hires or putting it in your departmental/school newsletter. If you have socials, please put it out there with a direct link and my email address.

The cost…

This year I am offering the whole programme for £399, paid in installments. Participants will agree an installment plan with me when we contract for the programme so that I can offer an arrangement that works for different financial means (I’ve been there, I know the challenges). To book, pop over here and put your contact details into the form and I’ll be in touch.

And finally…

Of course, all the usual Beatha Coaching activity is also continuing this autumn. In the community we have a workshop on Boundaries coming up on Wednesday 17th, as well as the Slow Writers Club this Thursday and weekly co-writing. I’m also adding weekly to Mind-Body-Movement, my yoga and somatic therapy platform, with classes varying in length from 10 to 50 minutes so that you can always find a movement class that fits into your schedule. I am looking forward to getting back to supporting PhDs and academics directly at the University of Stirling too, through the innovative work of the Institute of Advanced Studies who I love to collaborate with.

Look out for another newsletter later this month, and do keep in touch. Drop me a message using the form below or by leaving a comment and let me know how your summer has been.

Francesca x