Changing tack: how one woman’s life change can help you

Danielle Barbereau changed her career mid-life and is now a qualified life coach who runs her own company, Solace Space. She can now help with advice on dealing with all aspects of change in all our lives such as empty nest syndrome, the menopause, redundancy and divorce.

We asked Danielle what made her change her career and why she loves life coaching..

What made you decide to change career from a director of Sheffield University to a life coach?

When I turned 50, I reassessed my life. I realised that I wanted to do something worthwhile. I no longer felt that I was achieving this in my managerial role. I had the feeling that, i) I still had a lot to contribute; ii) I wanted to do something which would bring various strands of my life together; iii) I no longer wanted to work for a large organisation for the remainder of my career; iv) I wanted to help people in a positive way; and v) it was time to start my own business.

The aspect of my work that I had liked best, was to empower staff to achieve their full potential, and to give them confidence in themselves. I realised that this was the work of a life coach. Handled properly, coaching can be truly life enhancing.

Did you need any extra training, if so, where did you take a life coaching course?

Yes, I retrained as a life coach, and took the Advanced Diploma in Life Coaching, with a distance learning organisation. I really enjoyed the training. It was very stimulating and challenging. Interestingly, a great deal of what I learned confirms and reaffirms what I have done as a mother, a manager, a teacher and a trainer, albeit in a different context. The theoretical aspect is also essential.

Why did you decide to set up Solace Space?

I wanted to work for myself and make a difference. I knew by experience that change, albeit uncomfortable and frightening, can be a powerful force which makes us reassess our lives, very often for the better. I wanted to use that knowledge somehow. My first idea was to help managers being made redundant, because I had firsthand experience of what that meant. It took me a while however, to realise that the area I was particularly interested in was to help women approaching or going through “the change”. I realised that there was a gap in the market, because the menopause is rarely spoken about and is even slightly taboo. I speak to many women who feel that they would benefit from being able to talk openly about the effects of the menopause and to find out how to deal with the changes, both physically and emotionally.

How did you find setting up a business from home after working in an office?

The main difference is obviously not receiving a regular income every month. This is a difficult transition, which sometimes makes me anxious; however, this is the only drawback for me. I address it by attending networking events, and by speaking to my supportive partner and friends. This helps me remain positive at all times. I had feared isolation, but this has not happened at all. On the contrary, I meet a great number of new people, and am really astonished at the support I get when I say that I am starting a new venture. I like not being in an office, and being able to shape my day. I also enjoy wearing less formal clothes for work. I feel I can truly be myself. I relish the feeling that what I do, and how successful I am, is entirely up to me. The experience is overwhelmingly positive for me.

What are the changes/expectations you had to change and how?

I think that initially I was trying to do too many things at once. I have now narrowed my provision to one premium product: the menopause workshops. This is my niche, and I am confident about it. In addition, I run pre-retirement and redundancy workshops, which like the menopause, are based on using change as a positive force. I feel that I can make a real impact in all these fields.

How could our members and visitors benefit from life coaching?

In my view, it is a good idea for women aged 35-65 to consider life coaching. During this period of their lives, women are likely to go through major changes, such as motherhood (or childlessness), divorce, menopause, redundancy or retirement. The aim of coaching is to empower people and enable them to make informed choices. To quote a widely accepted definition, “coaching is a collaborative, solution focused, results oriented, and systematic process, in which the coach facilitates the enhancement of performance, life experience and personal growth of individuals and organisations”.

How can people turn a life-changing event such as the menopause or redundancy, children leaving home and so on into a positive experience?

As mentioned above, change is the perfect time to reassess all aspects of our lives. It enables us to make conscious choices about where we are going, how we wish to be and what we need to do in order to successfully start a new phase in our lives. This is exciting, not scary (although our upbringing often makes us think that it is the latter). When we do what we know, then we stay in our comfort zone and we are ticking along, even if we don’t particularly like where we are; we don’t take risks. Change makes us look at things from a different perspective, and that can be a very liberating experience.

Can you give us an example of someone you have helped turn their lives around?

As a coach I have to adhere to a code of ethics (just like a counsellor or a therapist), which includes a strict confidentiality clause. The code enables me to establish a relationship of trust with my clients, so I could only talk generally about cases.

Is it enough to attend one of your one-day events on something like the menopause, or would you recommend further coaching?

This very much depends on the individual’s needs. For some clients, it is enough to attend a workshop for one day, and to meet up with people who are going through the same experience. I do offer a three-day workshop which goes deeper in the process, and addresses further issues such as nurturing. It includes: image (hair, clothes, and make up), skincare, complementary therapies, life coaching, relaxation, relationships, and careers. I am also looking at running support groups for people who have attended a workshop and who would like support whether it be on a 1 to 1 basis, or in a group.

What is next for you and your business?

I want to develop the menopause workshops wherever there is a need in the country, because of the very positive responses I get from all the women I speak to. Ideally I would like to offer retreats, for women to have the opportunity and the space to take real time out. I also wish to offer workshops for women of all ages who are going through a premature menopause due to surgery.

Tags: Inspirational Women, Women in business