Dr Gary Wood

Coaching is about setting goals for a better life and getting the support to help you achieve them, usually more quickly than if you had worked on them alone. Chartered Psychologist and author Dr Gary Wood offers a free consultation by telephone or Skype to discuss your goals and how solution-focused brief coaching will work for you.

Gary works with individuals, couples, groups and organizations. His training in coaching has a solid grounding in evidence-based psychology, learning theory and teaching practice. This expertise attracts a broad client base. This includes:

• individuals in need a confidence boost or support during a project
• couples who want to align their goals and values
• anyone who wants to take their career or business to the next level, such as managers, directors, executives or entrepreneurs
• people involved in creative arts such as artists, writers and musicians
• Students who need academic coaching or additional support such as PhD students.

If in doubt, just ask. The only thing that clients need to have in common is a wish to make positive changes in their lives. Whatever your goals, the process is the same. It's about taking stock of your skills, strengths and past successes, and learning new ways of asking questions of yourself to create compelling action plans.  If you can set a goal for it; you can be coached for it.

Gary offers coaching face-to-face (Birmingham & Edinburgh), online (Skype) and via telephone.

Get more information - get a free consultation

Call, text or email for your free consultation (by telephone or Skype). It usually lasts about 20 minutes. You'll get answers to specific questions about your needs. A general outline of the coaching investment fees is given below, including offers and discounts. However, it's always worth a chat to see what else is on offer.

There are so many coaches to choose from and a lot of things to consider in weighing up what's best for you. The cost of fees is just one factor. When you engage a coach, of course, you are paying for the coach's expertise, qualifications and the coach's time (both in the sessions and the preparation). Most importantly you are investing in the results. There are budget coaches, but no budget dreams. It's therefore important to get that match right by talking to the coach and asking the right questions.C

So ask yourself:

• 'How will this solution-focused approach get the results I want?'

• 'How will he get me the results more quickly than I would on my own?'

• What information do I need in order to answer those questions?

Hello. I'm Gary Wood. Thanks for choosing to visit my profile.

I started coaching in 1994 as part of my pastoral care to university students and began seeing private clients in 2003. Over the years I've refined my skills and approach. I have coached a wide range of people and put my skills and experience into running personal development courses (since 2005) These, in turn, formed the basis of two personal development books: Don't Wait For Your Ship to Come In. . . Swim Out to Meet It (2008) and Unlock Your Confidence (2013). Although based in Birmingham and Edinburgh, I coach people across the world over the telephone and through the internet (Skype). I'd like the opportunity of explaining in person what I do and how I can help you. If I don't think coaching is right for you or don't think I can help with your particular needs, I'll tell you. I'll also try to point you in the right direction as to what you should try next. I work with other professionals so should also be able to suggest someone who could meet your particular needs.

Here are some frequently asked questions:

'In a nutshell', what will coaching give me?
Coaching is a collaborative professional working relationship in which I help you to make the desired changes to any aspect of your life. It's about creating an action plan as well as keeping you accountable to your goals and motivated. When you engage me as your coach you get the services of dedicated learning and personal development professional to work with you to create a complete, tailor-made personal and professional development programme. Working together, I will help you to get where you want to be more quickly than if you had worked alone. Coaching offers a fast-track to your goals.

Of the main principles of the solution-focused approach is brevity. It's brief. This means that you would usually require fewer sessions than with some of the so-called 'inspirational' models of coaching. The solution-focused approach has been rigorously tested and is backed by evidence. Another main theme in my coaching approach is that it must be meaningful to you at all times. It's about building your skills and strengths and reaching your goals through practical action. It focuses on the 'how' rather than 'the why'. A course of coaching also helps to make the new changes stick!

How will coaching help me make tough or stressful life decisions?
Stress creates blinkers that hinder our ability to make complex decisions. Stress puts us into survival mode. Having someone on your side to share the burden immediately helps to put you back into a more productive frame of mind. It works on the age-old principle that two heads are better than one. My role of taking care of the process helps to reduce the cognitive burden and so frees you to up to get a clearer picture of your situation, your resources and your options. Instead of the ideas going around and around, solutions and ways forward emerge.

What's different about this approach to coaching?
My coaching training and experience have been built on a solid foundation in psychology and teaching. That was six years of training before I began my formal coaching training. My degree (Bsc[Hons]) in human psychology had a strong emphasis on applying psychology in the real world. Added to this I have two teaching qualifications (PgC and City and Guilds) so it's fair to say that I know what makes people tick and I know how people learn most effectively. My PhD was in social psychology (particularly attitudes, stereotypes and how we make sense of the world). This has been significant in shaping my unique approach to coaching. I maintain that coaching is about changing the negative attitudes you have towards yourself. It's then a matter of working together to create empowering attitudes. My books on confidence and goal setting also provide the perfect complement to working with me as your coach. However, you don't necessarily need to buy the books, although that's always welcome. Just check out the blog posts on my website. I'm also pretty active on social media (mainly Facebook and Twitter). Having me popping up in your news feed serves as a reminder to stay on track with your goals.

How long does coaching take?
Research indicates that the optimal number of sessions is between four and ten sessions. So that's the principle I work with. In my practice, the most popular duration is six to eight. These sessions are either 50 minutes or 75 minutes and each one usually generates an insight that can be translated into action. The overarching aim of coaching should be to empower you (rather than create dependency) which is why I favour the briefer and intensive approach. However, as everyone is different, we can discuss your needs during the telephone chat to find out what is right for you.

What happens in a coaching session?
It's often said that 'if there ain't goals then it ain't coaching'. Each coaching session is a focused conversation. The subject is your goals. In every session, we focus on what you consider most important to take you forward. You provide the agenda and I, as your coach, handle the process. Coaching aims to keep you focused, on track and motivated. The questions I ask and the techniques I use are transparent. Part of the process is that you also get into the habit of asking the same questions of yourself. This is something that you take away once the course of coaching has ended.

Is coaching or counselling right for me?
Coaching is different from counselling. If the issues that bring you to coaching have a strong emotional component or are causing distress then it may be better to explore these through counselling first. This is something we can discuss in the initial telephone call. If I think counselling may be the better route (at this time) I will say so. I work in conjunction with a number of counsellors and therapists so I could refer you to them. You may then wish to consider coaching at a later date or in some cases it may be possible to work in tandem with counselling to meet your needs.

What other questions should I ask before working with a life coach?
The foundations of the coaching relationship are crucial. It begins by asking the right questions both of yourself and of the coach (that includes me, although I have attempted to answer these questions in this profile):

• What qualifications does the coach have?
• Where did they study?
• How long have they studied?
• What did they do before coaching?
• What is their coaching philosophy and is it grounded in evidence?
• What do they do to maintain their own professional development?
• Can I see myself working with this coach?

Where will the coaching take place?
Coaching can be over the telephone/Skype, face-to-face or a combination. For face-to-face sessions, I can visit your workplace but do not do home visits. I use rooms in a number of locations:

• Bearwood (Thimblemill Library) - including Saturday mornings
• Birmingham City Centre (Birmingham LGBT Centre)
• Harborne, Birmingham (see above address) - limited spaces
• Newington, Edinburgh (South Side Centre - see above address) - monthly sessions
• At a location that has meaning for you (art galleries, museums etc)
• At a cafe (many clients have asked for this informal option)
• Your workplace (if in Birmingham or Edinburgh city centre - other cities by arrangement)

My counselling colleagues are based at the Harborne (Birmingham) practice and at the South Side Centre (Edinburgh).

Next step: that free, no-obligation telephone chat
It's important for you to get an idea if my approach and style would match your needs. Ideally email first to arrange a time for an initial consultation chat. It usually takes about twenty minutes. I look forward to hearing from you. If you decide to go ahead, we arrange the first session. If after consideration you decide it's not for you, all I ask is that you let me know. You don't have to give a reason. It's just so I know not to remind you.

Please Note: I am not able to offer work experience placements

• Academic coaching (including learning and study skills, examination preparation, presentation skills)
• Coaching for 'Gender Questioning'
• LGBT friendly life coaching
• Coaching to support the books 'Unlock Your Confidence' and 'Don't Wait For Your Ship to Come In. . . Swim Out to Meet It!'
• Training in attitude change and prejudice reduction
• Coaching and training for presentation skills
• Coaching for preparation for MBA applications
• Coaching for research design and data analysis - or I can be contracted to do it for you.

Please Note: Whereas I would love to hear from you about coaching, I am not able to offer work experience placements

Coaching Investment Fees

• Solution Focused Coaching tends to require fewer sessions than some of the 'inspirational' coaching models.
• As I use a pre-coaching questionnaire, the process begins before we meet, and we hit the ground running' in the first session.
• The most economical option is block-booked Skype sessions. Block bookings of four sessions or more enjoy a discount.
• Depending on how many sessions, fees per session range between £49.70 and £79 for Teams/Zoom/Skype/Telephone
• The fees for the first online or telephone session is £79.
• A full PDF of fees, discounts and terms and conditions is provided.
• Additional Flexibility Discount:  There are a limited number of spots each week (one or two) where I might have a gap during the day. If you can be flexible and fit in with these times, I can offer a further discount.
• The cost of my book back: If you have bought either of my books 'Unlock Your Confidence' or 'Don't Wait For Your Ship to Come In. . .', I deduct £15 from the fees of blocks or five sessions or more.
• Please begin email as you would with a letter (i.e. Dear Gary), to help distinguish your genuine email from spam. Say where you are based, the issues you want to address, and the goals you want to reach.
• It is possible to mix and match between face to face and telephone/Skype coaching. Please email for a personalised quotation.

• Face to face takes place mainly in Bearwood, Nr Birmingham, UK. Appointments are available at Edinburgh once a month, with Skype/Telephone sessions in between.

• Telephone coaching is available across the UK and Skype coaching worldwide.

• Coaching fees and payable in advance (BACS).
• Paypal payments incur a small fee.
• It is also possible to work out instalment plans. Again, this incurs a small administration fee.

• Solution-Focused Life Coaching in Edinburgh - intensive sessions available monthly

• Dr Gary Wood adheres to the ethical guidelines of The British Psychological Society (BPS)

• Look for Dr Gary Wood's Page on Facebook (/drgarywoodpage)

• Follow on Twitter @drgarywood

• Find self-help videos on YouTube (drgarywood)

PLEASE NOTE: Whereas I would love to hear from you about coaching, I am not able to offer work experience placements, 'shadowing opportunities' or help with student projects.