Coaching Sanctus Style

I’m now into my eighth month of coaching for Sanctus, so thought I’d share some of my thoughts on what it means to be a part of the team.

I was drawn to Sanctus from the get-go.
There was something about the no-nonsense message and the clarity of the offering for both client and coach which was deeply appealing. If you’ve ever tried to find your own coach or therapist, you’ll know what a minefield it can be. At the very least, it involves some trawling of the internet, asking for recommendations and trying out different methods and coaches. It’s time-consuming and is often the last thing you want to do when you feel ‘stuck’ or at a transition point which would benefit from the support of a coach.
Sanctus is different. There are no sample sessions, negotiating fees and packages, or choosing a coach with the right fit. Sanctus is about making coaching accessible for everyone and anyone in an organisation. The coach is right there, in the workplace, holding the space for whatever is important and meaningful for whoever has a session.

So what does this mean as a coach? I was unsure of how this would play out initially — would people really trust me enough to fully engage in the process in such a short space of time? Would they be able to be present for coaching while in the same building as their boss or team? The biggest surprise and deep privilege of working for Sanctus is witnessing how fully people bring themselves to the sessions.

While certain themes emerge repeatedly, the real treat is that every session is unique and an opportunity to dive into the messiness of our shared human experience. I’m always blown away by the honesty and connection in sessions, and take home a real sense that this is important stuff. Workplaces are full of people unable to be themselves. People moulding themselves to company cultures and expectations. By creating a safe space — a sanctuary — right in the heart of the workplace we are able to unpick the issues which are causing pain right where it counts. There is often a deep sigh of relief and a dropping of shoulders as people realise they are being seen for who they are not what they do. An organisation who has committed to providing Sanctus coaching for its employees has decided to prioritise the mental wellbeing of its workforce. This in itself is a powerful act. There is something about engaging in coaching whilst in the actual workplace, in the middle of a working day which feels like a statement of intent. It is a clear commitment to oneself, to paying attention and taking charge of the boundaries of time within an often very full day. It doesn’t always work like this — sessions get cancelled, meetings run over — but there are always people keen to jump in and take a session. When a management structure recognises and invests in the benefit of coaching in the workplace, it gives a permission to employees to do the same. To take responsibility for themselves, to make time to explore what’s important to them and take steps to shape their experience in the way they want to.

It can be hard to process everything that comes up in a single day of Sanctus coaching, and these are the days when being part of a team comes into its own. Sanctus coaches bring a wealth of experience and approaches and include life coaches and Gestalt therapists, yoga teachers and leadership coaches. The WhatsApp thread is buzzing with fantastic ideas, resources and support. It feels like a great melting pot of ideas and enables us to continue growing and learning while supporting others in maintaining their own mental health and well-being.

So what’s next?
I’m committed to spreading the word that prioritising mental health is a necessity, not a luxury. I hope that soon everyone will have access to a workplace coach and that the ripple effect of clients being able to recognise and honour their values in the workplace will spread far beyond the walls of the Sanctus space.

Thank you,