Frequently Asked Questions

Mentoring is a collaborative relationship built around you, your circumstances and what you want to achieve.​It gives you space to reflect, explore different perspectives, challenge your thinking and, where relevant, draw on my experience and knowledge.​The aim is to help you understand things more clearly, make your own decisions and move forward with greater independence.

Coaching primarily supports you in exploring your own thinking through questions, reflection and discovery.​Mentoring can include these approaches while also drawing on the mentor's relevant experience, knowledge and perspectives.​I use both approaches, depending on what would be most valuable to you at a particular moment. Sometimes a question is more useful than an answer. At other times, sharing an experience can open up a new way of looking at something.

Advisory work generally focuses on providing expertise, recommendations or guidance in a particular area. Mentoring focuses on your development and your ability to navigate situations independently. I may offer practical advice or share my perspective when appropriate. However, the purpose is not simply to solve an immediate problem. It is also to strengthen your ability to understand situations, evaluate possibilities and make decisions for yourself.

No. My role is not to make decisions on your behalf. I may ask questions, challenge assumptions, suggest alternatives or share relevant experiences. You are free to consider, question or disagree with anything I contribute. The decisions remain yours.

Yes. Sharing relevant experience is an important part of mentoring. I may describe how I approached a similar situation, explain something I learned or introduce a perspective you have not considered. However, what worked for me may not necessarily work for you. We explore what is relevant to your particular circumstances rather than assuming that someone else's experience provides the right answer.

No. Mentoring is a professional development relationship, not psychotherapy, psychological counselling or mental health treatment. We may discuss personal experiences, difficult decisions, relationships or periods of change when they are relevant to your development. However, mentoring does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. If your needs fall outside the scope of mentoring, I will discuss this with you and, where appropriate, suggest seeking support from a suitably qualified professional.