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Jo Howarth - There is a better tomorrow out there with your name on it

The Coaching Academy Blog

Posted: November 2020

This week's Coach in the Spotlight is Jo Howarth, a SEN mother who found hope and a new path within coaching. She gave up her job to care for her son after being diagnosed with autism 5 years ago and today Jo helps other SEN parents navigate these challenging waters as a professional coach.

"I wondered if coaching would help so I eagerly signed up. Actually, life was never the same again but not in the way I thought."

I randomly stumbled across the Introduction to Coaching run by the Coaching Academy back in October 2016 and immediately felt drawn to it. Just 12 months previously, I had to leave my job to stay at home and care for my eldest child whose high school placement had failed.

He had received a late diagnosis of autism and I was desperately trying to navigate the rocky path which nearly every parent/carer of children with additional needs will know all too well. We felt alone and isolated - we were struggling and I didn’t know what else I could do to help him. 

I wondered if coaching would help so I eagerly signed up. Actually, life was never the same again but not in the way I thought.

When learning to be coach, I discovered that it’s almost impossible to coach anybody I know really well; there can be a conflict of interest and it’s difficult to remain impartial however I discovered my own self-development journey and how I could navigate that old rocky path far better with the new skills I developed.

"For any SEN parents who might be struggling today, please believe in yourself and know that you are doing a far better job than you probably know. There is definitely a better tomorrow out there with your name all over it."

 I actually had hope for the first time in a long time and that was a lovely place to be. 

It’s difficult to secure any help for children with additional needs and what help is available has to be fought for tooth and nail (but then you already know this right!). I found very little help out there for parents and I soon realised that what the Coaching Academy had taught me coupled with my own experience could really give hope back to other struggling parents and carers out there. 

The coaching I offer gives parents and carers a safe space to explore their reality and develop their plans and dreams. Coaching is future based so (whilst we doff our cap to the past) we set achievable goals to put you back on the path one step at a time - as a person and not just a parent.

My son is an adult now and he is making his way in the world – we have a happy ending which I never believed I would see. 

For any SEN parents who might be struggling today, please believe in yourself and know that you are doing a far better job than you probably know. There is definitely a better tomorrow out there with your name all over it.

Look me up on Facebook, Vivid Coaching, and let’s have a chat. 

Empower others with Life Coaching

Take your first step towards a rewarding & fulfilling Coaching career, just like Jo did, with our Introduction to Life Coaching online training. 

If you would like to know more about what Coaching is and how it can benefit you and the lives of others, or if you feel that Coaching could be a potential full or part-time opportunity for you, join us in this live training. Choose from available dates here.

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