From veterinary surgeon to confidence coach

As a vet, I returned to my profession after a break of 12 years during which I was mostly a stay-at-home parent. Going back into clinical work was both the most rewarding and the most terrifying thing. There was no roadmap, and very little advice to help me figure out something so momentous, and I struggled to connect with others who had similar experiences in my field. One day, after I had settled back in and I was performing surgery (a moment I never thought would happen again), I realised I felt a deep sense of fulfilment. That experience planted the seed for the work I do now. I realised that so many thoughtful, capable women reach a point where life no longer fits the version of success they've been working so hard to maintain. Sometimes that shows up as returning to work, changing career or feeling stuck professionally, but often it's about something much bigger than work. Coaching gives people the space to step back, work out what truly matters to them, and build a life that feels sustainable as well as successful. I know it's possible to create a life and career that genuinely fit who you are, and I love helping people find their own version of that.

Stepping out of my comfort zone

I chose the Life Coaching (Personal Performance) Diploma, and fairly soon after I qualified, I continued on to do the DISC personality profile training. I find DISC really useful not only in my coaching but also in my day job. Working as a veterinary surgeon 2 days a week means that I speak to numerous clients on a daily basis and it gives me frequent opportunities to read people and build trusting relationships.

I enjoyed my coaching training, and I was pushed out of my comfort zone. I would encourage anyone who is interested to fully engage with the training - coach training has so many benefits within all areas of life, even if you don't plan to set up your own coaching business. All interpersonal relationships will benefit, and it provides you with tools to navigate life, set goals and look at what is really important to you. A helpful thing was to be part of an accountability group with other coaching students to practice coaching and share ideas. 

Helping women find their spark again

I now divide my time between working part-time as a veterinary surgeon and running Sarah Garven Coaching. I work with thoughtful, capable professional women who often feel as though they're holding everything together for everyone else while quietly losing sight of themselves. Sometimes they're questioning their career, sometimes they're navigating a life transition, and sometimes they simply know something needs to change but can't yet put their finger on what. I love helping clients untangle the mental load, reconnect with what matters most, and create lives that feel calmer, more intentional and genuinely fulfilling. I love seeing my clients regain their spark and enthusiasm. I use DISC with all my clients and have also run some small group DISC sessions for veterinary companies, which I loved.

One of the things I love most about coaching is that the biggest transformations are often not the ones clients expect. I have supported clients to juggle full-time work with studying, and several have received qualifications while working with me, but often I find that it is the 'outside work' things that can make the biggest impact on their life satisfaction. One client enjoyed her profession and current role, but was feeling stagnant. Planning, logistics and mindset work helped to a point, but it was when she realised, through coaching, that she was craving more fun in life that everything started to shift. As an outgoing person, the constraints of covid had reduced much needed social gatherings and left her feeling flat. Once this had landed for her, sharing her revelations with her family and scheduling in more out of work fun activities really helped with feeling more rounded. This provided both the social and fun elements she really needed, but also allowed her to close the laptop on time, and prioritise her after work commitments. This prevented work from seeping into every available hour of the day, and she reported a significant positive impact.

With one client we worked on her confidence around public speaking. She was very successful in her profession and had been asked to speak at various conferences, but fear held her back, and limited how much further she could go, as she always turned them down. We worked on her mindset and approach, which led to her speaking at several national conferences. She now regularly receives speaking requests, and accepts them.

The quiet voice asking "is this really it?"

My clients are thoughtful, high-achieving women who are experts at keeping everything running. They can be so used to putting everyone else's needs first that they have stopped checking in with their own. They often look successful from the outside, but inside a quiet voice might be asking "is this really it?" Coaching gives them the space to pause, gain perspective and consider what they need now, not only what everyone else needs from them. Coaching provides some much-needed time to consider their own needs and priorities. My clients want to pause, to gain some balance and perspective so they can live in integrity with who they truly are now.

Writing my next chapter

I'll always continue working 1:1 because I love the depth of conversations and the privilege of walking alongside people as they make meaningful changes in their lives. In addition to coaching, I'm developing digital resources and writing projects that allow me to support more women in a way that fits around busy lives. Writing has become an important part of my work, and I'm excited to keep creating thoughtful, practical resources that help people reflect, reconnect with themselves and move forward with confidence. Looking back, training with The Coaching Academy changed far more than my career. It gave me a new way of understanding people, of asking better questions, and of helping others create lives that genuinely fit who they are. I'm excited to keep building on that in the years ahead.

Thank you Sarah for sharing your inspiring coaching journey with us.