October 14th - December 2nd

A Toolkit for the Mind and the Heart

A Mindful Sefl-Compassion course that provides the resources to help you be the best possible version of yourself by embracing the heart and the mind.
Running Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9.30pm

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Eight Weeks to your Best Self

The Mindful Self-compassion course (MSC) was devised by and based on the groundbreaking work of Kristin Neff and Chris Germer. I’ve taught it eighteen times, I love teaching it and I love seeing how participants really benefit from taking part. They’ve given a 92% satisfaction rating, 98% satisfaction for my teaching and 95% recommend the course as worth joining.

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Hear from previous participants

  • “From the first introduction chat I had with John on zoom I had a very sure sense that I was in the right place at the right time for this journey. John's experience and warm, calm manner was evident immediately and the additional support offered during the eight weeks was way beyond and above anything I could have expected or hoped for. I am very grateful both to John and to the course.”

  • “This course was even better than I thought it would be and at an excellent price point. John is so caring and makes time to really listen to you. He guides the course beautifully and I particularly enjoy the meditations and poems John includes in every session. The MSC retreat at the end of the course was great as it gives you time to reflect on what you've learnt on the course and just be”.

  • “John was a fantastic teacher offering not just the well thought out and delivered lessons but also that extra help individually when things were more difficult”

  • “I took the course again because I was struggling during a very difficult period of my life. It gave me the tools to deal with difficult emotions and gave me some valuable peace and a safe space to explore and process everything that's been happening."

  • “Profound changes and my attitude to life... I have felt a significant 'shift' in my emotions, feeling, and wellbeing... I'm dealing with difficult emotions with ease and grace... an invaluable life-changing experience"... thanks for everything John, you are a rather wonderful man”

  • “I think everyone should choose to take this course. The re-framing from Self Critic to Self Compassion is life-changing”

  • “I found this course amazing. It came at the right time for me as I had started to think that there was something more than how I was living

How will MSC help you?

We all experience emotions, which can appear to be negative and overwhelming. Mindful Self Compassion doesn't try to fix this, instead it offers tools to acknowledge the negative and with self-compassion cultivate the gold.

This will help you handle stress and difficult emotions, increase kindness and acceptance of yourself and others, and build well-being.

Family sitting at table with laptop and papers, smiling and engaged in conversation.

Eight weeks of personal growth and empowering practices

The eight week programme combines mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness, develops awareness of emotions and experiences, and offers practices for self-compassion, compassion for others, and better relationships.

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What you’ll learn

  • Robert

    We found John after searching for a suitable celebrant for my mother’s funeral. A major factor was his former work as a minister and school chaplain with very substantial experience, coupled with flexibility and adaptability in serving others in the conduct of funerals.

    In our first approach and early discussions with John, in all planning and preparations with him, in the conduct of the funeral itself and afterwards as the event dominated our lives, John was compassionate, caring and considerate. He made many helpful suggestions but did not push them as he knew that they would be adopted if desired. He undertook his role with humility and thoughtfulness, giving us a well chosen poem but not seeking to speak more than was needful, as our eulogies were sufficient. John was empathetic to all of our diverse views on faith – mine Christian but others not – and his words were restful comfort for each of us. I am glad that John agreed to be our celebrant, and cannot imagine we could have identified a better person to approach to undertake this task.

    May 2024

  • Suzy and family

    John was the celebrant at my dear dad’s funeral and we really couldn’t have asked for more. As soon as we met John his calm reassurance immediately made us feel at ease and we knew we were in safe hands. John totally managed to capture my dad’s adventurous spirit and fun personality in the service and I know that dad would have loved it. From the impromptu sing-song at the beginning to the beautifully spoken tributes he read out on behalf of some family members, he added just the right amount of humour to help make it the celebration of dad’s life that we had hoped for. From the many comments that we received from friends and family afterwards, we also know that it was one of the best funerals people had been to! I cannot recommend John highly enough and we will definitely contact him again when we have our next big family event, which will hopefully be a Wedding 🥰

    March 2024

  • Felicity and family

    At the time of my son’s passing we reached out to John, to ask him if he would conduct the service. He had many words of comfort and the service he gave was very warm and compassionate. My husband recently passed away and we once again reached out to John. The family found his service to be as warm and compassionate.

    October 2023

  • Ian

    John was the celebrant for the funeral of a very close friend (over 30 years). My friend passed at a relatively young age, subsequently there were a lot of people at the funeral. I had a meeting with John beforehand and told him about my friend’s life, and his quirky nature. John obviously really listened, as he captured him beautifully and gave a lovely service. Very calming and reassuring. We invited him to the wake where and spoke with friends and family. Would thoroughly recommend him.

    September 2023

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What is coaching?

Coaching offers a space for sense-making of your experiences in life.

It helps you to gain clarity and a deeper understanding of the world around and within you.

Start working with me, today

It all starts with a Free 20-minute call to clarify what you need, and how we’ll move forward together.

No obligation, just conversation.

Frequently Asked Quetions

Still unsure if coaching is the right fit for you? Below are answers to some of your most common questions.

  • No. Coaching and self-compassion training focus on skills for everyday life. If therapy seems a better fit, I’ll say so and point you to options.

  • es. Sessions are via Zoom or in Essex; ceremonies across Essex (and nearby by arrangement).

  • Yes - the first 20-minute call is free and without obligation.

  • Yes. Mindful Self-Compassion is an established, research-supported programme. You can find more info on the Mindful Self-Compassion Course page here.