About 

Coaching, to me, is all about building rapport and trust— so let me share a bit about my journey. As an individual raised in a society that consistently undervalued talent and hard work, I have personally undertaken the journey of reshaping one's narrative. In 2002, at the age of 20, I took a significant leap by moving to a new country and embarking on a career dedicated to supporting women survivors of sexual violence.

It was during this transformative period that my first-hand experience with coaching unfolded. In my role, I championed women's incredible resilience as they sought to reclaim control over their lives. This involved supporting them in various aspects of their lives from enhancing their well-being to retraining, gaining employment, and acquiring the confidence and practical skills needed to move forward. 

Fuelling my passion for understanding the human mind, I then embarked on a decade-long (and still ongoing!) journey with psychology. I gained insights into the unique perspectives psychology can provide, fostering self- and other-awareness while transforming thought patterns and behaviours for personal and professional growth.

I've had the honour of guiding a diverse array of individuals—clients, students, and colleagues—through their own battles with self-doubt, burnout, and the pursuit of perfection. 

Through my academic understanding and life experience, I've become a fierce advocate for the transformative power of psychologically-informed coaching. Drawing from my own journey and research, I know it has the ability to empower individuals to recognise their worth, boost self-awareness, build confidence, and take tangible steps toward their goals. 

And when I'm not coaching, researching or teaching, you can find me knee-deep in dirt, happily tending to my garden. Because sometimes, the best solutions to life's problems can be found in the simple joys of  weeding the bad grass, and planting seeds to watch them grow. 

For more information, here's also my LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-canessa-pollard/