WILDING MINDS
HOPE MAYHEW
Integrative Coach | Facilitator | Mental Health Practitioner
MSc MAPPC | EMCC Accredited Coach at Practitioner Level
ABOUT
Hi, I'm Hope!
I'm a big fan of exploring all things life, health and wellbeing - and as a coach and practitioner, my focus is on finding unique ways to understand and embrace our authentic (and often puzzling!) experience of being human.
For me, my own experience of navigating the complexity of life has mostly revolved around my fluctuating state of health over the last 10+ years, and my ever-evolving relationship to it. Turns out, when the rules of what your body can and can't do feel like they are constantly changing, you can get quite creative with the 'rules', 'belief systems' or ‘map’ in which you live by.
Of course, there are many things in our lives that ask us to review and redraw our life maps... because although old maps might have a nice aesthetic (and of course can lead to the odd pile of treasure) they are not always the most trustworthy guides. My approach as a coach and practitioner, aims to offer an exploration of our maps - allowing the chance to play with perspectives, uncover new destinations, and find different ways of getting there. I feel that these explorations can allow us to better trust our own guidance - in a way that means we can travel through life with more freedom, flexibility and confidence.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND & TRAINING
Overview
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MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology
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Accredited with EMCC Global at Practitioner Level
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Professional experience supporting individuals with various long-term health conditions
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Currently working as a coach and freelance practitioner in Bristol & Bath, as well as online
More of the story
As a practitioner, I have been facilitating workshops, and mentoring individuals and groups since 2018. I began practising as a coach in 2020, whilst receiving training as part of my Msc studies in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology at the University of East London. I have since gained my individual coaching accreditation (EIA) with EMCC Global at Practitioner Level, and am currently working towards my Senior Practitioner accreditation.
Over the past few years, I have also worked in a various roles branching between charity and health care sectors - supporting a variety of individuals with different health conditions - such as vascular dementia, visual impairment, and more recently Long COVID. Over 2022-23 I worked to deliver a year long pilot programme for The Peer Partnership, offering group peer support for individuals living with Long COVID in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire alongside a wonderful team of peer volunteers.
Enter Spring 2023, and I began working as a freelance practitioner - offering coaching, facilitation and group workshops, reflective practice, and training for organisations and individuals. This is where I began working, and continue to work, with a local charity to help deliver their green social prescribing programme, running accessible nature-based mental health and wellbeing sessions in Bristol and Bath. This work has been hugely profound for me, as it has for many of those individuals coming to the group. Through being in the park together each week, we have all learned (or been reminded) just how important experiences of connection with one another and our ecological neighbours (aka 'nature' - the trees, fresh air, birds, bees...) are for our human health, and for the health of the planet.
Much of my learning has come from those I have worked with, however my studies in Psychology, Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology all continue to inform my approach as a coach and practitioner.
Previous research interests
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Nature connection and experiences of post-traumatic growth.
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Healthy inter-personal relationships as a source of meaning
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Psychological wellbeing of individuals with chronic illnesses (particularly, CFS/ME, Long COVID and other post-viral conditions).
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Using humour, creativity and play to support wellbeing