Ten weeks of private, 1:1 coaching to step back from what's going on, understand what's really influencing your decisions, and work out what you actually want.

A picture of your coach. A lady with blonde hair smiling

No pitch. No pressure. Just a conversation about where you are, what's on your mind, and whether working together feels right for you.

Life Coaching with Gillian McCarthy

You know something needs to change

You just haven't worked out what yet

But the answer isn't always found by trying to solve that question directly. Sometimes there are assumptions you've never stopped to examine. Expectations that have quietly shaped your decisions. Patterns you've become used to. Things you're avoiding. Or different parts of your life pulling you in different directions. That's what we explore. I ask questions that make you think beyond your first answer, challenge what you assume to be true and notice connections you may not have seen before. The original problem stays in view. We simply don't take it at face value.

Should I leave my job?

What should I do with my business?

Do I stay in this relationship?

What do I actually want?

Your life might look fine from the outside

You might have a good career, a successful business, a relationship, a family and a life that, on paper, looks pretty good, but something isn't sitting right. Perhaps you're going round in circles over a decision. You know your career isn't quite right anymore, but you can't work out what you'd rather do. Your business is taking more from you than you'd like, but you don't know what needs to change. You're questioning a relationship. You're wondering what comes next now that life has changed. Or perhaps there's no obvious problem at all. You simply have a sense that you want something different, but you haven't been able to put your finger on what.

Because understanding what's really going on can change the decision you're trying to make

You don't need to arrive knowing what you need help with

Sometimes you just need enough space, distance and the right questions to see what's really going on.

The problem you bring isn't always the problem we need to solve

Most people naturally start with the question sitting in front of them.

What this can look like in real life

You don't even know what you need help with

Another client came without a specific problem to solve. She simply felt that something about her life had changed. She didn't feel quite like herself and assumed that some of what she was experiencing was simply part of getting older.

As we explored different areas of her life, she began to recognise things she hadn't fully understood before, including how much money, identity and energy were influencing the choices she was making.

None of these were things she'd arrived intending to work on, but understanding them changed how she saw herself, her choices and what was realistically possible for her.

You know you need to make a decision, but you can't make it

One client came to me going round in circles about her three businesses. Should she keep all three? Combine them? Drop one? Focus on one? So, we kept that question in view, but looked beyond the decision itself.

As the coaching progressed, she began to understand what mattered most to her, how she wanted to spend her time and what she actually wanted her working life to look like.

The answer became much clearer.

We're working out where you want to go.

Sometimes the most important insight isn't the one you came looking for

Coaching doesn't always produce one dramatic moment where everything suddenly becomes obvious. Sometimes it's a gradual shift in the way you see yourself, your choices and the situation you're in. You may realise that someone else's expectations have been shaping your decisions more than you thought. You may finally recognise that your career no longer fits and, for the first time, have an idea of what could fit. You may see that stepping back from one part of your life doesn't mean losing your place in it. Or something simply clicks and you think:

“Oh. That's it.”

There's no particular outcome I'm trying to steer you towards.

She consolidated three businesses into one clear offering, raised her prices and started talking to and secured a new client almost immediately.

She came without a clear problem and left with a much better understanding of what was influencing the way she was living.

What happens over the 10 weeks?

This isn't a programme where I give you a plan and tell you what to do. The ten weeks give us the time to properly explore what's going on rather than rushing towards an answer.

This coaching is for you if...

You know something isn't quite right, but you haven't worked out exactly what needs to change
You've been thinking about the same issue for months without getting anywhere
You're facing an important decision and want to understand it properly before you act
You're used to figuring things out yourself, but know that being too close to the situation is making it difficult to see clearly
You want to be challenged to think differently, rather than simply reassured
You want space to think rather than another checklist to follow
You're prepared to be honest with yourself, including when the answer isn't the one you expected

This probably isn't the right fit if...

You want someone to give you a step-by-step plan and tell you exactly what to do.
You're looking for therapy or treatment for a clinical issue.
You're looking for someone to simply confirm that you're making the right decision.
You're not ready to look honestly at your own part in the situation.

You're the expert on your own life. My job is to help you see it clearly.

I'm Gillian

I'm a life coach, hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner, with a background in Speech and Language Therapy (BSc Hons) and many years of experience supporting people through periods of change, complexity and uncertainty.

My professional background has involved working closely with people and families, understanding what matters to them, listening to experiences that aren't always easy to articulate, and helping people find their voice and make meaningful changes. I've worked across areas including autism, mental health, behaviour and family support, as well as supporting and training others to work effectively.

This experience has shaped the way I coach today. I'm interested in the person behind the problem, and in understanding what is really going on rather than making assumptions about what someone needs.

I'm a CMA Accredited Practitioner of Hypnotherapy, CMA & ABNLP Accredited Practitioner of Neurolinguistic Programming and CMA Accredited Life Coach.

I don't tell you what to do and I don't hand you a plan. I ask questions, listen carefully and give you the space to think, sometimes for longer than you're used to, because the first answer isn't always the real one.

What clients say

“Gillian's approach to coaching is quite different from anything I've experienced before.”

“Our sessions are very open. She asks a small number of deceptively simple questions and then gives me the space to work things out for myself.”

“There's no telling me what I should do, no steering me towards her answer.”

“She's created the space, and asked the questions, that have allowed me to find them for myself.”

“That's been incredibly powerful.”

Book a free call

A significant investment in yourself

Whether you choose intensive 1:1 coaching or ongoing monthly support, the aim is the same: to give you time and space to properly think, explore what's going on and understand what matters to you.

Private 1:1 coaching

£1,997 or £666 per month for three months

Ten weeks of private 1:1 coaching, giving us the time to properly explore what's going on rather than trying to resolve everything in a single conversation.

Your coaching includes:

10 weeks of private 1:1 coaching
Up to two bonus sessions to use during our work together when something specific comes up that you'd like to explore
Sessions shaped around what matters to you, rather than a fixed curriculum

The Thinking Space

£227 per month

If you don't need intensive 1:1 coaching, The Thinking Space offers a different way to work with me. It's a regular opportunity to step back from everyday life, consider something properly and notice what's going on beneath the surface.

Each month you'll receive:

One private 1:1 coaching session of around 45-60mins
A carefully considered question to explore
Prompts to help you think more deeply between sessions

There are no group calls, no lessons and no advice to follow. Just regular space to think properly.

I'm opening The Thinking Space initially at a special founding member rate of £147 per month. This rate will remain at £147 for as long as you remain a member.

Not sure which is right for you?

Start with a free call. You don't need to know exactly what's wrong. We'll talk about what's happening, what you'd like to feel different and whether I'm the right person to help. If working together makes sense, I'll explain which option might suit you. If it doesn't, that's completely fine too.

Will you tell me what to do?

No. I won't make your decisions for you. My role is to help you think more deeply, see what's influencing your situation and arrive at your own answers.

What's the difference between coaching and therapy?

Coaching and therapy have different purposes. My coaching focuses on helping you understand your current situation, what you want and what you want to do next. It isn't a substitute for therapy or clinical treatment.

What happens on the free consultation?

It's simply a conversation. We'll talk about what's happening, what you'd like to be different and whether working together feels like the right fit. There's no obligation to book.

What does the coaching cost?

The 10-week private coaching programme is £1997.

The monthly membership option is ~~£227~~ founding member price £147

What if I don't know what I need help with?

That's completely fine. You don't need to arrive with a neatly defined problem. Sometimes knowing that something isn't quite right is enough to start.

Why ten weeks?

Because meaningful understanding doesn't always happen in one conversation. Ten weeks gives us the time to explore properly, rather than rushing towards the first solution.

What does a coaching session involve?

We'll talk through what's coming up for you, and I'll ask questions designed to help you think beyond your first response. There will also be space to think. You won't be expected to have an immediate answer to everything.

Is coaching online or in person?

I provide coaching online or in person at our therapy rooms in Newton Mearns, Glasgow.

Frequently asked questions

Let's talk about what's going on

20 minutes, no pressure, we'll talk about what's happening and whether working together makes sense