About
Blank Slate Coaching
Raised in the US, I received an honours degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I chose to study psychology because I wanted to make sense of the dynamics, behaviours and addictions I witnessed in my family and environment, and to help people learn to navigate them. This desire then led me to the UK, where I worked with trauma survivors. While completing my Masters in Social Policy at the London School of Economics, I worked as an education and wellbeing researcher. While I found this training useful, I found it insufficient for most people’s healing. This led me to explore non-traditional models of recovery – movement and body-based (somatic) therapies, trauma release, zen meditation. I became a student of Soto Zen teacher Roland Rech, and an active member of the International Zen Association. I deepened my dance training and joined healing communities.
These teachers and experiences informed what has become my coaching methodology – an integration of internal body awareness, zen mindfulness, and trauma- and neurodivergent-informed emotional regulation strategies. I have since worked with individuals, communities and companies in the UK, US and Europe.
I have a person-centred approach which prioritises your needs and learning style – I am a ‘mentor’ who provides practical guidance, strategies and accountability in a supportive environment. Each person’s journey is unique – I am a ‘blank slate’ in that I do not have any preconceived notions of what shape your path will take. It is our work, as a team, to discover it together and to help you develop the tools you need along the way.
If you’d like to learn more, please contact me here, or sign up for my newsletter for practical insights, exercises, and stories of other peoples’ journeys.
Testimonials
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“I wouldn’t be exaggerating to say this process has literally changed my life. I sought coaching for help with one pernicious issue and in exploring that, uncovered a deep and pervasive narrative I’ve carried with me my whole life: that I am unworthy. This core belief has motivated many unhealthy habits, from unfulfilling and codependent personal relationships, to chronic overworking, to never giving myself time to pause and actually enjoy my life.
I’ve worked weekly with Blank Slate for just over a year now and can confidently say I am kinder and wiser as a boss, father, and husband. I am a more fulfilled, patient and insightful person; it has positively impacted every single aspect of my life. Right now I’m working on having more meaningful relationships with my kids, and figuring out what I want for myself in this next chapter of my life.
My only regret is having waited until my 50s, but it is never too late to get started. Blank Slate has been the best and most important gift I’ve ever given myself.”
— Amir, entrepreneur (Dubai)
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“I’m a mum to two young kids and work at a high-pressure job with long hours. I’ve felt like I’ve been firefighting ever since my youngest was born — chronically behind with everything at work and at home, always sleep deprived, always frantic, someone always asking me for something, never left with two minutes to myself. It took me a while to open up to coaching — I was super sceptical: ‘how can this help me? I don’t need coaching; I need a body double of myself to keep on top of all this s***!’
But working with Blank Slate helped me reflect on how and where I was spending my energy, and whether there were small and sustainable changes I could make in my routine, communication, boundaries and thinking that could help me create some breathing space. A big part of this was deepening my understanding of my ADHD, and developing better strategies to work with rather than against it. I decided on some things that I could let go of, some behaviours I could forgive myself for, as well as some things I wanted to be more assertive about and to advocate for.
Coaching has helped me create healthier boundaries with work, my partner, my in-laws, and my kids, and I actually feel more able to enjoy time with my family because of it. I finally felt like I had someone in my corner, who helped me see just how many pressures were on me and how hard I was being on myself. It’s still a work in progress, and I’d love that body double still, but it’s helped me find some peace and a semblance of balance, and I’m developing emotional and relationships skills I can pass on to my kids.”
— Jessica, marketing executive (France/UK)
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“Blank Slate was recommended to me through a friend who raved about how much his working habits had improved since doing coaching. I sought support for six months in the lead up to a huge product launch — I could already see that I was struggling to look after myself properly, and that it was negatively impacting both my personal and work relationships. I already knew what I should have been doing differently — getting more sleep, taking breaks, delegating, communicating better with my team, etc. — but I couldn’t ever seem to stick with these, and the issues just kept compounding.
Working with Blank Slate meant I had an hour every single week to reflect, take stock and troubleshoot: how did last week go? how am I doing right now? what challenges am I facing this week? what can I take off my plate? what are my non-negotiables for looking after myself? Having someone ‘on my team’ whose sole purpose was to support me and provide accountability has made a huge difference. I can still struggle when under pressure for sure, but I now have a process for knowing what to do in those situations. Overall it’s helped me develop healthier working habits, better communication skills and better boundaries with myself. My business partner and wife would agree!”
— Adam, CEO (San Francisco)