My journey with workplace coaches
After my autism diagnosis, returning to work after a long period of stress-induced absence felt like stepping into a whirlwind. I knew I needed support to navigate this new landscape, so I started working with Ros, a specialist autism-at-work coach.
Her guidance was invaluable in helping me understand my sensory needs and decide which job was right for me. Ros broke down the pros and cons of different options step by step, in light of my diagnosis, making everything feel much clearer. It was comforting to work with someone who truly “got it” and didn’t judge or undermine my feelings. All our sessions were online, and my workplace generously covered the costs.
Access To Work funded coaching: a mixed experience
After changing jobs, thanks to Ros’s coaching, I applied for Access to Work funding and was awarded 10 two-hour coaching sessions. I chose online sessions due to my difficulty with travel. Access to Work directed me to a company with a pool of coaches, and they paired me with someone they thought would be suitable.
Unfortunately, my first experience was far from ideal. The initial coach had some background information on me, but we didn’t click at all. The session was stressful, and I found myself masking and not feeling heard or understood. It felt as if the coach was following a script that didn’t take my answers or situation into account.
I provided feedback through my line manager, and to the company’s credit, they went above and beyond to find a new, fantastic coach for me.
Finding the right coach
My new coach was incredible. We set goals at the start of our sessions and each meeting involved a mix of:
- Delving into one of our goals in more detail and developing techniques to test out or gather more information.
- Reviewing the techniques from the previous session.
- Addressing any new challenges that had arisen.
The sessions were very much led by my immediate needs and concerns, and I learned numerous helpful techniques that I still use daily.
Setting goals
I had a vague sense that my sensory issues were more impactful than I realised and that recent organisational changes were taking a toll. However, I struggled to articulate specific goals. Our initial steps involved gathering more data, reflecting, and checking in with myself to understand how I was feeling at different times. This gave us focal points for our conversations and provided a foundation to build on.
A recurring theme was improving my awareness of how I felt at any given moment so I could respond and support myself better, preventing meltdowns at the end of the day. My coach taught me grounding techniques to check in with my body and understand its needs at any moment. Now, I have little reminders on my whiteboard (which contains my daily schedule) to perform these check-ins and make necessary adjustments. This could be as simple as needing more water or as involved as slowing down my brain by ending some conversations.
If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend working with a specialised workplace coach and trusting your instincts about whether that person is a good fit for you before committing.
July 2024
