Return to work
- Are you a mother returning to work after an extended break?
- Are you not sure how to re-enter the workplace and feeling under-confident?
Many successful professional women take a career break to put their energy into bringing up their children. When the children are older they want to resume their career, maybe on a different basis which allows greater flexibility and continued family time. They may want to go back to their previous field of work or have a desire to try something completely different.
If you are at this point you may be suffering from a lack of confidence, no matter how high-achieving you were in your life pre-children. You may also be feeling confused about what your options are and whether it is possible to go back to work and still have enough time with your family.
As working parents, we understand the challenges of integrating work and family. We also appreciate the benefits of getting the balance right - psychology research has found that having multiple life roles is beneficial to us mentally and physically.
We work with you to develop your self-understanding and to explore your options. We ask questions to facilitate your thinking and use tailored tools and techniques to help you to make your career decisions. We draw on the latest research into career change, women returners and work-life balance to help you to maximise your chances of achieving a return to working life that fits with your life as a mother.
Coaching aims
If you are looking for a full programme to help to get you back to work, we can work with you to:
Develop your self-understanding and understand your options:
- Develop a clear view of your strengths and skills and help you to build your self-confidence to re-enter the workplace
- Understand your interests and passions, motivations, personal development aims and personality preferences
- Identify the most important elements for your personal job satisfaction
- Explore your longer-term vision and your personal view of success
- Identify and work through any practical and psychological blocks to returning to work
- Understand different models of working, such as portfolio careers
- Generate alternative career options
- Find out about the “act and learn” approach to career search
- Identify various ways to develop your understanding of your options
- Evaluate the options through research and experimentation
Plan a clear way forward:
- Plan step-by-step how you can move towards a return to work
- Prepare for applications and interviews
Alternatively we can focus on one or more of these areas.
Have a look at Our Approach for more information on how we work.
Coaching process
The number of meetings depends on your particular circumstances. We offer a complimentary half-hour discussion, after which we will propose a coaching plan. Typically this will involve two to four meetings of 1½ - 2 hours to work through the process. Individual two-hour sessions are available if you want to focus on one part of the process (such as action planning). Sessions may be face-to-face or by telephone, with email support between sessions.
We also run group career workshops for women in Wimbledon, SW London. Please see the Events pages for details.
Coaching fees
The coaching fees depend on the proposed coaching plan and on the method (face-to-face/telephone) and location of the coaching. We aim to provide a service which is both professional and affordable. We will not ask you to sign up to an expensive long-term programme so you pay only for the services you need. We are happy to provide further information on our fees if you contact us at info@careerpsychologists.co.uk