Meet Sonja
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go. “
Hermann Hesse
Corporate executive, rock climber, adventure lover, wellbeing coach
I have come to personal development and wellbeing coaching after more than 20 years of international corporate experience.
Completing the Australian Alps Walking Track – an 820 km unsupported trek across alpine regions from Victoria to the ACT – marked a turning point for me.
Little in the mountainous wilderness of Australia is predictable. Weather can change quickly, a water hole can be dried up, or a river flooded.
In 51 days on the trail I met fewer than 12 people. Even more than physical strength, I came to rely on my own mental and emotional resilience. Some days were good. Others felt like I had made no progress at all.
The experience taught me it is the journey, not the destination that shapes us and that sometimes letting go is the best decision.
Completing the trek taught me much about my personal wellbeing and what I needed to thrive and flourish.
On the trail I also learned a lot about what I needed to let go.
I recognised when it was better not to push beyond my limit, to take each day as it happened and not dwell on yesterday.
I realised I was defeating myself when instead of running my own life I was listening to the inner critic running me.
Changing “I can’t” to “I did”
““You are such a caring person. You helped me push my boundaries, thank you.” ”
Returning to ‘real life’ I continued to complete 60- and 100-km endurance hikes and encouraged hundreds to go out and challenge themselves with me.
I kept seeing the transformation as colleagues challenged themselves to achieve goals they’d never imagined were possible.
And how this extended far beyond the hike into their personal and professional lives. They learned to believe, value and trust themselves. They developed leadership skills. They became more resilient.
Maybe your challenge of choice will be different – taking up a sport, learning a new skill, making a lifestyle choice, … . But when we let go of the fear of failure and stop listening to the voices telling us we can’t – it’s amazing what we’re capable of.
Wellbeing through nature
I am a strong believer in drawing on the resources of our natural environment to help us relax, think more clearly and ease stress and worry. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us.
Coming from a complex and stressful environment, hiking and later rock climbing became real antidotes for me. Both are quiet and mindful; just me, my partner and the environment.
““I have a picture in my head of you striding and climbing around the Blue Mountains, thinking good thoughts and helping others also follow their dreams and be their best selves.””
How I work
I coach in person or remotely, not through a self-paced online program.
My programs are designed to take you out of your comfort zone and into a space where you can thrive – personally and professionally.
They combine coaching, nature, mindfulness and science for physical and emotional wellbeing and success. They provide structure to support and flexibility to adapt with you.
I can’t change you, only you can change yourself.
But I can support you to recover your passion, discover your strength, reconnect to your dreams and hopes.
If you bring the openness to explore, I can help map out a path that will take you where you want to go.
Somewhere, there is a star with your name on it. I might not be able to find it for you, but I’ve got shoulders you can stand on while you’re looking for that star.
Choosing a Coach
“Thank you for all you’ve brought to our team. You’ve been fantastically approachable, supportive and engaging throughout our shared experience.”
Coaching is a very personal matter. That is why you want to make sure there is a good fit between yourself and me, your coach.
Here are a couple of tips:
Check out the programs and About section to see if the programs and I resonate with you and your goals
Book a discovery call to find out more about me, my coaching style, what you can expect and how we set goals
Talk to other coaches before committing to one to find out what style and approach feels best for you
Look beyond the price tag to consider the value, not just the price. Coaching is an investment in yourself and your development. Also consider the cost of staying where you are now.
Check your heart and gut as well as your head. Choosing a coach is an important decision but it doesn’t need to be one that you agonise over. Often your heart or gut will give you a strong indication of which coach to work with.
Notice if you start to talk yourself out of it and explore the reasons. Change can be daunting and we can come up with plausible-sounding reasons not to proceed.
Finally, the chemistry. It’s the most important thing. You have to be able to connect with your coach and trust them. You also need to be open to the idea of being vulnerable in order to get the best from coaching. Your coach therefore needs to be someone who you feel comfortable with and who resonates with you.
Professional Qualifications:
Associate Certified Meta-Coach
Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner
Neuro-Semantics Practitioner
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Certified Workplace Mindfulness Facilitator
Foundations of Positive Psychology (Prof. Martin Seligman, UPenn/Coursera)
Mental Health First Aider (MHFA Australia)
Master of Business Administration (Macquarie Graduate School of Management)
