When I was 17, I was Kate the individual, with hobbies, likes, dislikes and dreams. I dreamed of being a vet, just like James Herriot. I did become a vet but somewhere along the way the rest of my identity was placed on the back burner. I was swallowed up by study, working weekends, missing events, and missing my ‘me’ time due to staying late. My non-vet personality remained forgotten and ignored. Initially, the all-consuming nature of this vocation was a choice I made, but after a while, it wasn’t.
I would like to say I was one of those self-aware people who saw they were heading into a storm, but I wasn’t. While for many of my friends a catalyst for change was having children, illness was my catalyst. 15 years of full-time work, a relationship breakdown, and a series of intervertebral disc ruptures later, I was forced to stop and reconsider my life choices. I was sleepwalking through life. In my personal life I rediscovered Kate the photographer, Kate the wildlife lover, Kate the walker and Kate the travel enthusiast. Professionally, on the journey to improving the balance in my own life, I became interested in wellbeing and qualified in wellbeing and stress management training. I got some life coaching and it changed my life. Fascinated by the coaching process, I soon started studying it myself, wanting to help others achieve their balance.
My mission now is to help people avoid the mistakes I made. Not to wait for that catalyst to happen to them, but to be the catalyst themselves. To be the best version of their unique selves.
I strive to do this through various routes.
I coach people who are seeking to work towards gaining more balance in life. I have coaching experience both inside and outside of my profession helping clients to remember their individuality, what makes them tick, re-discover new their old self and take steps towards a new self, one that achieves balance both professionally, at work, and personally, at home.
As a qualified wellbeing and stress management trainer (accredited by CPCAB) I guide people to make changes to improve their wellbeing. This is a very individual process and I create bespoke training sessions ranging from short sessions or webinars to whole day workshops. The aim is to help delegates take small, purposeful and practical steps forward to improve their general wellbeing.
I still have a passion for veterinary work, and work part-time for the PDSA animal charity. This keeps me grounded and aware of the challenges my veterinary coaching and training clients face in maintaining that balance and wellbeing within this fast-paced industry.
I particularly enjoy the communication side of my veterinary role. Over the last few years, I’ve increased my scope for educating clients beyond the consulting room by writing client-facing blogs for companies such as VetsDigital and Vet Help Direct. I enjoy delivering professional advice in a way that is easy to understand, and on a larger scale to the public.
I use my 16 years of clinical training to give back to my profession through supporting those professionals a few steps behind by mentoring through organisations such as BSAVA and Grads to Vets.
I thrive on having various professional identities. This multi-identity life is not for everyone but that is the point: we are all unique. My 17-year-old self-loved being a generalist but I had simply forgotten.
What have you forgotten that you love to do?
It can feel like we are squeezed into the same mould, a product in a factory labelled, in this case, ‘vet’. Mismatches between ‘who I am’ and ‘what I do’ can lead to huge dissatisfaction. It’s frustrating being that square peg, trying to fit in a round hole.
If you resonate with my story and think you are ready to be your own catalyst for change, then get in touch. I would love to hear from you 😊
Vet Balance 