Service pilot - prosocial coaching
January is poverty awareness. This month to raise awareness, I’m bravely piloting a new service. I’m excited about this little gem.
Prosocial coaching is a positive psychology experiment designed to widen access to positive psychology coaching for neurodivergent women, non-binary and AFAB, and tackle loneliness, social anxiety, rejection sensitivity and depression.
Prosocial coaching helps women who do not have employer or government funding or who are facing financial hardship access low-cost group coaching that will boost their confidence, and mental wellbeing and grow their network of support.
How does the service work?
Prosocial behaviour is defined as 'voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another' ; it includes collaborating, helping, volunteering, donating, and sharing resources. In simple human terms, it is kindness.
Neurodivergent women are high in trait honesty and kindness and have a strong sense of social justice. Over the past year, I have been experimenting with ways to operationalise my strengths and solve problems I care about.
Referred to as a giver's high, giving triggers the brain's reward system and a release of dopamine that can be experienced as euphoria. Kindness is contagious. People who receive acts of kindness benefit from increased social self-worth and are more likely to reciprocate in kind, pay it forward, or help someone else in need.
Prosocial group coaching is a shared-cost group coaching service facilitated by positive psychology and coaching psychology postgraduates (MAPPCC) in exchange for honest feedback supporting self-reflective practice, supervision, continued professional development (CPD) and requirements for ICF or EMCC accreditation. At the end of each session, you will be invited to offer honest verbal feedback that will help coaches improve their practice.
Participants split the costs of coaching a single person between several people to widen access to coaching. There are 2-3 financial hardship spots per group. The service isn’t designed to devalue group coaching; rather, it aims to increase coach confidence and experience working with neurodivergent people, demonstrating their commitment to neurodiversity and inclusion.
Neurodivergent women experience high levels of chronic physical illness, mental illness, and subsequent social exclusion. From lived experience, loneliness during long-term unemployment due to chronic illness is a recipe for severe depression. NHS mental health services are overwhelmed. Gender bias in health means that women who are unwell are routinely turned away by professionals who are seeking help and support.
Reduced access to support can leave women trapped in poverty and ill health. Feelings of entrapment and hopelessness can lead to suicide. With autistic women 13x more likely to take their lives and 1 in 4 ADHD women reporting they have attempted, we need social interventions that break this cycle.
Whilst coaching is not a substitute for therapy, experiencing empathy and connection can improve mental health. Being a member of a group has been shown to buffer against loneliness, stress, anxiety and depression. The groups are an opportunity to unmask, be your authentic self, explore problems experienced by neurodivergent women and experience acceptance. We will measure your mental wellbeing before and after the group coaching experience.
What is the problem I am trying to solve?
Social exclusion and loneliness
Lack of relational support - lack of post-discovery support for neurodivergent women and non-binary.
Barriers to accessing 1-1 coaching - several months wait for UK access to work funding.
Social inequity - lack of funding for socially isolated, long-term unemployed, and chronically unwell neurodivergent women in financial hardship.
Low social confidence - high levels of loneliness, rejection sensitivity, and social anxiety in groups experienced by neurodivergent women and non-binary.
Masking and people-pleasing - masking is a risk factor for burnout, depression and suicidality.
Ethical group coaching practice - lack of group coaches with ICF or EMCC-accredited training who can confidently apply positive psychology interventions and are trained in strengths-based, neuro-affirmative and trauma-informed practice.
Who will coach you?
Postgraduates in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology who have completed EMCC-accredited training. I will be leading the pilot whilst I tighten up processes before I scale this up with other coaches.
Where will the service take place?
The service is delivered remotely via Google Meet.
What is the commitment?
3-month commitment - 7 group sessions.
Biweekly on a Tuesday - choose your time below.
1 group introductory session to say hello, contract boundaries, and decide if you want to join the group. Everyone must attend this session.
5 sessions of group coaching - conversations with purpose.
1 retrospective session to reflect on your learning and growth, and connections made, and say goodbye.
All participants will be asked to sign a coaching contract after the introductory session. Coaching cannot commence without a signed contract.
When will the coaching start?
UK time.
60-minute slots
Tue 21st Jan at 1 PM (60A)
Tue 21st Jan at 5 PM (60B)
90-minute slots
Tue 28th Jan at 12 noon (90A)
Tue 28th Jan 6 PM (90B)
We will add more spots if there is high demand.
How much does the service cost?
A minimum suggested payment maintains fairness and avoids feelings of guilt, exploitation or resentment.
Employed - min suggested contribution
50GBP per 60min session
75GBP per 90min session
Financial hardship - min suggested contribution
15GBP per 60min session
20GBP per 90 min session
Payment is made via Stripe Link after every session you attend. Payment will be requested after the first session, regardless of whether you decide to continue or not.
What do we mean by financial hardship?
Financial hardship is when someone is struggling to pay bills and afford essentials. You might identify as being in this category if you are
Long-term unemployed and on unemployment benefits with low or no savings
Chronically unwell and on a limited capacity to work benefit
Living in a no-income household
Spots are limited. There are 2-3 places per group for humans in financial hardship. This service is offered on an honest and trusting basis, and we will not ask you for proof of your financial status. We will not share your financial status with other group members.
Eligibility
This is a self-pay service and is not eligible for government or employer reimbursement.
You must not be
In receipt of access to work or other government funding for coaching
In receipt of employer funding for coaching
Have experienced group coaching
You do not need
A formal medical diagnosis
To be based in the UK
Lots of money
In order to access this service.
Why does this service matter?
January is poverty awareness. ADHD and autistic people experience high levels of poverty and financial hardship. According to the UK Office of National Statistics, 78% of diagnosed autistic humans are unemployed. ⅓ of ADHDers will experience long-term unemployment. Long-term unemployment is a risk factor for social exclusion and negative health outcomes.
Neurodivergent women are at significantly elevated risk of relational abuse. There is a bidirectional relationship between domestic abuse and poverty. We need more coaches specialising in neurodivergence who can confidently navigate the boundary between therapy and coaching and actively engage in ongoing self-reflective practice, supervision and therapy.
There is no support for unemployed people through access to work funding for coaching in the UK. There are currently several-month waits for those who are employed. Coaching is costly. The world needs more coaches who are committed to coaching for social impact, neurodiversity and inclusion, and delivering coaching services that are designed to widen access.
Prosocial coaching is designed to fill the gap.
Join the waitlist
Write specifying preferred time (60A or 60B) and (90A or 90B) and financial status category
Please share to raise awareness.