Frequently Asked Questions

What is coaching?

A coach helps you achieve the results you need to move forward in your life and business, using a series of questions and proven techniques. Rather than giving direct advice, a coach helps you find your own solutions and holds you accountable to act on them.

What is mentoring?

Mentoring is when an expert in your field shares their experience and offers advice based on what they have learned over their career.

Do you coach or mentor?

Vicki primarily coaches, but in some cases also offers mentoring depending on what the client needs. If a coaching client asks for advice and Vicki has relevant experience to share, she will offer it — but her main approach is coaching, not advice-giving.

What is therapeutic coaching?

Therapeutic coaching bridges the gap between traditional coaching and therapy. It uses techniques such as NLP, Havening, and Time Line Therapy to address not just goals and strategy, but also the deeper emotional and psychological patterns that can hold people back. Vicki Lovegrove is a qualified therapeutic coach working with creative professionals.

What is NLP coaching?

NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) coaching uses techniques based on the relationship between language, behaviour, and thought patterns to help clients change unhelpful beliefs and habits. Vicki Lovegrove is a Master Practitioner of NLP and uses these techniques as part of her coaching work with creative professionals.

What is Havening Techniques coaching?

Havening Techniques is a psychosensory approach that uses gentle touch and distraction techniques to help reduce the impact of distressing memories and emotional responses. Vicki is a certified Havening Techniques practitioner and uses it alongside other coaching tools to help clients overcome anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional blocks.

Who does Vicki Lovegrove coach?

Vicki specialises in coaching introverted creative professionals and freelancers: graphic designers, illustrators, marketers, photographers, and others in creative roles, who are struggling with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, inconsistent income, or burnout. She also works with employed creatives and business owners in the creative sector.

Are you qualified?

Yes. I am a Master Practitioner NLP Coach.

I am also a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques, a Havening Techniques® Certified Practitioner, and a Time Line Therapy™ Master Practitioner.

These are the tools I use for my coaching practice.

What coaching sessions are available?

Vicki offers three main coaching pathways. The Mini Coach Session is a one-off session of up to 45 minutes, which can also be the starting point for ongoing work. The Goal-Smashing Sessions are 1-hour sessions taken in groups of three, covering goal-setting, strategy, and review. The Monthly Deep VISION Sessions are 2-hour deep dive sessions for clients who need more time to explore — Vicki's most popular offering. All ongoing pathways require a minimum of three sessions.

You say you coach creative people, so what is your creative experience?

You don't have to have experience in a field to coach someone.

However, I have a lot of experience in the creative industries, so I choose to coach others in that industry.

I have worked in the sector for over 30 years as a graphic designer and have run my own design business for 20 years.

What is the difference between coaching and therapy?

Coaching is generally focused on the present and future — helping you set goals, overcome obstacles, and make progress. Therapy tends to focus more on processing past experiences and treating mental health conditions. Therapeutic coaching, as practised by Vicki, bridges these two approaches, using therapeutic tools within a coaching framework to address both present goals and deeper emotional patterns.

Where is Vicki Lovegrove based, and does she work remotely?

Vicki is based in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. She works with clients across the UK and internationally, predominantly via video call. Coaching sessions are fully remote, so location is not a barrier to working together.

What results can I expect from working with Vicki?

Clients typically report greater confidence, more consistent income, reduced perfectionism and self-doubt, renewed creative energy, and a clearer direction for their business or career. Results depend on the individual and the commitment they bring to the process, but Vicki's approach is focused on achieving lasting, meaningful change rather than quick fixes.

How can coaching help my staff?

We've all worked for someone great, but they are the boss, so we feel we can't tell them everything. It can be a worry that sharing specific thoughts and fears will hold us back - it may change how they think of us. Sometimes it is easier to look for another job - in our heads.

Now imagine your staff are going through this. It took you ages to recruit them, never mind the cost! Letting them have access to a coach to talk about work or life may be the reason they stay working for you for a long time.

If you can’t find the answer to your question…