Solution-focussed coaching in the outdoors

Our session on 20 June was led by Angela Topping.

Angela is Head of the Joint Research Office Newcastle University/Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust. She is also Joint Chair of NU Women.

Angela's research highlights the significant benefits and distinctiveness of moving coaching outdoors. It explores the experiences of women in caring roles experiencing this type of coaching.

This session will be of interest to those who:

are interested in the whole body experience of coaching
would like to share experiences about the role the natural world plays in our coaching practice

Meet Angela Topping

Angela started her career at Newcastle University over 25 years ago as an accountant. In 2018, she took the opportunity of a secondment to become the Head of the Newcastle Joint Research Office (NJRO), and never went back.

In 2020, the team was an essential part of the local and national response to COVID. They set up at pace research studies. These would lead to not only vaccine rollouts, but also ongoing research into the impact of COVID on physical and mental health.

During that highly pressured time, the top priority was the wellbeing of each and every one of the team. They sought to understand what mattered to them as individuals, and how through this understanding they could be supported to be well.

This experience led to Angela having her own ‘struck’ moment, which led to her making several decisions. This included enrolling on the MSc in Coaching and Mentoring Programme at Newcastle University. She graduated with Merit in 2023.

Angela is a volunteer Coach and Mentor at Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals. She adopts the ‘Manager as Coach’ approach with her team. She is looking to take her research and coaching practice further. Solution-focussed coaching in the outdoors is one of many interventions to support wellbeing at work.

Watch this session

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