Adoptive parents coached by Halesowen mum (From Halesowen News)

Adoptive parents coached by Halesowen mum

1:48pm Wednesday 14th April 2010 in News

AFTER adopting three children, new mum Nicola Marshall, from Halesowen, was inspired to become the UK’s second only adoption coach.

The 39-year-old who, with husband Ashley, aged 36, became instant parents to three siblings, is dedicating her working life to guiding other would-be parents through the dilemmas of the lengthy adoption process.

She gave up her IT career to spend more time with her instant family and, while waiting for their arrival, trained to be self-employed life coach, specialising in adoption coaching and working on a global scale, with a client in America.

Unable to naturally conceive children, Nicola and Ashley, of Blackberry Lane, began the three-year process to adopt a girl and two boys – now aged six, seven and nine – and have been together as a family for almost two years.

Much of the life coach training was a reflection on her own life with a qualified coach and the main topic of discussion was the impending adoption.

“Benefiting tremendously from what the coaching sessions taught me about my reasons and suitability for adoption, it inspired me to specialise as an adoption coach – in addition to coaching business people,” said Nicola, adding: “Discussions with the coach enabled me to understand what was going on inside my own head - concerning all the changes that were about to occur through becoming a mum of three children overnight. “I hadn’t realised how much I needed to come to terms with my own emotions, considering why I wanted to be a mum and fears about “what if I didn’t make a good one?”

“My coach enabled me to realise that I simply needed to be myself – after all, children easily sense when you are pretending to be something you are not and there’s a limit to how long you can keep up any pretence.”

Nicola said a coach provides an objective sounding board, which is often difficult for families to do, and is non-judgmental.

She can be contacted on 0121 288 1215 or 07843 559760, by e-mail at nicola@ripplescoaching.co.uk or visit www.ripplescoaching.co.uk