About

A little about me

Curious about the stories behind people's experiences – and what opens up when we understand ourselves and others more clearly.

Corlene Retief smiling, in front of green foliage

I'm Corlene Retief, a Transformational Coach. I've always been fascinated by what makes each of us unique — why we think, feel, experience and respond to the world in different ways.

I'm curious about the stories behind people's experiences, the things that shape how we see ourselves and others, and why we sometimes find certain things easy while other things take considerably more effort.

This curiosity is at the heart of my work. I enjoy getting to know people, understanding their individual circumstances and exploring different perspectives with them. I believe that when we begin to understand ourselves and others more clearly, we open up possibilities for doing things differently.

My approach is personal and collaborative. I don't believe in putting people into boxes or telling them who they should be. I bring my knowledge, experience and observations into our conversations, but the process is always shaped around the person in front of me.

I find it incredibly rewarding to see people begin to recognise things in themselves that they may not have noticed before, make sense of experiences that once felt confusing, and discover new ways of approaching the things they find challenging.

How I got here

Before coaching, I spent many years working in the data world. During that time I worked in several organisations, and a big part of my job was to be the link between the data and the people who used it – helping people make sense of the data. I was doing valuable work, but I realised that this was not where I wanted to make a difference in the world.

I did want to support people, so I started wondering – how can I use these people skills and analytical skills to support people in a way that also matters to me?

The answer was: supporting people to live the lives they want.

Working with data taught me that numbers and words never tell the whole story, and that what matters is what sits behind them. I bring the same curiosity to people, with one important difference: you are not a data point. I'm not looking for a pattern to fit you into. I'm interested in your story, what matters to you and what works for you.

We are all so different. What works for you won't always work for your partner, your sibling, your child, a friend or a colleague. What comforts you might not comfort them, and what motivates you might not motivate them. It isn't always easy to know what someone needs, or to hear what they're really telling us. My goal is to help us hear each other a little better.

My qualifications

Coaching

Trauma-Informed Wellbeing Coach

Chrysalis Effect, UK

I trained as a Trauma-Informed Wellbeing Coach with Chrysalis Effect, through two linked courses. The Wellbeing Coach is an ILM-recognised programme about using coaching to support people with the obstacles to their wellbeing. It focused on building the coaching relationship and communicating effectively, refining my own coaching skills, and supporting people through a range of challenges, including when supervision is appropriate. I was assessed on both theory and practice.

The Trauma-Informed Coaching course, recognised by the Federation of Holistic Therapists, added an understanding of how a person's past and present experiences can affect the way they feel, behave and move towards their goals.

Together they are the foundation of how I coach: staying curious about what's behind behaviour, and noticing when something from a person's past or present is getting in the way of moving forward.

Genetic Brain Profiling (GBP)

Certified Edu-Profile Consultant

Dr Annette Lotter & Associates

I trained with Dr Annette Lotter of Dr Annette Lotter & Associates to confirm GBP, give feedback on it and offer practical guidance, including ways to help children and teenagers learn and study more effectively. This training is separate from my coaching training.

In my practice, I use GBP as a reflective framework alongside our coaching conversations.

Education

MSc (Big Data and Business Intelligence)

University of Greenwich, UK

About my role

Coaching is not therapy or medical treatment, and I am not a therapist or medical professional. If something comes up that would be better addressed by someone else, or through a different kind of support, I'll be honest with you about that.

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