This month the ICF published its updated Core Competencies for the first time since 2019, and we wanted to share what these developments might mean for you. Importantly, the update involves incremental developments; it is not an overhaul. Here are some answers to questions you might be asking yourself: What

Validation is a practical and fun guide to one of the most overlooked interpersonal skills: making others feel seen and understood. Drawing from her skills as a clinical psychologist, and with a focus on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Caroline Fleck dismantles the misconception that validation is simply agreeing or comforting. Instead,

All of us at Barefoot keep learning. We regularly put ourselves in new learning situations – being coached, supervised, and attending courses as delegates. We do it because we believe you can’t facilitate someone else’s learning if you’ve stopped learning yourself. We are grateful to the International Coaching Federation (ICF),

Public speaking is a frequent yet challenging task for most. A 2023 poll found that nearly half of the British public (49%) fear speaking in front of people, and the public speaking training industry is booming in response. Yet, in today’s era of uncertainty and change, perhaps we should shift

Some years ago, I experienced a significant loss. Since then, I’ve spent my time learning about grief and loss so that I can provide grief coaching for individuals, and grief education for coaches and other professionals. Some call this ‘making your mess your mission’ or ‘turning your pain into purpose.’

Last week, we celebrated International Coaching Week 2025 – we took some time at Barefoot to pause, reflect and reconnect – with the roots of coaching, our own journey, and where we’re heading next. We started the week by exploring the history of coaching. From Socratic dialogue to the rise