Well folks… I’ve got some rather lovely news to share.
I’ve received multiple nominations for Life Coach of the Year 2026 at the PASEDA National Coaching Awards.
And somehow, incredibly, this means my work has now been recognised by the national coaching awards for the third year in a row.
I’m not quite sure I’ll ever get used to writing things like that. Because when I look back at some of the chapters of my life, this certainly wasn’t where I imagined I would end up.
From some very dark days…
There have been times in my life when simply getting through the day was enough.
I know what it feels like to completely lose yourself. After years of grief, workplace stress, long hours, barely sleeping and losing my dad and stepparents to cancer, my mental and physical health unravelled. Anxiety came first. Then chronic fatigue. Depression followed. Eventually, I experienced severe bipolar manic psychosis and was sectioned in a secure psychiatric hospital. Twice.
There are still moments when I think back to that frightened, confused woman and wish I could tell her, “You have absolutely no idea where your life is going to take you yet.”
Because my second breakdown eventually became the beginning of one of the biggest transformations of my life. Coaching helped me understand myself differently.
It helped me reconnect with my values, recognise my strengths, challenge some of the beliefs I had carried around for years and, importantly, learn to recognise the warning signs I had previously ignored.
I learnt that being strong doesn’t mean putting your “big girl pants” on, pretending everything is fine and carrying the whole world on your shoulders.
Sometimes strength is:
- Admitting you’re not okay.
- Asking for help.
- Resting.
- Completely changing direction.
Over time, my pain became my purpose.
I now have people say that knowing me has helped change their lives for good is incredibly humbling. So, the fact that the coaching award nominations come from people I’ve coached means the world to me. Reading their words has been emotional.
One person wrote: “Without a doubt, Joe is perfect. She has incredible professionalism, but with the ability to make you feel like you are having a catch up with a lovely friend. Joe is kind, Joe is patient and, to quote Wicked, because I knew her, I have been changed for good.”
Well… that one got me. 🥹
Another person described our work together as “genuinely life-changing”.
They talked about learning to recognise the early signs of their own bipolar episodes, developing healthier boundaries, building confidence and moving forward through completely different chapters of their life.
That is what coaching means to me. Not creating somebody who needs me forever, in fact, quite the opposite. I want people to understand themselves better, trust themselves more and build a toolbox they can carry with them long after our sessions have finished.
Another one of my clients said that my “coaching went far beyond surface-level advice,” Joe challenged me to confront my limiting beliefs, helped me reframe negative patterns, and gave me practical tools to build confidence and emotional resilience. Through her support, I developed a healthier and more positive outlook—not just on relationships, but on life as a whole.”
These testimonials just astound me; knowing that real change has occurred gives me the feels.
Twenty years of coaching… and I’m still learning
I’ve been coaching people in one form or another for around 20 years, beginning through my leadership career long before I ever became known as The Mental Health Coach.
And I’m still fascinated by people.
- Still learning.
- Still developing.
- Still tweaking ideas.
I am still having those moments when a client says something and I think, “Right… let’s explore that.”
No two people walk into my coaching room with exactly the same story, which is why I’ve never wanted my coaching to feel like somebody is being pushed through a formula.
Over the years, I’ve created my MoJoe Toolbox, which has practical, creative mental wellness tools that help people explore things like worries, emotional regulation, beliefs, values, goals, confidence and self-care. And yes, that includes my much-loved Hug in a Mug. 
If one of my resources helps somebody have a slightly easier day, understand themselves a little better or start an important conversation, then it has done something worthwhile.
2026 Milestone: The MoJoe Lounge
This year also brought another special milestone: I opened the new MoJoe Lounge at Edwinstowe House, right in the heart of Sherwood Forest. And I absolutely love it. I wanted to create somewhere that doesn’t feel intimidating or clinical. Somewhere you can walk through the door, sit down, breathe and just be yourself.
Being a Blidworth lass and the daughter of a coal miner, I’m also incredibly proud that although my coaching has reached people from all sorts of backgrounds and places, the heart of what I do remains firmly rooted here.
"Awards are lovely. Of course they are,"...
But the real reward is when somebody walks into the MoJoe Lounge feeling overwhelmed, anxious, lost or unable to see their own strengths, and through coaching I can help them find clarity, confidence and a way forward.
I also believe that when one person becomes calmer, more confident, and more able to cope, that change often reaches much further than them. It touches partners, children, families, friendships, workplaces and communities.
That ripple effect matters enormously to me.
So to everybody who has nominated me, worked with me, recommended me, encouraged me, shared one of my posts, downloaded a workbook, had a cuppa with me or simply cheered me on from the sidelines…
Thank you. Truly.
I’m one very happy bunny.
