Life Coaching

Goal-setting and personal growth, for when you are functioning well but want more

Life coaching is different from therapy. It is not aimed at working through a mental health concern — it is for people who are already functioning well but want structured support to set goals, build specific skills, and move towards the future they want.

Coaching is a collaborative partnership focused on the present and future, rather than working through past difficulties. It suits people who are already functioning well but want support to reach a specific goal, build a skill, or navigate a transition.

At Safe Expanse, life coaching is offered by Gladys Hu, and is priced the same as our individual therapy sessions.

This may be right for you if...

You are not in crisis, but you feel stuck or unclear on your next step
You have a specific goal — professional or personal — and want an accountability partner
You want to build a skill, like confidence, communication, or resilience, rather than process a past difficulty
You are looking for a structured, forward-focused conversation rather than open-ended talk therapy

What life coaching helps with

Life coaching at Safe Expanse is for people who are coping fine but want more: clearer direction, a specific change, or a skill they keep meaning to build. A coach does not treat a problem; they help you work out what you want, why you have not got there yet, and what to do next. People come to coaching about:

Career direction, a possible job change, or a return to work after a break
Confidence, speaking up, and handling difficult conversations
Work-life balance and managing time, energy and competing demands
Transitions such as a new role, marriage, a move to Singapore or retirement
Recognising and managing emotions more deliberately
Parenting goals; see also our parenting coaching page
Getting unstuck on a goal you have been circling for a while

Coaching versus counselling

Counselling and therapy work with something that is hurting: anxiety, low mood, grief, trauma, a relationship in trouble. Coaching assumes you are functioning well and focuses on the present and the future: where you want to get to and the practical steps to get there. The conversation is more structured and more action-oriented, with goals set at the start and reviewed as you go.

At Safe Expanse, coaching is offered by Gladys Hu, who is also a counsellor. That matters because the line is not always clear. If something surfaces in coaching that needs therapeutic attention, she can say so honestly and you can decide together whether to switch, pause, or run the two side by side. If you are not sure which you need, our adult counselling page explains the difference in more detail, or simply get in touch and describe what is going on.

How coaching sessions work

The first session sets the goal: what you want to be different, by when, and how you will know. From there, sessions are 60 or 90 minutes, usually fortnightly, and each one ends with something concrete to try before the next. Coaching tends to be shorter than therapy; many people work through a goal in a handful of sessions, then return later for the next one. Sessions are available in person at 37 Beach Road or online, and are priced the same as our individual therapy sessions; see the fees page.

What to expect

An initial session to understand your needs and goals
A personalised treatment plan
Regular sessions at a frequency that suits you
Ongoing review and adjustment as you progress
A confidential, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship

Therapists who offer this

Gladys Hu Senior Therapist

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a life coach and a counsellor? +

A counsellor helps you work through something that is causing distress, such as anxiety, low mood or a relationship difficulty. A life coach works with people who are functioning well and want structured support towards a specific goal. Coaching is present and future focused; counselling may also look at the past and at deeper patterns.

Who provides life coaching at Safe Expanse? +

Gladys Hu, who is also a counsellor and therapist. That means if a coaching conversation uncovers something that needs therapeutic attention, she can say so and you can decide together how to proceed.

How many coaching sessions will I need? +

Coaching is usually shorter than therapy. Many people work through a specific goal in four to eight sessions, meeting fortnightly. You set the goal and the pace, and you can stop whenever you have what you came for.

I am struggling with anxiety or low mood. Is coaching right for me? +

Probably not as a first step. Coaching assumes you are coping well and ready to act on goals. If anxiety or low mood is getting in the way, counselling may be a better place to start, and coaching can follow later if you want it. Tell us what is going on and we will suggest the right fit.

How much does life coaching cost? +

Coaching sessions are priced the same as individual therapy sessions with the same therapist, as a flat fee per session. The full fee table is on our fees page.

Is life coaching available online? +

Yes. Coaching works well online, and many clients alternate between online and in-person sessions at 37 Beach Road.

Ready to get started?

Make an Enquiry Meet Our Therapists