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A place to find help, insights and clarity
“Your Voice, Your Strength” Embracing Vulnerability in Maternal Mental Health
Launched in 2017 by the fantastic team at the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership, this year's theme for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is "Your Voice, Your Strength." This year aims to advocate for all families affected by Perinatal Mental Illness, help them...
The Balance Collective Ask Me Anything – How to manage career/life disappointment.
This month's question is a theme that I have seen appear in many coaching conversations, both 1:1 and in group settings. It can occur at any time with anyone, but it often brings feelings of shame, embarrassment, or guilt. It's frequently caused by feeling like your...
The perfect part-time working pattern for parents
Hello! It's Clara from June 2025 here. Life has moved on considerably since this blog was posted in April 2017, on the best part time working pattern. But, my stats tell me there are lots of you that still want to read it! So, I wanted to update it with links to some...
Book Review: The Pocket of Deep Sleep: Maximise your most restorative sleep cycle
This is possibly one of the shortest books I've read and reviewed so far (at 128 pages); it comes second in length to How to Remember Everything (which was 51 pages!) but is still jam-packed with useful tips, explanations and resources. There are also powerful quotes...
Why this Career Coach is wary of AI
I can see it happening, and I'm sure hiring managers can see it, too. AI is creeping into CVs and applications. At first glance, it seems to make sense. Simply feed the machine the job you want, plus your current CV, and it will create a tailored version to increase...
The Redundancy Support Toolkit from The Balance Collective
Job hunting when you have been, or are about to be, made redundant is tough. There are layers of emotion, rejection, fear, and, sometimes, relief that need to be managed while trying to find the next best opportunity and organisation for you. Sometimes, like me,...
Book Review: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
How many times have you looked at a medical, business, technology, planning, or government policy decision and felt like a whole group of people are being ignored? It seems that half of the world is considered, while the other half is taken for granted to "fit in."...
The Balance Collective Ask Me Anything – Any tips on job hunting whilst pregnant?
This month’s question is one that I have worked with clients on a 1:1 basis, as well as witnessed happen in real-time on social media! It’s a question that is laced with a tight deadline and extra pressure; it is “Any tips on job hunting whilst pregnant?" This will be...
The balance benefits of understanding your hormonal cycle
Today, I want to talk about a balance tool that I haven’t discussed in this blog before. It’s something that comes up frequently with my clients during 1:1 coaching sessions and wellbeing workshops. However, it’s a topic that is often shrouded in cultural...
Three literary lessons for International Women’s Day 2025
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights: Equality: Empowerment.” The theme is a driver for a call to action, one that makes a real difference to unlock “equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where...
Book Review: Rewire (Break the Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts and Create Lasting Change) by Nicole Vignola
The inner workings of the human brain have fascinated me since 1995. Why 1995 you may ask? That is the year I started my A-Level in Psychology. Now, nearly 30 years (!) later, the fascination remains. With the evolution in technology, the ability to get “under the...
The Balance Collective Ask Me Anything – Redundancy support after 20 years at a company.
In this month’s Ask Me Anything, I’m answering a question from someone going through a massive life transition. Redundancy, either voluntary or compulsory, was a big theme among my clients in 2024, and I’m hopeful that 2025 will see a shift in job security. However,...
About
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
Isn't it time to have career to enjoy not endure?
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