About Ruth Rosselson
Qualifications
I trained as a life coach with the Life Coaching Academy whose course is accredited by the Open College Network. I have done further training with Coachville on coaching for small businesses. I am also an Associate Member of the Association for Coaching. Further training includes a Primary Certificate in Stress Management, a Primary Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Primary Certificate in Advanced CBT skills & Primary Certificate in REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy), all from the Centre for Stress Management in London. In 2005, I completed a Primary Certificate in "Developing Psychological Resilience" also at the Centre for Stress Management.
I also have a BA in psychology from University of Manchester and worked part-time for 7 years as the personnel manager in a small publishing co-operative in Manchester. I have been involved in recruiting, supervision and training and have attended courses on conflict management, stress management, supervision skills, facilitation methods and group dynamics. I have experience in leading workshops, facilitating groups and training.
My Ambitions
I had many ambitions as a young woman and have managed to achieve most of them in the past decade. Even though I was never good at sport as a child, I have trekked in the mountains of Nepal, scuba dived with manta rays and sharks and snorkelled with dolphins. In a previous incarnation, I worked as a freelance journalist specialising in health and travel features. I have been published in some of the best known health magazines as well as newspapers including the Guardian, the Independent, the Mirror and the Mirror's 'M' magazine. I've also had my writing and photos published in a travel magazine. If I can realise my ambitions, then I'm certain you will too.
If I can, you can
My Story
Doing a trek in Nepal had been an ambition of mine ever since I met some people who had trekked there. I'm not a particularly physical person (I never did much exercise and hated sport at school) so the idea of walking up mountains for days seemed like an incredible thing to do, and something to aspire to.
Four days into my trek in October 1998 and I was already ready to give up. I was a broken woman, in tears and completely demoralised and defeated. It was too hard. My legs hurt. No way was I fit enough. I wasn't strong enough. I wanted to turn round and head back.
But I didn't.
Dicky, my guide, had a lot more faith in me than I had in myself. She told me that she knew I was capable and strong enough to make it. It was her belief in me that persuaded me not to give up. Two days later, I found myself in the Annapurna Sanctuary, surrounded by mountain peaks. My feeling of achievement was enormous and I kept having to stop and hug Dicky, knowing that I could not have made it without her strength and support.
Two years later I returned to Nepal, a fitter and stronger woman. I had not been physically up to the challenges of the first trek and was determined to make this, a three week trek, not an arduous ordeal, but a pleasurable one. And so it was. Dicky and I trekked together again, and I reached the height of 5416 metres at the Thorung Pass on the Annapurna Circuit trek. It was a huge feat and one that I would not have been capable of two years before.
I could not have done it alone. Dicky's faith in me and encouragement were essential in getting me to believe that I was capable of more than I thought I was. It was her unwavering confidence in me, that gave me confidence in myself. She was my guide, my friend, and my inspiration. My role as a coach is to do exactly that. Inspire, encourage, guide and support you so that you can achieve great things - whatever it is you want to do.
After all, if I can, you can.