Speaker: Alicia Millar, The Force of Learning
Alicia Millar: The diploma has given me the confidence to actually talk about menopause or perimenopause in a professional context, in a coaching context.
What made you choose this menopause coaching diploma instead of other options?
Alicia Millar: I am a professional coach in my uh in my working life. I've been for many years. And the reason I chose to become a menopause coach or to do the menopause coaching diploma was because in my conversations with women, um. There was something getting in the way. There was something that we couldn't quite work out, and it wasn't necessarily to do with task or work product. There was something that was deeply personal that felt as if it was almost medical, um, and it was very much a lifestyle impact that was going on and we just couldn't work out what it was, not that it's, um, it was everybody. But when I started learning about menopause coaching and meeting Lauren, something clicked, and for me that was a gateway or a doorway into truly understanding what was going on for women at a certain stage in their professional and personal life and working out how best I can support the conversation, how best I can learn and understand what they might be going through so that I could help them.
What specific challenge or uncertainty did you have before enrolling, and how has the training resolved that?
Alicia Millar: A specific challenge or uncertainty before enrolling on the the menopause coaching diploma. Yes, I did. I have my own personal journey. Um, I'm in the midst of it for, uh, perimenopause and menopause. So to learn in a way that is for me, uh, and understanding what I'm going through and how I can support myself, to learn in a way that is for being a coach and something that I hold very dear in terms of my professional self, and to learn in a way that I can hold the space for others, are being a coach for other women. Uh, who are experiencing the challenges and tribulations around perimenopause and menopause. That was my concern. It may not sound like anything particular, but it's quite a dilemma. I take my, my, um, position as a coach very seriously, so I want to be able to hold space for others. But for the menopause diploma, I'm also learning about me, so yes, it was a. It was a, and continues to be actually, um, a little bit of uncertainty and challenge, um, which I think I've overcome.
How has this diploma changed your confidence, career, or business results so far?
Alicia Millar: The diploma has given me the confidence to actually talk about menopause or perimenopause in a professional context, in a coaching context. It's been present in my professional life for some time, but there's always this moment of, um, should I bring this up in a, in a professional context? Should I be talking about women's health in this way when we're talking about career? Um, and actually, yes, yes, we should. I definitely have the context and confidence to, to talk about, uh, menopause in a coaching way. On a personal level, um, going through to the, going through the diploma with incredible women, uh, who are also, uh, learning, who are also going through their menopause and perimenopause journey. That sense of community, that sense of we're all in it together. This, this, this joint confidence boost was a life affirming time. Um, I can't, I can't thank Lauren enough for that experience.
What surprised you most about the experience?
Alicia Millar: What surprised me most about the experience of going through the menopause coach diploma, uh, I think it's two things. First of all, the number of dedicated, knowledgeable, passionate medical professionals who are focused on perimenopause and menopause. Uh, the skill, the, the breaking of taboos and their generosity of time and information was, um, it was surprising. I was, I was wonderfully so. Uh, so to be able to have access to those people was, was, was great, absolutely great. Uh, the second was the learning from my fellow attendees on the, on the diploma course. Uh, we got the opportunity to coach each other, to practise the skills that we were, that we were developing, and be coaches, of course. Um, and during that coaching process, I received such Great support, care, um, curiosity from, from my fellow, uh, diploma attendees. And it made a real difference to me, the conversations that we had, genuine coaching in the moment and I'm very thankful for it.
Who would you recommend this diploma to, and why?
Alicia Millar: I would recommend the course, the menopause coaching diploma to anybody who is curious about perimenopause and menopause, the impact on life, uh, in a personal context, in a professional context, but certainly the things that can be done to support those going through perimenopause and menopause. However, you. identify, um, and whichever part of life or professional life you come from, there is so much to learn on a personal level, and there's so much to learn in supporting, um, and breaking down some barriers around around the topic of of menopause and perenopause and how we can collectively raise awareness, bring voice to a part of uh women's health that We just don't talk about enough, um, but I think that time is changing.
