Sharon Bent MSc - Trauma Specialist Coaching Psychologist
Bio
I am a coaching psychologist with over two decades of experience working with children, families, and professionals across a range of statutory and supportive services. My career began in children’s social work, where I specialised in child protection and safeguarding, working at the sharp end of risk, vulnerability, and resilience. For more than 20 years, I’ve supported individuals and families navigating complex emotional landscapes, giving me a deep and nuanced understanding of how early life experiences can shape self-belief, behaviour, and well-being in adulthood.
Throughout my career, I have remained committed to a strengths-based, person-centred approach, always seeking to empower rather than pathologise. I believe people are more than their challenges. This belief is at the core of my coaching practice, where I work with adults seeking to reconnect with their strengths, rebuild confidence, and develop a more compassionate and constructive relationship with themselves.
I hold a Master’s degree in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, where I trained in evidence-based approaches that support well-being, resilience, and personal growth. My coaching is informed by the science of flourishing — incorporating models of self-determination, character strengths, post-traumatic growth, and self-concept theory — and underpinned by extensive real-world experience working with people in emotionally charged and high-stakes environments.
Currently, I am pursuing a Doctorate in Coaching Psychology, researching how positive psychology coaching interventions (PPCIs) can support adults who have experienced childhood emotional harm (CEH) in developing healthier self-concepts and improving their psychological well-being. My research is focused on addressing the gap between trauma awareness and practical coaching tools that can support clients ethically and effectively — without stepping into therapeutic territory.
I bring to my coaching practice a wealth of experience in reflective practice, supervision, and ethical decision-making — skills honed through years of frontline work, critical incidents, and multi-agency collaboration. I am known for my excellent communication skills, grounded empathy, and ability to hold space for complexity without judgment. Whether working with professionals experiencing burnout, adults struggling with self-worth, or individuals looking for deeper self-understanding, I create a safe, structured, and supportive environment for change.
My clients describe me as insightful, calm, empowering, and deeply respectful of their lived experiences. I work with individuals who are ready to move beyond surface-level goals and explore who they are, what matters most, and how to lead a life aligned with their values and inner strengths.
I offer one-to-one coaching sessions, reflective coaching supervision, and developmental coaching programmes tailored to the unique needs of each client. I am passionate about advancing the coaching profession through research, ethical practice, and trauma-informed awareness — and about helping people thrive, not just function.
Positive Psychology Coaching to Help You Rebuild Confidence, Clarity and Self-Belief
About Me I'm a qualified coaching psychologist with an MSc in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, and I specialise in helping people reconnect with their strengths, values, and sense of purpose. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, battling imposter syndrome, or simply feeling stuck, I create a supportive, evidence-based coaching space to help you grow from where you are — not who you think you should be.
With a strong foundation in positive psychology, I work with clients who want more than just goal-setting. I support you in exploring your identity, increasing self-awareness, building confidence, and creating a meaningful life aligned with your values.
What I Offer ✔️ One-to-one coaching grounded in evidence-based practice ✔️ Positive psychology tools tailored to your goals ✔️ Focus on self-concept, confidence, and psychological well-being ✔️ Coaching that’s strengths-based, reflective, and action-oriented ✔️ A safe, non-clinical space to explore real growth
Who I Work With I coach people who:
Feel stuck or uncertain about their direction
Struggle with self-doubt, low confidence or negative self-talk
Want to build resilience, motivation, and clarity
Are looking to make meaningful changes in life, work, or mindset
Value deep, insight-led coaching grounded in positive psychology
Let’s Talk If you’re ready to step into a stronger version of yourself and want a coach who combines warmth, structure, and evidence-based tools, I’d love to support you. Book a free discovery call and let’s see if we’re a good fit.
Sharon Bent MScCertified Coach
Positive Psychology Coaching to Help You Rebuild Confidence, Clarity and Self-Belief
Experience
With more than 20 years of experience working in children’s social care, I have developed a deep, compassionate understanding of human behaviour, emotional resilience, and the lifelong impact of early relational experiences. Much of my professional journey has been shaped by frontline work in child protection, where I supported vulnerable children and families facing adversity, trauma, and crisis. This work demanded not only clinical knowledge and ethical rigour, but also unwavering empathy, cultural sensitivity, and emotional resilience.
Over the years, I have worked in a variety of roles across statutory and multi-agency settings. These included leading assessments, safeguarding interventions, and care planning, as well as working collaboratively with health, education, and mental health professionals. What remained consistent throughout was my commitment to a strengths-based approach — seeing people as more than their circumstances, and helping them identify the internal and external resources they could draw on to move forward.
As my career progressed, I became increasingly interested in the psychological dimensions of growth, healing, and identity, particularly in those who had experienced childhood emotional harm or neglect. I observed that many of the adults I worked with — whether as parents, professionals, or care leavers — were grappling with longstanding issues around self-worth, identity, and belonging. These were not just clinical or behavioural concerns, but existential and psychological ones. This insight led me to pursue a formal transition into coaching psychology.
I completed a Master’s degree in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, where I trained in evidence-based models of well-being, motivation, and human flourishing. My coaching practice grew from there, built upon my professional foundation of deep listening, relational depth, and reflective inquiry. I now work as a coaching psychologist, supporting adults who are seeking greater self-awareness, confidence, and alignment between who they are and how they live.
My approach to coaching is rooted in positive psychology, drawing on interventions that foster strengths, meaning, optimism, and psychological resilience. While I work with a broad range of clients — from professionals seeking clarity and purpose, to individuals working through self-doubt and identity questions — I bring particular expertise in self-concept development, emotional well-being, and reflective practice.
In addition to my coaching work, I am currently undertaking doctoral research in Coaching Psychology, exploring how Positive Psychology Coaching Interventions (PPCIs) can support adults with a history of childhood emotional harm. This research is born from a recognition of a significant gap in both the academic and coaching literature — namely, the lack of structured, ethical, and research-informed approaches to supporting clients who carry the psychological residues of early emotional neglect or abuse, but who are not necessarily in need of therapy. My goal is to offer both conceptual insight and practical tools that coaches can use responsibly, staying within their scope while making a meaningful difference.
Reflective practice has been central to my development throughout my career. I have participated in and facilitated reflective supervision, recognising its importance for growth, learning, and emotional sustainability — especially in emotionally intensive professions. I bring this same reflective lens to my coaching practice, offering a space where clients can explore not just what they want to achieve, but who they are becoming.
My professional identity is now a rich integration of my social work background, academic knowledge, coaching experience, and ongoing research. I am passionate about helping people discover new perspectives, cultivate resilience, and reconnect with their strengths — especially when those strengths have been obscured by self-doubt, societal messages, or past emotional injuries. I see coaching as a collaborative, transformative space — and I am committed to holding that space with ethical care, curiosity, and courage.
Qualifications
BSc Nursing & Social Work MSc Positive Psychology Coaching & Coaching Psychology Counselling Certificate EMCC Practitioner Accreditation