Who I work with
My leadership, business and personal coaching clients are thoughtful, capable people who want to make meaningful changes in their lives and work.
They may be successful by conventional measures, but sometimes feel that something is missing from the way they’re currently living or working. They may be at a crossroads, questioning what comes next, or simply wanting to feel more confident, purposeful and at ease with themselves.
Does this sound like you?
- You want greater clarity about your direction, whether in your career, business or personal life.
- You’re successful in many ways, but don’t always feel as confident or fulfilled as you’d like.
- You have a strong inner critic and can be hard on yourself (and perhaps a little perfectionistic).
- You sometimes struggle with self-doubt or feel like an imposter, even when others see you as capable.
- You want to understand yourself more deeply and develop a stronger sense of self-trust.
- You may be at a point of transition or wondering what you really want next.
- You care about doing work that feels meaningful and aligned with your values.
- You want to make a positive difference, whether through your work, your relationships or the way you live.
- You value creativity, curiosity and the freedom to think differently.
- You may describe yourself as introverted, sensitive or someone who thinks deeply, although you don’t have to identify with any of these labels.
- You want to feel more comfortable being yourself, rather than constantly trying to meet other people’s expectations.
- You want to create a life that feels genuinely yours, not simply one that looks successful from the outside.
- You’re interested in living with greater awareness and intention, whether or not meditation or mindfulness is part of your life.
I welcome all clients
While many of my clients are women, particularly those who identify as sensitive, thoughtful or high-functioning, I also work with men and people of all genders who resonate with my approach. I welcome clients from all backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse individuals, especially those who value creativity, inner growth and living with intention.
My philosophy
My hope is that my work will help you develop greater clarity about your direction, trust yourself more deeply, and feel more accepting of who you are, while also giving you the confidence to make the changes that matter in your life.
Here are some of the things I believe:
1. Real change begins with acceptance
Trying to ‘fix’ ourselves can sometimes keep us stuck. The turning point often comes when we learn to meet ourselves and our lives with greater honesty and acceptance. From that place, we have more freedom to make meaningful change.
2. We don’t need to have everything figured out
Many of us spend a great deal of energy trying to find certainty before we take the next step. But clarity often comes through action, exploration and experience. You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going to begin moving in the right direction.
3. Strength can be found in softness
Practising self-compassion isn’t a weakness. It gives us the resilience to face difficult things, the courage to make changes and the capacity to build stronger relationships with ourselves and others.
4. Success is personal
There is nothing wrong with wanting to achieve, grow or build a successful career or business. But external measures of success aren’t always the whole story. A fulfilling life is one that reflects your own values, priorities and what you consider most meaningful.
5. You are already enough, even as you grow
It’s human to want to learn, change and become the person we want to be. But growth doesn’t require us to believe that we’re fundamentally lacking. You can strive for more while still accepting yourself as you are today, with all your strengths, imperfections and possibilities.
6. There is no single right way to live
We don’t all need the same things, follow the same path or define success in the same way. My role is not to tell you who to become, but to help you listen more closely to yourself, understand what matters to you and make choices that feel genuinely right for you.
Curious to learn more?
If you’re wondering whether coaching might help you move forward, join me for a conversation.
Cressida Bradley
Explosure
‘Kate showed me how to plan towards goals and activities that match my vision and strengths. Change is not scary or unsettling, it’s reinvigorating and natural. It just makes sense. These are life-long skills taught with such grace, logic and empathy. I’ll always be grateful for Kate’s insight and support.’ Cressida Bradley, Director of Explosure’
Elizabeth Bull
Lizzy C Photography
‘I first engaged the services of Kate James as a business coach back during the initial stages of starting my business. Running a small business was still an unknown for me, and I felt alone and unsure of what I needed to do to make my business a success. Working with Kate really helped me clarify what I wanted to do and how I should go about doing it. She always gave me practical and achievable advice that worked well for my business and, importantly, aligned with my business ethics. Even many years after my initial meetings with Kate, I still regularly draw upon much of the advice she gave me. I credit a large part of my success to the advice and guidance she gave to me in the early days of my business, and the support she gives me to this day.’
Sarah Fisher
denu
‘I loved my coaching sessions with Kate and miss them now we’re done! In a very friendly and positive manner Kate helped me to pinpoint exactly what I was looking for in my career. We identified my passions, my strengths, ultimate job criteria and a whole lot more, including balancing career and family life. As a result of our sessions, I am about to launch my own business – something Kate helped me realise I’d been wanting to do for years and that if I didn’t give it a go, I’d likely have regrets. Her supportive and no-nonsense approach, including a wealth of experience and professional network were invaluable in assisting me to take the first very exciting steps.’
Kirsten MacKelden
Real Weddings
‘Like many small businesses, our growth was rapid and exciting. Working with Kate as our business coach enabled us to put much-needed systems and processes in place to effectively streamline and manage our business. Kate worked with us to clarify our business focus and the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. Sometimes I couldn’t see the forest for the trees, but Kate had a knack for giving things clarity and putting things into perspective in a succinct and professional way. Meeting with Kate was always an enjoyable experience and we hope to continue our relationship with her as we take the business to another level.’
Leanne Clancey
Food & Travel Writer
‘I first met with Kate when I was at a real career crossroads. Kate helped me to nut out my values and aspirations, recognise my natural talents and then identify opportunities and pathways for me to put that all together so that I could actually make stuff happen. I love the way that Kate was able to calmly and pragmatically break things down to the basics. Put simply, working with Kate helped me to get clear – which has been nothing short of life changing.’ Leanne Clancey, Food & Travel Writer
Clare Bowditch
Big Hearted Business
‘I absolutely adore Kate. She is a highly skilled, generous and enormously gifted business coach, especially for those who don’t traditionally consider themselves “business people”. I discovered her through sheer luck (thanks Google), and I remain sincerely grateful for the counsel she offered me back in 2010 when I was first fleshing out the bones for what would become Big Hearted Business. Thanks Kate!’
Jodie Holmes
Seaside Creative
‘What has been true with your approach right from the beginning is that you’re not like any other coach. You listened to my personal/business challenges, and provided tools and insights to enable me to understand ways I could overcome the challenges I was faced with. You understood me and what I wanted from the coaching. I could not have envisaged the benefits that your coaching has made, or the results I’ve achieved after such a short period of time. The investment has paid for itself well over: in my new efficiencies, and releasing my focus on the one thing that had me frozen – unable to make progress. I now approach the future with excitement, anticipation, and empowerment. I would not hesitate to recommend Kate James of Total Balance to anyone who has goals and dreams, be it for life or business, that they want to achieve and don’t know where to begin, or how to get there.’
Kerry Rowett
Awaken Kinesiology
‘Kate has a real gift for helping her clients stabilise when they’re going through challenges, or a time of growth. She has a wonderfully calm presence. Her advice is practical, grounded and strategic and she expertly guides you to seek your own solutions. In working with me on my kinesiology business during a time of expansion, Kate was able to help me formalise plans, work through many decisions and provide strategic guidance. Kate is generous in her nature and wonderfully affirming and encouraging. I have also seen the highly positive effects working with Kate has had on some of my clients, who always speak of her with the greatest respect.’
Still have questions about personal and professional coaching?
If you still have questions about the way that Kate works, or about coaching in general, you might find the answers on our frequently asked questions page or please contact us for a copy of our brochure or a proposal if your workplace is funding your coaching program. Coaching is generally tax deductible.