Rachel Cohen Coaching

Watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle with my teenage daughters, I found myself thinking about how easy it is to compare ourselves with everyone else's highlight reel.
We see the launches. The awards. The fully booked clinics. The "overnight success".
We rarely see the years of slog, swest tears and work that came first.
The difficult conversations. The mistakes. The self-doubt. The persistence.
As coaches, clinicians and business owners, it's easy to forget that the visible moments are just that... moments.
The real work happens when nobody is watching.
And perhaps that's where the magic really is.

I've been a little quieter on social media recently.

Not because I've been doing less. But behind the scenes I've been coaching, planning, learning, leading, building and reflecting.

I've also been thinking a lot about what success means. Success isn't about being the busiest. It's about building a business and a life that feel aligned with my values.

One that creates impact without sacrificing wellbeing.

One that allows space for family, growth, purpose and joy.

And that's exactly what I want for the therapists I work with too.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support, encourage and trust me with part of their journey.

I'm excited about what's ahead.

Rachel x

I was honoured to attend such a special event, not sure i have cone down to earth yet!

A wonderful trip to the capital, meeting new faces, catching up with old and connecting with my 'professional tribe'!

Some inspiring people and stories, reminding me of the support and generosity of 's

Lovely to spend time getting to know .slt and

Sad to cut my day a bit short

I don’t think we talk enough about the emotional load of being an independent SLT.
Not the obvious parts of the job…
But the quieter bits.
The parent who is really worried and looking at you like you’ll have the answers.
The school that’s stretched and hoping you can somehow “fix” things.
The child you genuinely care about, where progress isn’t always straightforward.
And somehow, without it being said out loud, you can start to feel like you’re holding… everything.
The plan.
The responsibility.
The hope.
I’ve definitely felt that at times in my own work.
And I notice it a lot when I’m talking to SLTs I coach as well — especially those working independently, where there isn’t a team around you to share that weight.
What I’ve come to realise is this:
Just because you can hold it all, doesn’t mean you should.
That’s not what makes you a good clinician.
Actually, some of the most grounded, effective SLTs I know are the ones who have learnt to:
– care deeply, but not carry everything
– offer expertise, but not take on full responsibility
– stay alongside families and schools, without absorbing all the pressure
That balance isn’t always easy.
And it’s not something we’re really taught.
But it matters — not just for your wellbeing, but for the sustainability of your practice.
Because you can’t do your best work if you’re quietly overwhelmed.
If this resonates, just know you’re not the only one who’s felt it.
Rachel
The Cheshire Coach

1️⃣ Communication expertise within mainstream education
As expectations around inclusion increase, schools may need more support understanding the communication demands within learning environments. SLT's have so much experience and knowledge to offer here

2️⃣ Strategic collaboration
SEND reform emphasises collaboration across education, health and care.
SLTs who position themselves as partners within that system will be increasingly valuable.

3️⃣ Earlier communication support
If systems shift toward earlier intervention, speech and language expertise will be needed earlier in the pathway. Again SLT's have so much to offer!

None of these opportunities require SLTs to become different clinicians, they may require us to think differently about how to position ourselves

This kind of strategic thinking is something I love exploring with independent SLTs through coaching and mastermind work.
Because when clinicians start to see their expertise through a wider lens, new possibilities often emerge.

SEND reform is prompting a lot of questions for Speech and Language Therapists working in independent practice.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been reading through the new SEND White Paper and consultation documents carefully to understand what the proposals might signal for SLTs and other AHPs working with children and schools.
Rather than reacting quickly to headlines, I think it’s important to consider the direction of travel within the system.

I’ve prepared a short strategic briefing for independent SLTs sharing some reflections.
If you’d like a copy, send me a message and I’ll happily share it.

Rachel
The Cheshire Coach

One day you’ll look back and think, damn, I really went for it.

Not halfway. Not safely.

You took the risk when nothing was guaranteed and kept going when it got uncomfortable.

You chose the life you wanted over the life that felt acceptable.

It wasn’t clean or confident the whole way.

There were doubts, missteps, and moments you almost quit.

But you stayed in the fight.

And that choice changed everything.

That’s the kind of memory that hits deep.