Keila Barnard
Transformational Life Coaching, Psychological Therapy, Clinical Supervision
— Exclusively online. Based in KENT, IN THE South East of England.
Client Testimonials
PAIN Protocol testimony—As a supervisee:
“I’ve done inner child work before in personal therapy, but had not made the explicit link to how my inner child responds to clients in the counselling room. Keila and I recognised that my work with primary school age children was causing strong feelings from my inner children who were determined to let me know how the process of being with other, actual, children and their difficulties was impacting them.
Sometimes this was frustrating, often it was painful and confusing. I think there is great value in listening to what my inner children have to say about how they feel about my young clients – their insights often mirror how my client’s peers respond to them and they remind me of the therapeutic value of play and of entering the child’s world – but they aren’t the therapist here, I am. I need to be able to acknowledge them, but not seek to work with them vying for my attention.
Keila’s PAIN Protocol is an amazing method of meeting the inner child with compassion and giving them permission to speak and get their needs met. It works with all ages of inner child – my 6-year-old and 15-year-old are both soothed by it –and is not unnecessarily complex. I love that I can respond to it instinctively and am always curious about what will come up, especially around the nutrition question. The PAIN protocol encourages me to get out of my head (where I’ve learned it’s safe but also where I’ve learned to hide behind intellectualising) and to embody my responses safely but congruently. How has it changed my practice? When clients bring especially difficult play, usually challenging boundaries, I can quietly remind my inner children that I have got this and they don’t need to stay. Sometimes, my 6-year-old has waved goodbye before I’ve even had the chance to give her permission! I’m more secure in my adult with my clients and, if my inner children tug on my sleeve, I bring their experience to supervision and listen to what they need.”
— R South East England
PAIN Protocol testimony—As a tutor:
“Having used Keila’s PAIN Protocol in my own supervision, I was certain it would be a safe and effective method to use with our Level 4 Counselling students when they were exploring their own inner children. Teaching a group of 16 people, it is important to remember that everyone has their own starting point and pace with self-development and it is vital that, as a tutor, I can differentiate across the group to ensure everyone’s needs are met. The PAIN Protocol does this brilliantly and, after I modelled the process during one session, students were able to manage facilitating each other through it the following week.
In the weeks that have followed this work, the students have discussed the impact of exploring their inner children and have talked about how they are now better in touch with their younger selves. Prompted by the principles of the PAIN Protocol, they are finding ways to soothe their inner children, including writing and saying loving affirmations to their younger versions, letting their inner children know when they, as the adult, can manage difficult or scary situations and that they don’t have to, and accessing play and playful behaviours. Many are unlocking creativity they have denied themselves for years. Ultimately, they are challenging the shame they experience which is attached to these ‘childish’ ways of being and letting themselves eat ice cream and ask for Lego for their birthdays. The PAIN Protocol has supported the students to nourish and soothe their inner children and allow them to be seen and welcomed in the group.”
— R South East England
“Keila has been more of a help than I even could have wished for. She is empathetic and understanding, and has a unique ability to be able to sense how you're feeling before you've made it clear. She truly has a gift and has been life changing in the support she has provided. If you want to take control of your life and need a helping hand to do so, I'd recommend her so so highly. Her guidance has changed my life in many ways and I feel happier, more confident, and able to tackle whatever life throws my way. She has even helped me resolve issues I did not know I had! I will be forever grateful.”
— H South East England
“I am writing this some months after my sessions with Keila – and am enjoying lasting change in the areas we worked on. I can say that the effects of working with Keila have continued to ripple out into all areas of my life, my approach to myself and life has changed on a deep level.
Keila’s coaching model is unique and powerful. I am someone who ‘knows all the theory’ but still found making changes and living with intention very difficult. I was becoming distressed and hopeless about my ability to make changes or even know what I wanted to do with myself and my life.
From the moment we met online I knew that Keila was incredibly focused and intuitive. The ‘work’ started straight away. Thanks to Keila’s insight and observation she helped me reach a clear set of aims in our first meeting. This clarity felt amazing after years of my cloudy roundabout thoughts. Keila gave me concrete tools to help me catch my unhelpful thoughts, feeling and behaviour patterns, along with a structure to move myself on and pivot my thinking.
It is difficult to put into words how working with Keila has worked on so many levels. Yes, there is accountability, which is a great motivator for change, but our work happened on a deeper level that meant I really integrated it. I changed, I was able to accept myself and understand myself on a level I have not experienced before.
Keila’s approach is holistic and compassionate with challenges that were always spot on and carefully delivered. I was ready for change but didn’t know what I wanted or how to get there. Keila’s skills and professional experience in therapeutic work informs her coaching model and I always felt safe in her understanding of me. Our sessions were powerful and often she helped my understanding move fast. I had lots of ‘ahah’ moments of insight - the changes I needed and wanted to make then came very easily, with much less effort than I had imagined would be needed. I was able to get out of my own way, the changes coming from within, truly transformative.”
— K South East England
“I now have a sense of calm and confidence to face life and its challenges, I have refound my resilience through knowing what I do and don’t want in life. I am able to be true to my values and principles. And able to say yes to new things and experiences!”
— K South East England
“I recently completed transformational life coaching program with Keila and it was a truly life-changing experience. Before enrolling in the transformational life coaching program, I was unfamiliar with the concept and unsure of how it could benefit me. However, after experiencing the program, I can vouch to its effectiveness and the positive impact it has had on my life.
The program provided me with the tools, resources, and guidance I needed to make significant changes in my personal and professional life. Keila is highly skilled, compassionate, and knowledgeable, and the program was structured in a way that allowed me to explore and identify my core values, beliefs, and goals. Her patience, understanding, and extensive knowledge were truly remarkable and greatly appreciated.
I wholeheartedly recommend Keila and her transformational life coaching program to anyone who is seeking to make meaningful and lasting changes in their life. It has truly changed my life for the better. The coaching I received was exceptional and has given me everything I need to achieve my goals and dreams.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Keila for her exceptional guidance and support throughout the transformational life coaching program. Your expertise and dedication have truly made a difference in my life, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you.”
— V South West England
“I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your help and support it really gave me the space to explore what has been going on in my head and to try to find a bit of order and structure. I have found that I have been able to make and mostly stick to simple routines, as well as allowing myself the grace to change, adapt and stop when I need to. Since we started our sessions, I have made massive progress within my personal life, through organising, decluttering, changing and setting routines, as well as asking for help when I have needed it. This has had a bit impact on my moods and I am able to handle the overwhelm much better than I could before. Thank you so much again for this valuable work.”
— C Northern England
“Keila worked with me over our time together in a way that empowered me to make changes in my life whilst supporting me in every way. Her calm and positive nature and way of working provided a safe space to explore my thoughts and feelings which helped with me making the changes I was considering. She is professional in every way and this was evident in her communications, her knowledge and guidance when appropriate. I would recommend her to friends and family and would also not hesitate to work with her again in the future.”
— N South East England
“I can highly recommend Keila. Her insight and intuitive wisdom have been a guiding light in my darkness of moments. Not only does she listen intently, make me feel completely held and safe to share the hardest of wounds, she provides incredibly beneficial feedback and poignant questions. Keila will hold your hand but empower you to find answers for yourself, giving deep and lasting changes for your transformation. She is a gifted soul and extremely passionate about what she does to support others.”
— P Midlands