We caught up with Jacqui Knight, sophrologist, psychotherapeutic counsellor, and teacher at the Sophrology Academy to ask about the career change she made.
What were you doing in your previous career?
I worked in learning and development for global organisations, focusing on leadership and talent development.
What motivated you to seek a change?
My experience of coaching and developing leaders led me to experience more and more how much people were struggling to find harmony in their lives. It was evident that the struggle to achieve, and be successful, in all areas of life, was leading to increased stress, anxiety and burnout. I felt that the tools available to me in my role at the time were limited.
Why sophrology?
Sophrology gave me something very practical and easily accessible to really make a difference for people struggling with their health and performance. Sophrology moves beyond other methods and combines so many proven techniques in a way that anyone can benefit from. I loved that it was flexible enough to tailor practices for individuals and meet specific needs, whilst also being effective for groups.
How do you work with sophrology now?
Training in sophrology and working more effectively with people in a meaningful way has led me to further train as a psychotherapeutic counsellor. As a result my work is currently focused in this area, I work one to one with people therapeutically, through my private practice, incorporating counselling, sophrology and coaching. I work face to face and online, meaning that I still have the opportunity to work with a wide range of people.
What do people come to you for?
People come to me for all kinds of reasons. These include anxiety, burnout, depression, loss and grief, recovery from trauma and complex trauma, relationship issues etc. I also specialise in working with people who are childless, not by choice.
What do you love most about working as a sophrology practitioner?
It works! In so many ways I have seen sophrology practices make a real difference for people. Often starting with simply releasing tension, regulating the nervous system, or building a relationship with their physical self and becoming aware of life in a different way. I’ve also worked with people who, through using sophrology practices, have found a sense of safety in their body, giving them access to process emotions and experiences.
Read more about choosing the right health and wellbeing course here, or come along to one of our Information Evenings, held regularly throughout the year to find out about sophrology in the UK and our professional training programmes.