The Listening Chair
A quiet space to talk.
A trained listener.
No judgement. No fixing.
The Listening Chair
A quiet space to talk.
A trained listener.
No judgement. No fixing.
What is the Listening Chair
The Listening Chair is exactly what it sounds like.
A single chair, placed in a quiet corner of a community space, where someone can sit down, talk, and be listened to.
It is fully funded by me and offered completely free for people who feel they have no one to talk to.
There is no agenda. No pressure. No judgement.
Each session lasts around 20 to 25 minutes — about the average time someone spends sitting in a barber’s chair — long enough to feel heard, without needing to explain or justify anything.
It started with a haircut
A few months ago, I was sitting in a barbershop when the barber shared something unexpected. He’d started counselling training — not because he wanted to change careers, but because so many people were opening up while sitting in his chair.
Customers talked about their lives, their stress, their relationships, and the things they didn’t feel able to say anywhere else.
Not long after, a physiotherapy clinic owner told me something similar. Her team had become what she called “hidden listeners”, because clients felt safe enough on the couch to talk — without stigma or judgement.
A black cab driver friend said exactly the same. People unload their worries in the back of his cab, simply because it’s a private space with no expectations.
Different spaces.
The same human need.
It started with a haircut
A few months ago, I was sitting in a barbershop when the barber shared something unexpected. He’d started counselling training — not because he wanted to change careers, but because so many people were opening up while sitting in his chair.
Customers talked about their lives, their stress, their relationships, and the things they didn’t feel able to say anywhere else.
Not long after, a physiotherapy clinic owner told me something similar. Her team had become what she called “hidden listeners”, because clients felt safe enough on the couch to talk — without stigma or judgement.
A black cab driver friend said exactly the same. People unload their worries in the back of his cab, simply because it’s a private space with no expectations.
Different spaces.
The same human need.
Why Listening Matters
More and more of our world is becoming automated and disembodied.
Supermarket checkouts are unmanned.
High street banks are closing.
Conversations are replaced by screens, systems, and processes.
People are encouraged to work alone from home, rather than spend time in shared spaces where everyday human connection happens naturally.
And yet humans are pack animals. We are wired for contact, for being seen, and for being heard.
In the prison system, solitary confinement is recognised as a form of mental punishment. And yet many people are now living a version of solitary confinement outside of prison — surrounded by others, but unseen and unheard.
That’s the gap The Listening Chair exists to fill.
We are wired for contact, for being seen and for being heard.
What the Listening Chair is and is not
What The Listening Chair Is
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A trained listener
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Human-to-human connection
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A safe, confidential space
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Free and accessible
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Without judgement or expectation
What The Listening Chair Is Not
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Therapy
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Counselling
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Advice
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Fixing or problem-solving
This is about listening — nothing more, and nothing less.
About Me
I began my career in the corporate world, building businesses, leading marketing teams, and driving sales performance. Alongside this, I founded and ran a diverse range of ventures—from marketing and print to hospitality—giving me a deep, practical understanding of people, pressure, and performance.
My experiences span boardroom strategy sessions at Wembley Stadium to life-changing conversations around kitchen tables. They taught me one essential truth: everyone deserves to be treated with respect, understanding, and equality—no matter who they are or where they come from.
Eight years ago, I founded my wellbeing and coaching consultancy to support individuals and teams in a more meaningful way. I’m an accredited Life and Career Coach, trained in Trauma and Anxiety Awareness, Mental Health First Aid, and emotional support through my work as a fully trained Samaritans volunteer.
I’ve also served as an Ambassador for Oxfam and WaterAid, written two published novels, and six years ago stepped away from corporate ownership to fully commit to coaching, wellbeing, and purposeful work.
Today, I bring together commercial insight, coaching expertise, and deep emotional intelligence to support people and organisations that value people, purpose, and performance.
About Me
I began my career in the corporate world, building businesses, leading marketing teams, and driving sales performance. Alongside this, I founded and ran a diverse range of ventures—from marketing and print to hospitality—giving me a deep, practical understanding of people, pressure, and performance.
My experiences span boardroom strategy sessions at Wembley Stadium to life-changing conversations around kitchen tables. They taught me one essential truth: everyone deserves to be treated with respect, understanding, and equality—no matter who they are or where they come from.
Eight years ago, I founded my wellbeing and coaching consultancy to support individuals and teams in a more meaningful way. I’m an accredited Life and Career Coach, trained in Trauma and Anxiety Awareness, Mental Health First Aid, and emotional support through my work as a fully trained Samaritans volunteer.
I’ve also served as an Ambassador for Oxfam and WaterAid, written two published novels, and six years ago stepped away from corporate ownership to fully commit to coaching, wellbeing, and purposeful work.
Today, I bring together commercial insight, coaching expertise, and deep emotional intelligence to support people and organisations that value people, purpose, and performance.
Accreditations & Experience
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Life & Career Coaching
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Samaritans-trained Emotional Support
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Mental Health First Aider (MHFA)
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Trauma & Anxiety Awareness
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Confidence & Self-Esteem Support
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Safeguarding
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Former Ambassador: Oxfam & WaterAid
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Author of two published novels
The Response
The response to The Listening Chair has been far bigger than I ever imagined.
Quietly moving.
Deeply human.
And a clear reminder of how much people need to be heard.
Contact
If you’d like to learn more, host The Listening Chair in your community space, or simply get in touch, you’re welcome to reach out.
