Talking about Coaching
Does what it says on the tin: We talk about coaching. We, that is Yannick, Siwash and Nicki. We love coaching, collectively got a tonne of experience, knowledge and charm; and we all felt it was time to give something back to our wonderful coaching community. Whether you're a life coach, work with organisations or practice any other form of coaching, you can ask us anything and we'll discuss it for and with you so you can learn, grow and develop your practice and business skills!
Talking about Coaching
Deep Dive: From Corporate to Coaching Classical Musicians with Ruth Cooper-Dickson
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Welcome to this episode of Talking about Coaching, the podcast from coaches for coaches.
This episode is one of Yannick's deep dives into one topic or person and we’re talking about coaching with Ruth Cooper-Dickson who shares her inspiring journey from doing corporate work to coaching classical musicians, highlighting what it takes to break into a new line of work as well as innovative approaches to wellbeing and resilience through music and positive psychology. In July 2026 Ruth will be presenting the insights and learning from this journey at the European Conference for Positive Psychology (ECPP) in Dublin, and we thought it would be excellent to offer the conference audience (as well as a wider one) access to a deeper dive into how she made this dream happen, her approach to working with musicians and performers, and her experience along the way.
KEY TOPICS
- How to launch a successful coaching pilot
- Building resilience and confidence in musicians
- Community and relationship building through arts
- Using strengths and values in coaching
ABOUT RUTH
Ruth Cooper-Dickson is an award-winning positive psychology practitioner, trauma-informed coach, and founder of Thrivership Coaching™. A published academic, her recent practitioner research focuses on classical musicians, and she has developed and delivered a positive psychology coaching programme for musicians and composers in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Society, bringing evidence-based wellbeing tools to the unique pressures of a life in classical music. Her earlier academic work explored post-traumatic growth and coaching, a thread that continues to underpin her practice.
Ruth launched her wellbeing consultancy after her own experience of mental ill health, including Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and chronic burnout. That lived experience sits at the heart of her work, where she helps individuals and organisations start open, honest, and human conversations about Mental Wealth. Her trauma-informed approach to thrivership coaching supports people to grow after adversity rather than simply recover from it. She has been a patron of the UK anxiety charity No Panic since 2018.
Alongside her coaching, Ruth is a radio broadcaster who has hosted live since 2024, and a keynote speaker who has delivered talks for global brands, combining academic research with real-world insight. A certified breathwork leader and Mental Health First Aid Instructor of over a decade, she has trained thousands worldwide.
- Learn more about Ruth and her work at https://ruthcooperdickson.com/
- Ruth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthiecoops/
- Ruth’s Substack Coffee with Coops: https://ruthcooperdickson.substack.com/
- Ruth’s Podcast Espresso with Coops: https://ruthcooperdickson.substack.com/podcast
- Ruth’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthcooperdickson/
- Listen to Ruth every Friday 0730-1000 BST as she hosts the Breakfast Show: https://www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com/
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Coaching and Music
- 03:11 Ruth's Journey into Positive Psychology and Coaching
- 06:00 The Intersection of Music and Healing
- 08:52 Creating a Coaching Program for Musicians
- 12:07 The Structure and Goals of the Coaching Program
- 15:08 Navigating the Unique Challenges of Classical Musicians
- 18:00 The Role of an External Coach
- 21:00 Feedback and Impact of the Coaching Program
- 24:00 Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned
- 33:51 Embracing Creativity and Growth
- 36:14 Building Relationships in Coaching
- 39:26 Collecting Stories and Experiences
- 40:44 Identifying Personal Values and Strengths
- 42:36 The Importance of Humility in Performance
- 44:01 Creating Community Connections
- 45:15 Leveraging AI for Program Development
- 48:13 The Value of Pro Bono Work
- 50:56 Reflections on the Program's Impact
- 57:11 Future Opportunities and Collaborations
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