Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elaine Michell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Elaine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

My qualification in counselling and psychotherapy has assisted in my approach to the business coaching industry, especially for creatives, to be vastly different from the industry standard.

Many of my new clients come to me amidst burnout and confusion – they have worked so hard on business courses, SEO, social media strategies, revenue streams and many more and, when little has sustainably worked, they feel like they have failed and that it is time to give up on their craft.
For many creatives, this business aspect is not their passion or natural gift, and tuning into so much at once is overwhelming for them and their creativity. Often, we will work together to ‘unlearn’ some of this noisy commercial development and explore how THEY can create contacts, audience, and opportunities in a way that feels possible and even joyful for them. It is magic to see what happens when an artist turns their focus back to their practice: monthly 5-figure membership platforms, international books, solo shows, a peaceful life…

With my training and passion for psychoeducation, I also work with my clients around their personal make-up (only ever at a safe depth they feel comfortable with). I work from a trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming approach and often include the impacts of our nervous system on our work and businesses.

Elaine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A big question! I completed my BA(hons) in Graphic Design in 2009, then headed to London to work in international agencies and, five years later, found my way back home to Cornwall to start my own design studio. It was here I noticed a gap between the client briefings and what they really needed, so I developed a consultancy-led process that happened before any design work began… it worked beautifully… too beautifully in fact, and I was repeatedly asked for this service by those I wouldn’t be working creatively with.

I have now worked with over 150 clients, and somewhere around 1000 sessions, supporting them through stagnancy, confusion, burnout, challenges, next steps, sector changes, personal obstacles and many more. Often these are creatives and artists, with many (but of course not all) experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, and/or neurodiversity. With this in particular, I strongly believe in a trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming approach.

As my approach focuses on the individual… their abilities, gifts, limits, experiences, drives and so on… it was important for me to become more adept at this supportive 1:1 work and so I enrolled in a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) gold standard accredited diploma, of which I have now completed. I utilise this life-long practice in my consultancy work, as well as counselling for an agency with a specialism in emotional trauma.

I am incredibly proud of the offerings I have developed, and how this contributes to needed changes within the business coaching sector.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Ah! That there is no single RIGHT answer! I think that the Western education system sets many of us up for trying to be correct… to believe that there is only one right tick box. So when we start a business, we might spend too much time researching, comparing, seeking and overthinking instead of looking into what feels right to us and what works for our chosen audience. We can forget that finding something that <i>doesn’t</i> work for us is a fantastic step towards our own potential.

This also works for consultancy – what is a good way forward for one client would be a terrible suggestion for another. In my role, it is vital that I explore WITH the individual in front of me so they are able to test and hone what <i>could</i> be a very beneficial solution.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Care. The work I do is in-depth and often allows the client to safely explore aspects they may not have been able to openly share before. Many of my clients state that they haven’t felt this level of respect and understanding in any previous business mentoring or coaching, and I believe it is this care that encourages them to return for sessions and to continuously refer their networks.

Contact Info:

• Website: studio1850.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/studio_1850

Image Credits
instagram.com/siriwanchmprn