Strengthen: we're stronger, together.
Strengthen: a coaching community. Affordable online support for mental health
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “Discovering Positive Psychology was my “eureka” moment”; here is a science that helps us understand how to build authentic happiness, and resource ourselves to recover from trauma. When I started my Master’s Degree at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, I felt like I had found my tribe. Since then, I have been keen to build that tribe, and work with other Positive Psychology practitioners. This was the main driver behind setting up the Positive Psychology Summit: UK with Andrew Foster and Catherine Stacey. I have also been looking for opportunities to work with my peers.
The opportunity to join Strengthen was first mooted in November 2019. I had a Zoom conversation – my first one! Now, my diary is full of them! - with Strengthen founder Andrea Urquart. It was amazing to find that Andrea had a similar vision, and was already working to turn it into reality.
Andrea had been concerned about the amount of non-evidence based information people were consuming, and that people could not afford coaching or to attend events. She wanted to provide science-based daily encouragement and access to group coaching at an affordable price. Andrea recruited a team of Positive Psychology coaches with professional qualifications and experience. Together, they developed the Strengthen mission:
Breaking isolation
Promoting mental fitness
Providing an encouraging, inclusive online community
Encouraging individuals to make healthy and positive choices
Inspiring people to take individual responsibility for their mental health, and
Using science-based tools and techniques to equip people to build well-being
The Strengthen platform has themed Groups including: What’s on; Gratitude wall; Strengthen Men; Strengthen women; Everyone thriving; Strengthen families; Adoption and Fostering; Mud Therapy; Growing confidence; Times of change; Wellbeing at work, and Business leaders. Strengthen coaches also run monthly online events for subscribers.
I run the Adoption and Fostering group, and Mud Therapy. Both of these are close to my heart! I am an advocate for the well-being of parents and carers of adopted or Looked After children. I also champion the therapeutic benefits of being outdoors.
I am delighted to be part of Strengthen. We had no idea when we set out, that our world would be rocked by the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown, and its impact on our work and schools. We have seen how depression, stress and loneliness has increased in the last few months. We are able to provide immediate, affordable online resources to help people. We offer encouragement, guidance, coaching and a place to build a safe, inclusive community based on the science of positive psychology.
Strengthen launched on 1st September 2020, and you can sign up for a five day free trial. The subscription can be payable monthly or annually. Subscriptions are half-price until the end of September, at £5.00 a month or £50 a year. This will in October to the full price of £9 per month and £90 a year.
Visit us here: Strengthen.
Legal: Strengthen Ltd is a private, UK registered limited company with a social impact mission. Strengthen Associate coaches work in collaboration with one another and Andrea Urquhart, founder of Strengthen, to bring this vision to life.
About Jane: Jane is a Positive Psychology Practitioner, based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
She is a Director of Autonomous Ideas Limited an associate for Worth-It CIC, a member of Strengthen, and part of the collaborative team at Essex Family Law. She is also a trustee for Home for Good, Suffolk, and an Adopter Voice Champion for Adoption UK.
Jane is also co-founder and co-organiser of the Positive Psychology Summit:UK.
She is a Fellow of the Positive Psychology Guild, and Autonomous Ideas Ltd, and the Positive Psychology Summit:UK are organisational members.