Two former Stoke-on-Trent primary school teachers have set up a company to provide anxiety and confidence coaching for children and adults.
Amanda Mikalauskas and Karen Burgess-Jones, with 45 years of teaching experience between them, now teach important skills to calm anxiety, boost self-confidence and promote improved mental health.
They launched their Vici Coaching business after realising during the pandemic that anxiety levels among young people were a major concern.
Anxiety issues are being highlighted this week by the Mental Health Foundation as they launch Mental Health Awareness Week.
Amanda and Karen are trained in the STILL Method, a programme created by award-winning social worker Stuart Thompson which offers a step-by-step approach to reducing anxiety.
They set up a Community Interest Company, ViciSTILL in November 2021 enabling them to run free sessions in community venues by accessing National Lottery funding.
So far Vici (pronounced “Veechy,” referencing Julius Caesar’s Veni, Vidi, Vici saying), has worked with more than 200 people, 90 of whom are adults, mainly women.
The programme participants, including many schools, have been located in Staffordshire, especially for the lottery-funded programmes but they have also coached outside Stoke via Zoom.
“As the number of children and teenagers with anxiety is continuing to rise, the STILL Method is a fun, effective, program that we can deliver – it was created to build confidence, resilience and empower,” said Amanda.
“The STILL Method has five elements: STOP-TALK-IMAGINE-LISTEN-LEARN, and the plan provides participants with the tools to deal with difficult feelings, fears and phobic thoughts.
“Each element of the STILL Method incorporates tools from a range of disciplines including Neuro-linguistic Programming, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, positive psychology, coaching and personal development.
“It is a fun and engaging program for children and adults that also boosts confidence and raises self-esteem.”
Vici offers both private 1:1 sessions and community group sessions. It is also about to launch Drawing and Talking group sessions for children and STILL Sessions for younger children, with a KS3 mentoring programme also on the cards later this year,
“Every minute of our sessions is crafted to help young people grow in confidence, control emotions, overcome fear, and build happiness with tools that last a lifetime,” added Karen.
Vici has been asked to run a three-week workshop – STILL Learning/Performing – which is a shorter program designed for a quick confidence boost and anxiety busting techniques, to run alongside Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce’s Women Into Business training.
The company is also looking for private business sponsors who would be prepared to provide sponsorship for a 1:1 six-week program for a child whose parents are in difficult financial circumstances.
- The vast majority of staff working in UK schools (95 per cent) have witnessed increased levels of pupil anxiety since the start of the school year, according to research published by children’s mental health charity Place2Be and the NAHT.
