between Selves
A space to untangle and focus when everything's changed and changing…
Transition coaching for women to support you in the early postnatal years - Identity Work Relationships and Purpose.
Starting Date tbc 2026
1:30-3:00pm | In-person at E7 Movement | 5 consecutive weeks
Babes in arms welcome
Created and led by Kelly A Drake in collaboration with e7MOVEMENT
Motherhood signals a totally new chapter. However, once through the early days, many of us find ourselves submerged under stereotyped caregiving roles, confusion about returning to work, unexpected identity shifts and relentless societal expectations.
Careers that once felt purposeful can suddenly feel unworkable or stale. Relationships feel challenged by changing priorities, lack of time and energy. You might love your children fiercely and still feel trapped. You might be grateful and overwhelmed at the same time.
This postnatal crossroads is a rich transitionary place—but there’s no roadmap.
You're a mother* with babies/young kids (under 5) who’s ready to re-connect with who you are now - the self that got a bit lost somewhere between the nappy changes and nursery runs.
You're tired of ‘getting through’ and keen to think about and intentionally design what comes next and how you’d like your life/work/self to ‘be’…even though you know it might not happen overnight
You're thinking about the return to work and would like space to reimagine what this needs to be as the woman you are becoming.
You're already working…dissatisfaction’s set in and you want to figure out how to change things.
You want to retrain or switch careers but concerned how to make any of this happen
You've struggled to make time for yourself and want to reconnect with what gives you joy and meaning.
Relationships have taken a back seat and you’d love a space to process this and reconnect with how you want your intimacies to be - friends, family, partners.
This new in-person coaching course is for you if:
This new bespoke 5-week coaching course designed with e7MOVEMENT and open to ALL* mums will offer a vital structure and headspace to focus on you; who you are now and who you want to ‘become’ next; what you want for yourself, and from work, career and relationships.
*ALL and any mums are very welcome; LGBTQ+, Cis Het, Trans non-binary and non-bio.
The course will help you to process what’s happened and most importantly map out your priorities and what matters to you for your next ‘chapter’.
The course frames this postnatal time as an archetypal ‘threshold moment’ that requires specific abilities; a tolerance for uncertainty, the permission to want more, and the practical tools to bring about the changes you desire.
This is a fun, creative and small group coaching programme for any mother of babies or young kids who would value a bespoke space to process the issues related to matrescence, life and work. The 5-week programme will include a range of coaching methodologies, psychological, somatic and energetic, within a frame of large and small groupwork, creativity and writing.
A grounded weekly space to process what's happened, work out who you are now, and design what comes next.
What We'll Cover
We start by getting honest about where you actually are—not where you think you should be. We'll explore why transitions feel so destabilising and map out what's going on across your work, relationships, body, and sense of self.
Week 1: Standing at the threshold - who am I now?
We work on reconnecting to who you were before kids—your strengths, values, and desires—and give you space to want something different now. We'll dismantle the myths about being a "good mother" and start building your own vision of what's next.
Week 2: Identity - desire, permission & vision - who do you want to become?
Week 3: The work-life redesign - creating practical pathways
The practical stuff. If you hate your job, what are your actual options? If you want to retrain, what does that really cost and take? We'll look at flexibility models you haven't considered and design small experiments you can run without blowing up your life.
How having kids detonates relationships and partnerships (even good ones), the invisible labour wars, and what you actually need from your nearest and dearest. We'll work on boundaries, getting what you want and need, and renegotiating any setup that's not working right now.
Week 5: Sustainability - integration, celebration and what's next?
We pull it all together into a plan you can actually follow. What support do you need? What boundaries do you need to set? What's your first move? You will create your own action plan and work out how to sustain momentum when life gets chaotic.
Week 4: Relationships - boundaries, asks and possibilities
between Selves is
a facilitated space and time to:
Take stock - gain insights and carity about where you actually are now and what you might want and need going forward
Wonder if you want and need something else/new/different in your life/work and tools to work out what that is
Think about your career and work - the real options for career change, retraining, or redesigning your work
Redefine boundaries and create scripts for asking for what you need from partners, family, and employers
Think about practical next steps you might want to take and plan your action taking
Acquire new ways to self-help - empowering, understanding and managing yourself better so you can deal with uncertainty and change
Grow a new community of women who get it and who you can be honest with
Gain a new sense of forward momentum and connection with what gives you joy and meaning
How ‘between selves’ works
This is a small, intimate group coaching programme (maximum 12 women) meeting in person at E7 Movement (Forest Gate) for 90 minutes each week over 5 consecutive weeks.
The course will use a range of coaching methodologies—psychological, somatic, and creative—within a framework of group work, paired exercises, reflective writing, art and creativity.
Before the course starts each woman will be sent joining info and course preparation materials.
Babes in arms are of course welcome.
Course fee
The entire programme fee is £150.00 per person.
e7MOVEMENT members - £125.00
Fee include the 5 weeks of coaching, all materials produced, all meetings and membership of our ongoing online support community where the participants and Kelly will available for help during the course dates.
Payments can be made in full or in two payments - options are given at the cart stage. Press on any of the red buttons.
between Selves
FAQs
What if I can't make one of the sessions?
Consistency matters for groups, so I encourage full attendance but life happens…If you miss a session, you'll receive materials from that week and can catch up via the group's online community space.
Is this therapy?
No - this is coaching—focused on moving forward and creating practical change. My style of working is therapeutic however and of course we may dip into your life story in order that you understand yourself better.
Who is this course for?
This course has been designed for people who are recent mothers and who’s kids are approx 5 and under. It’s for women on mat leave and those that have gone back to work or considering not returning at all or setting up something independent—this course is designed for wherever you are in this transition; navigating the early postnatal years and feeling at a crossroads.
What's included beyond the 5 weekly sessions?
You'll receive materials and coaching prompts and access to a private online community space where you can get ongoing support from peers and from me between sessions.
I'm not an E7 member. Can I join?
Yes! This course is open to any mother who would benefit from this space, whether you're an E7 member or not.
I'm not local or able to attend in person - is there an online ‘between Selves’ I can join?
Yes - please email in here and I’ll send you the dates of any relevant courses as they arise.
Kelly A Drake
My Approach
I've been called many things in my time… but recently a client very comedically called me her ‘modern-day guru’ due to the extensive range of modalities, resources, tools, techniques, information, and ‘downloads’ at my fingertips. I’ve been directly working with and for people for a long time now (39 years!) and in this time I’ve gained a really wide and eclectic toolkit that I draw upon; creative, coaching, therapeutic, executive and personal development approaches. Alongside this I have over 40 years’ of lived experience and professional expertise as a queer woman in leadership, management, writing and art. I also have three kids that I had as a ‘solo parent by choice’ in my 40’s.
My academic and qualification background includes degrees in Philosophy (BA), Fine Art (painting) (BA) and Social Work (MA), a groupwork & counselling Diploma, tarot and meditation training, co-counselling leadership, and membership of the Analytic Coaching Network at the EcoLeadership Institute.
My work is rooted in deep listening; so I can hear and understand your wants, desires and resistance and ask incisive questions that help you to understand yourself better. With increased awareness you are better equipped and empowered to help yourself to make plans, take action and work through any limiting beliefs that may hold you back.
My practice sits within a systemic intersectional feminist frame: we are all interconnected, and our experiences as people are both personal and political, inherently shaped by the systems we live and work in, and the intersectional spaces we occupy.
These sessions focus on incisive and safe creative groupwork practices; questioning and reflection to drive real-world internal and external change and action. If you're looking for change or feeling stuck, the sessions will offer insights you can apply immediately to spark momentum and further change.
Testimonials
“I am part way through Kelly’s Second Act Success course and couldn’t recommend it more. SHE and her materials are FANTASTIC! Bloody Brilliant!”
“I feel that this will absolutely result in the transformation I need at this point in my life.” CL
‘Kelly’s coaching is extremely subtle and very deep. Self-led and groupwork, which I have really enjoyed. I’ve found a place to boldly and honestly process life in Kelly’s groups and coaching spaces without fear holding me back.
Kelly leaves each participant with a toolkit and pathway - all of which has been invaluable for me as a woman, mother and professional.’ Tess K
“At the heart of this course is Kelly’s invitational style and infectious enthusiasm to search at a deeper level within, what might be brought forth nurtured and cultivated into something life enriching not only in work but in all spheres of life. Being in a group with other open, warm women on similar journeys and finding support and learning from each other was integral to that journey. This course was so pivotal in helping me to make my next steps forward into helping me to align with what I have to offer with what rings true for me as a person and continues to resonate as I journey on ! Thank you Kelly. ❤️” AS
“Thank you again for a most meaningful programme. I feel truly blessed to have found your course and this group of remarkable people. It truly has been a godsend. Thank you for making such a huge difference to our lives....” ZW
"Your format of processing our ideas, thoughts and emotions in a supportive network with such amazing people on similar journeys whilst being able to see real progress through creative outlets has been invaluable in driving me through this transition” JW
"Kelly, your courses (I've been on two!) have been so enlightening.
It's incredibly supportive to have such a safe space to explore this stuff. Your teachings and insights are invaluable."