Our Team
Our Team
Claire Elmes
So about me, I'm Claire Elmes I am a Wellbeing Consultant trained as a Therapeutic Life Coach and the founder of Inspire You. I set up private practice in 2008/2009 as a side hustle when a friend suggested it over a glass of wine! Little did I know the journey I was about to embark upon.
I have been in the wellbeing industry for over 14 years having been employed by the NHS, Local Authority, Voluntary Sector as well as self employed. I bring a wealth of experience to support individuals, teams, organisations and families. I love seeing people make small changes that make a massive difference to their lives.
I am passionate about employee wellbeing and work-life balance having previously experienced Burnout in 2015. Back then I would never have sought help as I would have seen it as a failure and just 'ploughed on'. Luckily, I got married and had a few weeks away on Honeymoon. Having time away gives us space to reflect (I think that is where we are all at now with the pandemic) and allows you step back and work out what is important. I am now on a mission to help people recognise signs of stress and burnout and ensure companies and individuals alike have the right support.
I love my job!! Not many people can say that can they?! But when you help someone to find themselves and overcome their biggest obstacles it is so inspirational. I feel so honoured to share people's journey's and help them strive for their goals, to be the best version of themselves.
When I'm not working, you'll find me out and about with my lovely family (I have 2 children, a loving husband and dog Bobby), planning travels and adventures and enjoying socialising with friends, as well as keeping an eye on Brighton and Hove Albion football games!
Qualifications: BA (hons) PGDip MANLP MBACP
- EMDR
- Solution Focused
- NLP Practitioner and Master Practitioner
- Behaviour Activation
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Lego Therapy
- Certified Life Coach
- Stress Management
- Performance Coaching
Work:
I have worked in many areas including:
- Bereavement Service
- Domestic Abuse Service
- Education
- Social Services
- Children and Families Assessment Teams;
- Looked After Children
- Children at Cusp of Care
- NHS
- Adult Community Mental Health Teams
- Youth Offending Therapeutic Service
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
Chloe Ireland
I joined Inspire You back in May 2022 as part of an 8 week internship programme, as Claire's admin assistant! Since then I've been fortunate enough to have gained a variety of experience lots of different sectors of the business such as communicating with clients, graphic design, marketing, attending expos and even writing article segments. Since I've been enjoying my time so much, Claire has offered to keep me on part-time for the rest of my studies. I am completing my masters in Clinical Psychology at the University of Sussex.
Teresa O'Connell
I am a qualified play therapist with 25 years experience Teaching and Leadership in Special Needs Schools
My passion is wellbeing for all and I support children to communicate, express and regulate. I have developed a wellbeing tool kit which now includes; Play Therapy, EMDR, AutPlay, , Laughter yoga and Child and Parent relationship Therapy
I am a Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer supporting staff to recognise and respond to the signs of young people who are struggling with their mental health.
I am a big advocate for the benefits of supervision in school and have trained in both clinical and safeguarding supervision; offering supervision for school staff that is both creative and supportive of developing positive wellbeing and professional development
Emma Saccomani
I'm on a mission to get workplaces, communities and families to build the confidence to have wellbeing conversations and tackle challenging topics thoughtfully and be inspired to take small steps beyond the training event for others and their own self-care.
As a Learning and Development professional with 25 years in the corporate world I'm a qualified Mental Health First Aid Instructor too and I support leaders to select appropriate evidence-based/informed training and customised options to upskill their workforce according to the needs of their role and operational challenges.
In my workshops and talks, my pragmatic, down-to-earth and compassionate approach, enables participants to explore deeply uncomfortable topics, including suicide in a safe and more comfortable way and I carefully balance sensitive topics with the need to have fun whilst learning!
My volunteering experience as a facilitator and trustee with a local mental health charity, member of several NHS working groups around suicide and rollercoaster experience supporting my teenage daughter drive me to promote practical engaging solutions sharing ways to thrive, not 'in spite of', but because of our challenges so we can build resilience in an ever-changing world.
Qualifications:
- Mental health First Aid England Instructor
- 'i-act' for positive mental health and wellbeing qualified instructor
- Suicide First Aid - City & Guilds Understanding Suicide Interventions
- Adult Safeguarding Essentials Surrey Skills Academy attendance
- Training Accreditation Programme for experienced trainers July 2005
Emma Pennycard
Throughout my 25-year career in the Travel Industry in buying and HR roles my passion has always been working with people, and not just the part that shows up to work, but the whole person.
In my role as People Director for a medium sized group of travel companies, I regularly developed and delivered training to teams of all sizes whilst overseeing the training plan for the group which included a myriad of internal and external training programmes. I understand the learning and development needs of businesses and individuals when it comes to growing knowledge, skills and mindset.
As a colleague, a manager, and HR Professional I have coached people for many years. The power that coaching brings through listening and reflecting enables people to explore and embrace choices that can transform the way they think and act.
This people-centric career in the corporate world, led me to set up my own business in People Development in April 2019. I added an Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching to my experience in training, leadership and managing teams and I work with both businesses and individuals to unlock the full purpose and potential within themselves and their teams.
My passion and expertise lie in behaviour, what drives our thoughts and actions and how with self-awareness we can change these, leading to greater impact, success, and overall wellbeing. My interest in this area led me to become an Addicted Behaviours Coach and through this I work with people on breaking and creating habits that transform their lives.
I love working with people on their personal and professional development and especially anything within mental fitness and wellbeing.
I believe at the heart of any organisation is its people, they are the ones looking after your clients, your teams and ultimately your profits. That is why investing in your people’s development and wellbeing must sit at the heart of your business plan.
I love everything about working with people and empowering them to learn, explore and remove any obstacles that are in their way so that they can be the best that they can be whatever that means to them.
Qualifications:
- Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching from The Animas Centre for Coaching
- Specialist Addictive Behaviour Coach from The Coaching Academy
- Certified Personal Profile Analysis practitioner from Thomas International
- Train the Trainer with Kent Trainers
- ILM Management Programme with Kent Trainers
- Leadership Development Programme with Peak 15
- 9 GCSE’S including 5 A-C including English Literature, English Language, Maths
Work:
- Accredited Life Balance Coach and Trainer/ Founder of BeCoaching
- Member of the A-Team at the Internation Stress Management Association
- Group People Director at the Albatross Group of Companies
- Group Purchasing and Product Development Director at the Albatross Group of Companies
- Chair of the Governing Board at the Claire Foster Memorial Fund
Emma Rioseco
Just because a child might not be able to express themselves verbally, doesn’t mean they don’t have important things to say
Hello, I’m Emma and I am a certified Play Therapist (PTUK Certified). I have over 16 years of experience working with children in a variety of settings such as youth work, mainstream and SEND schools, council schemes, private family work and therapeutically.
Life can sometimes get overwhelming or difficult for any of us at any time. Play Therapy can be a great tool to help process, understand and find solutions in these challenging moments. It is not about asking a child to enter a room and sit and talk about their feelings or experiences - that’s hard enough for us as adults to do (!), let alone a child who might not have the language to explain verbally how they are feeling. A child’s natural form of communication and expression is play. I am trained to use a “toolkit” of equipment such as sand, art, role play, puppets and music to help children use the power of play to navigate their emotions.
I can offer 1;1 or group Play Therapy either privately or in schools to help children through numerous different challenging circumstances including bereavement, anxiety, sleep difficulties, trauma, life changes and adjustments, peer difficulties and much more. I am also working towards becoming a Certified Autplay Practitioner and have vast experience in working with children with SEND (see more about this below).
When I am not working I enjoy a good mix of travel and adventure and cosy PJ days at home in West Sussex with my husband and 2 young children.
Additional Training:
- Makaton
- First Aid
- Safeguarding
- Epilepsy
- TEACCH
- Prevent
- Health and Safety
- Team Teach
Awards:
We are very happy indeed to be on the Brainz CREA Global Award list of entrepreneurs recognised for contributions to mental health. Big thank you to Brainz Magazine.
Memberships:
When you are looking for the right person to support you it is important you consider qualifications, experience, governing bodies and professional directories. I ensure Inspire You has practitioners who are registered with governing bodies and DBS checked. We adhere to the ethical standards and GDPR and I am on the PSA and ICO registers.