This is getting ridiculous.
I saw a comment on someone post on LinkedIn yesterday asking for evidence of someone’s training in a specific trauma field.
They were then called a ‘gatekeeper’ by a keyboard warrior (we all know them)
Is common sense being completely ignored when it comes to VULNERABLE people getting ‘coached’ by people.
It doesn’t matter if you have ACC, PCC, MCC or blinking AC/DC after your name, it is not right to work with trauma without ANY training in it. Lived experience does NOT justify being able to coach people.
Everyone should be a gatekeeper when we are protecting the profession of coaching, even coaches should gate keep from other coaches who are treading water without being able to swim.
I’m not speaking from a position of grandeur, I’m speaking from a position of vulnerability. A person who is a result of repeated trauma, in many guises and who has been in ‘recovery’ for over 20 years. My work is not finished even after being a coach for 9 years.
I leave the trauma work to the professionals who have trained to hold me. Trained to know exactly what to do and who know exactly what to do to not retraumatise. Not just me, ANYONE who needs help.
I would rather be a gatekeeper than be responsible to contributing to anyone’s death by suicide.
According to gov.uk in October 2025, out of 253 deaths by suicide:
- 195 (77.1%) were in males
- 58 (22.9%) in females
- 36 (14.2%) in people aged 10 to 24
- 96 (37.9%) in people aged 25 to 44
- 93 (36.8%) in people aged 45 to 64
- 28 (11.1%) in people aged 65 and over
Let’s start using our common sense.
If you are looking for a specialist who I KNOW is skilled AND experienced in working with Trauma, I would highly recommend Masha Bennett and Nadia Myerson.
These recommendations are from my own experience. Not a ‘mate’, not a ‘referral partner’ from a networking group but people I know who are safe.
Written with love and passion about the coaching industry and anyone who reaches out for help.
Becky
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