I take coaching into nature, away from the clutter and distractions of everyday life, giving you the space to clear your mind, gain perspective and make decisions with confidence
A little space to think. A fresh perspective. A chance to explore what comes next.
Life has a way of presenting us with unexpected turns, new opportunities and decisions we hadn’t anticipated. Sometimes we know exactly what we want but aren’t sure how to get there. Other times, we’re not quite sure what we want at all.
On occasion, we simply need a little time away from the everyday demands of life to think about where we are and where we’d like to go.
That’s where coaching can help.
I offer individual and small-group coaching in the Algarve and Alentejo, as well as online sessions wherever you happen to be. Whether we’re walking together, Whether we’re walking through the countryside, finding a quiet spot to sit and enjoy the scenery, or simply taking time to talk, the focus is entirely on you.
Nature has always been my greatest teacher. When we step outside, something shifts: the mind quiets, the breath deepens, and the things that felt tangled indoors begin to loosen. Nature coaching brings our conversations outdoors, where walking side by side through the hills and countryside creates a sense of ease that a room rarely can. Many people find they speak more freely, think more clearly and feel more like themselves.
As we walk, the landscape becomes part of the conversation. A path that forks, a tree that has grown around a stone, the turning of the seasons: nature is full of reflections of our own lives, and these images often say what words alone cannot. We may pause at a viewpoint to reflect, take a moment of stillness, or notice something that speaks to you. These moments tend to stay with you long after the session ends.
Nature coaching is especially helpful if you’re feeling stressed, stuck or overwhelmed, if you’re facing a major decision or transition, or if sitting across a table talking about yourself has never felt quite right. Moving forward physically has a remarkable way of helping us feel we can move forward in life, too.
Grounded in my See Be Do approach, nature coaching helps you see your situation with fresh perspective, reconnect with who you are and what matters to you, and leave with clear, gentle steps forward. It can be a single restorative walk, a series of sessions, or part of a holiday here in Portugal. And if you can’t be here in person, we can still bring nature into our work through phone sessions you take outdoors, wherever you are.
I know what it means to start again somewhere new. I’ve lived in more than twenty places in my life, and during Covid I left Ireland to begin a new chapter in a small village in Portugal. Moving abroad can be thrilling, but it can also be disorienting, lonely and harder than anyone tells you. Familiar roles fall away, simple tasks become complicated, and you may find yourself asking who you are here, and whether you made the right choice.
Expat coaching gives you a space to explore those questions honestly, without having to defend your decision or pretend everything is perfect. Together we can look at what you hoped for when you came, what’s working and what isn’t, and what you need to feel truly at home. That might mean building connections and community, finding purpose and meaningful activity, adjusting to a slower or different way of life, or simply making peace with the ups and downs of change.
I work with people at every stage of the journey: those still dreaming of a move to Portugal, those who have just arrived and feel overwhelmed, and those who have been here a while and are wondering what comes next. Wherever you are in the process, the aim is the same, which is to help you create a life abroad that feels like yours rather than one that simply happens to you.
Using my See Be Do approach, we’ll help you see the life you want here, become the person who lives it, and take practical steps to make it real. Sessions can take place in person in Portugal, outdoors in nature, or online by phone, video or email, so you can begin before you arrive and continue wherever life takes you.
Some of the clearest thinking happens far from home. When you step away from your usual routines, your inbox and the expectations of everyday life, you begin to see your life with fresh eyes. Holiday coaching uses that space. Whether you’re visiting Portugal for a week of rest or working remotely for a few months, we can weave coaching into your time here so you return home not only rested, but with a renewed sense of direction.
Our sessions can take place wherever feels right: a café table, a quiet garden, or a walk through the hills and countryside. Nature has a way of slowing us down and opening us up. Walking side by side, conversations flow more easily, and the answers you’ve been looking for often surface on their own. Between sessions, you’ll have time to rest, explore and let new ideas settle, which is where much of the real work happens.
Holiday coaching is especially valuable when you’re at a turning point: a career change, retirement, a move abroad, the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It also suits anyone who simply never finds the time to think about their own life at home. A few hours set aside on holiday can become the moment you look back on as the place where things began to change.
Rooted in my See Be Do approach, holiday coaching helps you see what you truly want, step into the person you want to become, and leave with clear, practical steps to make it happen. And your journey doesn’t have to end when your holiday does. We can continue by phone, video or email once you’re home, so the clarity you found here becomes lasting change.
Get in touch to plan coaching around your stay.
You don’t need to be sitting across from me for coaching to work. Some of my most meaningful sessions have happened over the phone, with a client walking a quiet path or curled up in a favourite chair at home. Whether you live down the road or halfway around the world, we can work together by phone, or email, in whatever way fits your life and feels most natural to you.
Many people find a phone call easier than a camera, because there’s nothing to perform and no one is watching, so you can simply speak. You can take the call outdoors – a walk often opens up thoughts that stay hidden indoors.
Email coaching provides the opportunity to write when it suits you. You can put into words what you might struggle to say out loud. Writing brings clarity and each exhan Writing is often where clarity begins. Each exchange becomes a record of your journey, something you can look back on to see how far you’ve come.
Between sessions, a short email or message keeps you on track and supported as life happens, because real change usually takes place in the days between our conversations.
My approach is built on See Be Do: when you can see a better path, you can become the person who walks it, and then take the steps to make it real. Whether you’re facing a big transition, settling into a new life abroad, taking a reflective break on holiday, or simply ready for change, I’ll meet you where you are. Get in touch to arrange a first conversation, and we’ll find the way of working that suits you best.
Get in touch to arrange a first conversation, and we’ll find the way of working that suits you best.
Away from a desk, career questions sit naturally alongside health, relationships and energy, which brings more balance and perspective.
Time outdoors lowers cortisol and heart rate. You breathe deeply and finish a session with a calmer body, not just a to-do list.
A new horizon, whether a coastline, a ridge, a forest floor or a sunrise, tends to bring a genuinely new view of the problem you are working on.
Many clients arrive tired of screens and indoor life. Time in Portugal’s landscapes restores optimism and opens the way to your plans and dreams.
Start with a single walk, or choose a programme for a change that needs more time.
Good place to start
90 minutes · one-to-one
For one specific decision, or to try nature coaching before committing. No obligation to book again: some clients come monthly, some once a year or when something big comes up.
For 2–4 people
90 MINUTES small group
For friends at a similar life stage, co-founders facing a shared decision, or a small team. Facilitated peer coaching, with everyone getting focused time.
One month
4 weekly sessions · one-to-one
A weekly rhythm for a focused period: a career decision, a life transition, building a new habit or letting go of an old one.
Three months
8 sessions over 3 months · one-to-one
My deepest individual programme, with enough time to work through a real change and see it take root.
Where we walk
I am based in the village of São Marcos da Serra, right on the border of the Algarve and the Alentejo. There are trails in every direction, through cork oak hills, along rivers or we can meet for a walk at the coast. I choose each route carefully to suit what you want and need from the day.
Meetings away from Sao Marcos da Serra incur an additional fee depending on distance and related costs.
“Our walks were beautiful. Michele helped me gain a new perspective on my life and challenged me to step out of my comfort zone. With her guidance, I've become more positive, confident, focused, and have achieved goals I didn´t think were possible. ”
corinne, toronto, canada
Send me a message on WhatsApp and tell me a little about what is going on. If I can’t answer straight away, I’ll reply as soon as I can.
+351 920 205 040
You don’t have to know exactly what you want from coaching before getting in touch.
Perhaps you have a particular question, you’re curious about the experience or you’d simply like to find out whether we’d work well together.
I’d be happy to have an initial conversation, answer your questions and help you decide which option might suit you.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a chance to talk.
Book a Free Discovery Call
Life. Love. Possibility.
There’s always more to discover.
Thoughtful articles, personal reflections and interesting discoveries about life, relationships, Portugal and everything in between. Delivered occasionally, whenever there’s something worth sharing.
Sessions take place in Sao Marcos da Serra or at selected locations in the Algarve or Alentejo. We’ll agree on a suitable meeting place when booking.
That’s absolutely fine. Online sessions can be arranged for individual coaching and ongoing programmes.
No special level of fitness is required for nature coaching sessions Walk & Talk sessions are gentle walks and if you are not up for walking at all – we will choose a lovely place with a beautiful view. If there are mobility issues, we can also choose a boardwalk.
Certainly. You’re welcome to book an individual session or arrange a small-group experience during your stay.
We’ll discuss an alternative date, location or online session.