Positive Psychology Academy Student Experiences – Positive Psychology Coaching (Clare Dudeney)

Clare Dudeney is a Registered PPG Professional Member and Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner from the UK who graduated from the Level 5 Diploma Positive Psychology Coaching Practice in 2025. Below is a summary of her experience and advice for new students on this course.

What motivated you to apply for this course?

I’d felt for some time that something was missing from my Humanistic work. I was looking for more from Psychology, not only for my clients, but for myself too, particularly in how we approach hope, strengths, and what helps people move forward. Hearing Dr Martin Seligman describe Psychology as “not good enough” in a TED talk really resonated. It felt like a call to adventure and sparked my curiosity, which I later discovered is one of my core character strengths. As I explored Positive Psychology more deeply, I found it aligned strongly with my Humanistic values. Rather than replacing my approach, it felt like an expansion, bringing together two fields that, despite historical tensions, in my view share more than divides them.

What did you learn about PP during your studies?

Through my studies, I came to see recognising strengths as central to both identity and wellbeing, not as a confidence exercise, but as a way of understanding who we are and how we move through the world. I also learned how self-compassion can act as a gateway to greater authenticity and resilience, offering an alternative to self-esteem that relies on external measures of success. Practising self-compassion is often courageous; many of us find it far easier to extend kindness to others than to turn it inward. I was also struck by the power of story. Stories connect us as tellers and listeners, helping us feel less alone, fostering belonging, and opening up hope. Viewing identity as story can be especially supportive for those discovering later in life that they are neurodivergent and navigating questions like “Who am I?” or “Where do I belong?”

What did you learn about yourself during your studies?

During my studies, I learned a great deal about my own strengths. I’ve always known I’m curious, but I hadn’t fully recognised it as a strength. I now see how curiosity helps me navigate the world, brings joy and awe, and opens the door wider to other strengths like kindness and gratitude. Kindness towards myself felt tricky, but Positive Psychology helped me explore that, and to notice how frequently gratitude already shows up for me, particularly in small, everyday moments. I also learned how important it is for me, as a practitioner, to practise what I offer. I don’t ask clients to walk paths I’m unwilling to explore myself. Embodying ideas like self-compassion and narrative identity has allowed me to show up more authentically in the therapy room.

What was the most meaningful part of your course experience?

The most meaningful part of my course experience was cultivating my own Narrative Identity and the realisations that came with it. Viewing ‘self’ as story felt powerful. It gently shifted shame to the background and brought themes of strength, courage, and meaning into clearer focus. That exploration led me to develop a group narrative coaching programme centred on ‘identity-as-story’ for women who were later-in-life discovered autistic and ADHD. Facilitating that group became a real highlight of my 17-year career. I felt deeply privileged to witness individuals sharing stories, encouraging one another, and holding hope and compassion collectively. It reaffirmed for me how transformative story can be when it’s shared in a supportive space.

Do you have any practical advice for new students on this course?

My advice would be to immerse yourself fully and allow your curiosity some freedom. There is so much to learn on the course, and some of the most meaningful insights come from following questions down unexpected rabbit holes. While there will be times when you need to knuckle down and focus, those exploratory moments often hold the richest learning. Be brave in engaging with the material, your peers, and your own reflections. Let yourself be changed by what you’re studying rather than trying to master it perfectly. Curiosity, openness, and a willingness to engage deeply will take you a long way, both on the course and in your practice beyond it.

How do you hope to apply (or are you applying) your course learning?

I’m already applying my course learning directly within my therapy practice. Narrative and story now sit at the core of how I work, alongside strengths-based approaches and psychoeducation around self-compassion. These frameworks support clients to make sense of themselves, their experiences, and what feels possible going forward. I see this learning as something living rather than finished. Alongside my practice, I hope to continue developing my research, particularly around identity and wellbeing for my client group. I continue to follow my curiosity, allowing new questions to guide both my therapy work and research interests. The course has reinforced my belief that growth comes from staying open, reflective, and committed to ongoing learning.

About Clare Dudeney

Clare is a Humanistic Counsellor, Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapist and Positive Psychology Coaching Practitioner whose work is shaped by curiosity and growth.

After many years in Humanistic therapy, Clare began to feel that something was missing. Hearing Dr Martin Seligman describe psychology as “not good enough” proved pivotal, leading her to Positive Psychology, an approach that expanded her Humanistic values and offered a language of hope and possibility.

Much of Clare’s work focuses on adults like herself who discover later in life that they are autistic and/or ADHD. With neurodiversity largely absent from her original training, Positive Psychology has allowed her to revisit therapy practice through a broader lens. Her research explores how narrative coaching, strengths-based practice, and identity stories might support neuro-affirming work.

Outside of her work, Clare is an enthusiastic Labrador devotee with four dogs, enjoys hiking with at least one of them, and is often cooking something with cheese, with a bit of kitchen dancing.