About me
Hi! I’m Jodi (Brown) and I’m a psychological therapist, run coach and personal trainer. I’m also Mum to two teenagers and a Rommie rescue dog. I’m an avid trail runner, a community run leader, a lover of musical theatre, live music and adventure.
If you’d told me (30 years ago), that I’d be sat here writing this bio from the perspective of a run coach, I’d have laughed you out the room. The psychotherapist in me isn’t so much of a surprise: I’ve always loved working with people, understanding what makes them tick and wanting to help them get the best out of life. Combining the two seems like a no-brainer to me.
My experience
I have over 25 years of experience, mostly in the NHS and public sector, but whatever my job title, my focus has always been on helping people improve their health and wellbeing. I have worked as a clinician, manager and clinical lead of psychological therapies services, so I feel I’ve got a pretty good understanding of what it takes to provide a high quality, personalised service for clients.
The run coaching has emerged from a growing passion for running, and understanding about what it takes to get and feel better. If you work with me, you’ll soon realise I care about so much more than your marathon pace, or ranking in a race (don’t get me wrong, these are great too…but they’re not what drive me).
My credentials
I’m an evidence-based practitioner, which means I use tools and techniques based on the best available research, clinical expertise, and patient values . I draw from a variety of models and disciplines, depending on the needs of the client. Here’s my ‘academic’ and professional background:
* PGDip High Intensity Psychological Therapies (Merit): University of Exeter, 2009
* PGDip Health Psychology: University of Southampton, 2004
* BSc (Hons.) Psychology 2:1: University of Warwick, 2000
* England Athletics: Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF), 2024
* CIMSPA Personal Trainer Practitioner (Level 3), 2024
* England Athletics: Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF), 2020
I am currently following the ‘return to practice’ route for accreditation with the BABCP (the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists).
Running
If you’re looking for a coach who’s brimming with UTMB credentials, sponsorships, big name associations and international recognition, then I’m sadly not the one for you. Running (to me) is a lifestyle. It’s the thing I think about the majority of the time: it’s what I crave and love, but sometimes, it’s also what I dread. That makes me human. I’m also not one of those toxically positive people who promote the (sadly misinformed) idea that if you’re not always happy, you’re defective.
My running is all about pushing myself to find my potential. I love trail running and the adventure of the ultramarathon. You’ll sooner find me on a hill top (would be mountain if I didn’t live in Oxfordshire!) than on tarmac or a running track, but I recognise their place in my training journey. I’ve overcome a fair few personal barriers to get where I have, and learnt a huge amount along the way. I’d love to be able to share my insights with you, as one of my potential future athletes or clients.
My style
I am empathetic and compassionate: I often laugh and cry with my clients, but this doesn’t mean I’m a pushover. I like to challenge and ask those questions that are sure to open up deeper and more profound conversations. Therapy is not easy. It’s also not a panacea. I cannot ‘fix’ you, but I can help you to understand yourself better, be a bit kinder to yourself and recognise why you may keep falling into the same traps. I care about my clients deeply and see myself in a facilitative role – as the name might suggest: side by side.
If you unsure whether we’ll be ‘a fit’, why not book a free, no-obligation consultation with me. It’s a great opportunity to see how it feels: whether I’m the kind of person you could work with and whether my approach is what you’re looking for.
