About.
Helping people reconnect with what matters.
I’m Dr Phoebe Simmons, Coaching Psychologist, educator, facilitator and founder of What Matters Group.
I help individuals and organisations create the space to think clearly, understand what matters most, and move forward with greater purpose, wellbeing and sustainable performance.
My work combines psychology, research, coaching, teaching and real-world commercial experience to support meaningful lasting change.
My story.
Like many people, I know what it feels like to be busy, driven and constantly moving forward without always having the time to stop and ask whether the direction still makes sense.
That experience shaped much of my work.
Over the years, I became increasingly interested in why so many capable people achieve a great deal yet still feel overloaded, disconnected or unsure of what they really want.
That led me into coaching psychology and eventually to doctoral research exploring how people develop meaning and direction through coaching conversations.
What I found confirmed something important:
Often people do not need to completely change their lives. They need space to think, reconnect with what matters, and relate to their work and lives differently.
That insight sits at the heart of What Matters Group.
My expertise.
My approach is grounded in evidence-based coaching psychology and informed by research in wellbeing, strengths, motivation, behaviour change and meaning in life.
I hold a Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring, am an EMCC Senior Practitioner, a member of the British Psychological Society Division of Coaching Psychology, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I have published research on strengths-based coaching and presented work at professional conferences on meaning, coaching and development.
My Experience.
I work across coaching, teaching and organisational development, supporting individuals, leaders and teams.
Alongside private coaching and organisational work, I lecture in psychology and have co-developed the first BPS accredited MSc Coaching Psychology programme, training many new coached to be reflective practitioners.
Ive designed and delivered workshops in areas including:
✦ Strengths at work
✦ Wellbeing and burnout prevention
✦ Coaching culture
✦ Leadership development
✦ Purpose and direction
✦ Reflective practice
Before psychology, I also worked in commercial leadership and sales management, where I experienced first-hand the realities of targets, pressure, performance and leading people in fast-paced environments.
That means I understand both the theory and the reality of modern work.
How we work together.
People often come to me when something feels off.
They may be succeeding externally but feeling disconnected internally. They may be overwhelmed, at a crossroads, or wanting to lead and live in a more sustainable way.
My role is to create a thoughtful, psychologically safe space where clarity can emerge.
Through structured conversations, reflection, and evidence-informed approaches, we explore where you are now, what matters, and what needs to shift.
Together, we make sense of your situation and move towards clearer direction, more intentional choices, and meaningful, sustainable progress.
I believe success is most powerful when it is aligned with who you are and what matters most to you.
This is the work I care about.
Ready to get started? Let’s talk.