Caitlin
@cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com
Resilience coach, futurist, artist, anthropologist, high school dropout, PhD. More? www.caitlinmcdonald.com
Gentle is definitely my coaching style, particularly in the discovery phase when finding out what things mean for clients. It's vital to make space for thoughts, values and beliefs to let themselves be heard. Even accountability in coaching can be gentle; it's about curiosity, not consequences.
December 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Gentle is definitely my coaching style, particularly in the discovery phase when finding out what things mean for clients. It's vital to make space for thoughts, values and beliefs to let themselves be heard. Even accountability in coaching can be gentle; it's about curiosity, not consequences.
The wonderful Solas Yoga and I will be running a movement and intention-setting workshop in the new year - book before Boxing Day for an early-bird discount! 🕊️ More information and book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/focus-on-y...
December 1, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The wonderful Solas Yoga and I will be running a movement and intention-setting workshop in the new year - book before Boxing Day for an early-bird discount! 🕊️ More information and book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/focus-on-y...
What do we want? Management with better financial priorities! Save staff, stop wasting cash on expensive and poorly implemented capital projects, make the University the learning & innovation environment it deserves to be! #UCUStrike #Edinburgh
November 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
What do we want? Management with better financial priorities! Save staff, stop wasting cash on expensive and poorly implemented capital projects, make the University the learning & innovation environment it deserves to be! #UCUStrike #Edinburgh
I really love coaching. I mean, the feedback is nice, but the main thing is feeling like the space and process you've provided has made a real difference for someone, especially when they're at a pivotal point in life making a really big decision. It's a joy to see coachees moving forward.
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I really love coaching. I mean, the feedback is nice, but the main thing is feeling like the space and process you've provided has made a real difference for someone, especially when they're at a pivotal point in life making a really big decision. It's a joy to see coachees moving forward.
Coaching is non-transferrable. Every relationship with every client is unique, and I have to prepare myself uniquely for each session. I can't automate that.
Here's me helping moderate a session for an outdoor networking group for freelancers in Edinburgh, real connections with real people!
Here's me helping moderate a session for an outdoor networking group for freelancers in Edinburgh, real connections with real people!
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Coaching is non-transferrable. Every relationship with every client is unique, and I have to prepare myself uniquely for each session. I can't automate that.
Here's me helping moderate a session for an outdoor networking group for freelancers in Edinburgh, real connections with real people!
Here's me helping moderate a session for an outdoor networking group for freelancers in Edinburgh, real connections with real people!
I'm so proud to be a member of @mhfaengland.bsky.social - I use my training all the time in my coaching and volunteering work, and in life. you never know when something big or unexpected is going to pop up for someone - or for yourself! The first step in MHFA is looking after your own wellbeing.
November 12, 2025 at 12:12 PM
I'm so proud to be a member of @mhfaengland.bsky.social - I use my training all the time in my coaching and volunteering work, and in life. you never know when something big or unexpected is going to pop up for someone - or for yourself! The first step in MHFA is looking after your own wellbeing.
As part of my workshop, I'll be talking about one way I took control and helped process what was happening to me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer: I made it into art. You can read more about the art I made with my wonderful glassmaking collaborator Inge Panneels here: doi.org/10.1162/leon...
November 6, 2025 at 9:40 AM
As part of my workshop, I'll be talking about one way I took control and helped process what was happening to me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer: I made it into art. You can read more about the art I made with my wonderful glassmaking collaborator Inge Panneels here: doi.org/10.1162/leon...
As part of my workshop, I'll be talking about one way I took control and helped process what was happening to me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer: I made it into art. You can read more about the art I made with my wonderful glassmaking collaborator Inge Panneels here: doi.org/10.1162/leon...
November 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
As part of my workshop, I'll be talking about one way I took control and helped process what was happening to me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer: I made it into art. You can read more about the art I made with my wonderful glassmaking collaborator Inge Panneels here: doi.org/10.1162/leon...
Inner gremlins! They might seem annoying or even scary when they crop up, but they always have good intentions for us - even if they're going about it in the wrong way. Read more about how to deal with them & meet my adorable handmade gremlins in my newsletter: buttondown.com/caitlin_coac...
October 29, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Inner gremlins! They might seem annoying or even scary when they crop up, but they always have good intentions for us - even if they're going about it in the wrong way. Read more about how to deal with them & meet my adorable handmade gremlins in my newsletter: buttondown.com/caitlin_coac...
I'm hosting a workshop at Yorkshire Festival of Story on 8 November called Finding Courage in the Complicated - here's a little about what it'll be like! Sign up here: yorkshirefestivalofstory.com/event/findin...
October 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
I'm hosting a workshop at Yorkshire Festival of Story on 8 November called Finding Courage in the Complicated - here's a little about what it'll be like! Sign up here: yorkshirefestivalofstory.com/event/findin...
This month's Courage Pie 💪 🥧 is on getting along with our inner gremlins! Those little niggling voices that hold us back. How do we learn to connect with their positive messages but create more effective strategies for change? 7 PM UK time, 28 October. us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
October 14, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This month's Courage Pie 💪 🥧 is on getting along with our inner gremlins! Those little niggling voices that hold us back. How do we learn to connect with their positive messages but create more effective strategies for change? 7 PM UK time, 28 October. us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
I had a lovely time last week talking to That's Lothian TV about my monthly group resilience sessions! We could all use a little courage right now, and it's a pleasure to offer a slice of Courage Pie to anybody who needs it. Join us next on Tuesday 28 October: caitlinmcdonald.com/coaching/cou...
October 9, 2025 at 10:06 AM
I had a lovely time last week talking to That's Lothian TV about my monthly group resilience sessions! We could all use a little courage right now, and it's a pleasure to offer a slice of Courage Pie to anybody who needs it. Join us next on Tuesday 28 October: caitlinmcdonald.com/coaching/cou...
Last night's Courage Pie 💪 🥧 was all about stories we tell ourselves: the 'life scripts' we run on autopilot which may not be serving us so well anymore - & how we can update them to reflect who we are now and who we want to be. More? Sign up for my newsletter: buttondown.com/caitlin_coac...
October 1, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Last night's Courage Pie 💪 🥧 was all about stories we tell ourselves: the 'life scripts' we run on autopilot which may not be serving us so well anymore - & how we can update them to reflect who we are now and who we want to be. More? Sign up for my newsletter: buttondown.com/caitlin_coac...
I've been trying to digitise the glass casts from Picture Your Poisons - here's some fancy reflectance transformation imagery of the cast representing my radiotherapy treatment. Read more about how the artwork was made and what it means in this open-access paper: doi.org/10.1162/leon... #SciArt
September 4, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I've been trying to digitise the glass casts from Picture Your Poisons - here's some fancy reflectance transformation imagery of the cast representing my radiotherapy treatment. Read more about how the artwork was made and what it means in this open-access paper: doi.org/10.1162/leon... #SciArt
We'll be discussing the unhelpful mental strategy of discounting and how to get off the discounting ladder at my next Courage Pie free meetup, Tuesday 29 July at 7 PM UK time - join us! us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
July 9, 2025 at 8:53 AM
We'll be discussing the unhelpful mental strategy of discounting and how to get off the discounting ladder at my next Courage Pie free meetup, Tuesday 29 July at 7 PM UK time - join us! us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
How can accountability help you make progress towards the goals that come straight from your heart? And what do boats have to do with it? If you're curious about sailing the calm seas of coaching 🏴☠️ reach out to me to find out more!
July 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
How can accountability help you make progress towards the goals that come straight from your heart? And what do boats have to do with it? If you're curious about sailing the calm seas of coaching 🏴☠️ reach out to me to find out more!
Preparing for this month's Courage Pie 💪🥧 (Tuesday 24th at 7 PM; do join us - it'll be all about the power of learning to accept help and figuring out who to ask!) I found these notes from my coaching training in 2017 & was enjoying my bonus sea monster! caitlinmcdonald.com/coaching/cou...
June 18, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Preparing for this month's Courage Pie 💪🥧 (Tuesday 24th at 7 PM; do join us - it'll be all about the power of learning to accept help and figuring out who to ask!) I found these notes from my coaching training in 2017 & was enjoying my bonus sea monster! caitlinmcdonald.com/coaching/cou...
Throughout the spring, my colleagues at Jigsaw Foresight and I have been thinking about plagues: plagues past, plagues future, and what we can learn from these real and speculative plagues to prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally in times of crisis. go read our nifty report at plagueseason.com
May 24, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Throughout the spring, my colleagues at Jigsaw Foresight and I have been thinking about plagues: plagues past, plagues future, and what we can learn from these real and speculative plagues to prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally in times of crisis. go read our nifty report at plagueseason.com
Hey, if you didn't know I am an actual, honest-to-goodness trained coach! What's coaching all about? I've filmed a handy video for you. More? www.caitlinmcdonald.com/coaching
May 23, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Hey, if you didn't know I am an actual, honest-to-goodness trained coach! What's coaching all about? I've filmed a handy video for you. More? www.caitlinmcdonald.com/coaching
Uh, no it is not, according to this page: www.cancer.gov/about-cancer... Other countries are using it for cancer treatment, but it isn't approved by the FDA.
December 29, 2023 at 8:59 AM
Uh, no it is not, according to this page: www.cancer.gov/about-cancer... Other countries are using it for cancer treatment, but it isn't approved by the FDA.
Aww, thank you 😊
Here's a few more needle felties!
You can do little 3D sculptures as well as applique like this, but I don't have a recent example of that.
Here's a few more needle felties!
You can do little 3D sculptures as well as applique like this, but I don't have a recent example of that.
December 17, 2023 at 4:47 PM
Aww, thank you 😊
Here's a few more needle felties!
You can do little 3D sculptures as well as applique like this, but I don't have a recent example of that.
Here's a few more needle felties!
You can do little 3D sculptures as well as applique like this, but I don't have a recent example of that.
Needle felting with a star and sparkle motif ✨️ Made to match a pair of gloves done earlier this year.
December 17, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Needle felting with a star and sparkle motif ✨️ Made to match a pair of gloves done earlier this year.
I made this ornament from a scrap of glass my collaborator & I used to test an idea for our glass data visualisation project. The indentation is caused by a small piece of coal that burned away in the kiln while the glass was firing. It's #sciart adjacent, I guess, but thought you all might enjoy 🎄
December 16, 2023 at 7:25 PM
I made this ornament from a scrap of glass my collaborator & I used to test an idea for our glass data visualisation project. The indentation is caused by a small piece of coal that burned away in the kiln while the glass was firing. It's #sciart adjacent, I guess, but thought you all might enjoy 🎄
Reengaging with the challenges of AI & society at tonight's University of Edinburgh event "Ethics, Design & AI."
November 29, 2023 at 4:20 PM
Reengaging with the challenges of AI & society at tonight's University of Edinburgh event "Ethics, Design & AI."