About Us

Liz Witherspoon and Julie Elliott first met in June 2008, on The Artist’s Way course, and realised their mutual passion for Creating Connections and supporting people to slow down, reflect and re-connect with who they are. They ran their first retreat in October that year. In January 2017, they asked their coaching colleague, Alison Hurt, to join Simplicity Coaching. She brings with her a unique creative flair and shares their delight for personal development and a desire to enhance wellbeing.

We believe that the value of our work comes from the combined wisdom and interactive participation of the group and that unlimited potential lies within each individual. We also enjoy the challenge of customising a program or workshop to meet a company or individuals’ specific needs. Our love of learning, personal development and compassion for people is the reason we created Simplicity Coaching.

We chose this name because we believe in taking the time to reflect and to simplify our lives by clearing the “clutter” of thoughts, behaviours and distractions that are not aligned to living an authentic, mindful and wholehearted life. By living mindfully we savour each moment to connect with those things and relationships that are important to us.

“Creating Connections” is our investment in this world that urgently requires an accelerated commitment towards contribution and care of ourselves, each other and our fragile planet.

We have learnt that our thoughts are not who we are, that a healthy dose of humour is vital, that staying true to ourselves allows us to live our lives with a certain amount of freedom and grace, and that gratitude for every person in our lives as well as for every situation we encounter helps to give us perspective.

Our values:

Authenticity, balance, holistic health, service excellence, respect and professionalism,

What we love:

Our families (including pets); cappuccino’s; the sea; a good chat with close friends; dancing; yoga; our work; having fun; pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones; soft warm blankets; getting a massage; playing with paint; music; taking photographs, learning, going on retreats…

 

Julie Elliott

  • Mindful Educator Essentials (Mindful Schools, USA) 2017
  • ACC (Associate Certified Coach) with ICF (International Coaching Federation) 2016 – current
  • Post-Graduate Certificate in Mindfulness Based Interventions (IMISA and Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Science) 2015 – 2017
  • Coaching with the Enneagram Certificate Program (The Enneagram in Business – Ginger Lapid-Bogda) 2015
  • Accredited Griffin Coach (Riskflow Institute) 2012
  • Integrative Enneagram Accreditation program 2011
  • Accredited Workplace Coach (Results Coaching Systems) 2010
  • Certificate in Life Coaching Skills (The Coaching Centre) 2007
  • Accredited Alcredo Facilitator (Harare, Zimbabwe) 2003
  • Bachelor of Science degree (KZN) 1988

Liz Witherspoon

  • Keys to the Enneagram (Diamond Approach, Russ Hudson & Sandra Maitri) September 2022 – July 2023
  • Being In Essence Intensive Program (The Enneagram in Business – Ginger Lapid-Bogda) October 2018
  • Enneagram Professional Training Program Part 2 (Enneagram Institute USA) October 2017
  • Post-Graduate Certificate in Mindfulness Based Interventions (IMISA and Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences) 2015 –  2017
  • Coaching with the Enneagram Certificate Program (The Enneagram in Business – Ginger Lapid-Bogda) 2015
  • Systemic Constellations for Coaches (System Alive) May 2014
  • Understanding and Applying the Enneagram for Coaching Individuals and Teams (Integrative Enneagram Solutions) November 2013
  • Advanced Workshop – The Enneagram and the Inner Critic (Enneagram Institute USA) June 2013
  • 21st Century Relationship Coaching (Mary Ovenstone) November 2011
  • Enneagram Professional Training Program Part I (Enneagram Institute USA) February 2011
  • Nine Conversations in Leadership Facilitator Accreditation (Worlds View Consulting) July 2010
  • Team Coaching (Results Coaching Systems) November 2008
  • Intensive Coach Training (Results Coaching Systems) September 2008
  • Higher Diploma in Education (UKZN) 1990
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree (UKZN) 1989