A steadier way to meet what’s unfolding

Working with what’s real

Many people and communities are facing rising demands, rapid change, and pressures that outpace their capacity to adapt. It can be difficult to stay steady while navigating complexity, uncertainty, or ongoing strain.

I help individuals and groups find clarity, grounding, and practical ways to move forward. The work brings together practical, emotional, and relational support so that deep adaptation becomes possible and enlivening, in every sense of the word.

I work in a steady, collaborative way — creating space to pause, make sense of what’s happening in your context, and move toward responses that feel both humane and worthwhile.

“The times are urgent; let us slow down.” — Bayo Akomolafe

The Work

Support for people and communities finding their way through complexity and uncertainty.

I’m Matthew Painton — a coach and facilitator supporting individuals, groups, and communities as they navigate uncertainty, rising pressures, and the emotional realities that come with them.

What I’ve learned over the years is that most people don’t struggle because they lack insight or intention. They struggle because it’s hard to stay open to what’s happening while carrying everything that life already demands. Slowing down enough to feel, reflect, and orient can make a real difference.

My work brings together steady companionship, clear thinking, and grounded practices. This might look like one-to-one coaching, reflective spaces for groups, or supporting communities and organisations to meet change with clarity, honesty, feeling, and connection.

A few words from people I’ve worked with

  • “Before we started I was afraid of taking the lid off a pent-up backlog of grief and fear, but that turned out not to be such a problem – the fact of just sharing and mutual understanding, of listening and being heard, lifted a lot of the burden and the loneliness.”

    N.Z. 2023

  • “Matthew does a lot more than deeply listen; in our work together, he reflects back my meanderings in a way that makes me feel like I actually made sense. His questions always take me to where I need to go and his sensitivity makes the space he holds feel particularly safe.”

    A.Y. 2023

  • “Sometimes there are tears; laughter is guaranteed, and always a deep sense of being truly seen, fully heard, safely held in sacred space. Working with Matt has allowed me the space and freedom to go deeper than I ever would have expected in such short sessions"

    T.S. 2015

  • “Matthew listens with all his senses and one feels that his whole person is devoted to sensing and making sense of who you are. He is a mirror that reflects both how you are perceived as a totality and also sheds light into unknown unknowns of who you really are.”

    F.G.F. 2020

  • "He has an almost preternatural gift for pinpointing and framing the issues and feelings that bring me the most pain and the greatest hope."

    E.I. 2020

  • “Working with Matt has allowed me the space and freedom to go deeper than I ever would have expected in such short sessions… Sometimes there are tears; laughter is guaranteed, and always a deep sense of being truly seen, fully heard, safely held in sacred space.”

    T.S

  • “When I think about my coaching session with Matt it reminds me of a dawn – and I felt heartened by how he was able to sit with me as the light rose. He brought humour and creativity to my dark and lost places and helped me be with my blind spots.” L.D. 2017

    L.D. 2017

  • “Matthew’s intuitive questioning helped me develop a more complete sense of self, of my gifts and of the work that is mine to do… I am a better me because of Matthew, his skill, his intuition, his presence, his heart.”

    K.S. 2020