Meet the team
Dr Katie Ford BVSc(Hons) CertAVP(SAM) PGCert MSc FRCVS
Ten years ago I'd have introduced myself as "my name's Katie and I'm a vet." My worth was attached to my outcomes and I felt like a massive imposter. I was sure the answer lay in more qualifications, but after completing a CertAVP in internal medicine, I felt no different and even more broken. I worked every minute sent to me, trying to prove I deserved to be in the role but it landed me burnt out, frustrated and lost.
This gave me the career pivot I never saw coming. I sought help, first through therapy and then coaching - my life changed and I reconnected with myself. I'd been looking for the right thing in the wrong place; I had been valuable all along and started to shed the layers of who I thought I should be, and got to know the real me. Life in practice changed, how I treated people changed and I went from dreading Sundays to approaching Mondays with a compassionate, kind and can-do attitude.
In 2017, I started sharing snippets of my story online, hoping it might inspire others to seek out help. Quickly the page attracted 10,000 followers, testament to how many others felt similarly. I then trained as a coach to help others reconnect with themselves, and was asked to speak. In 2020, I came together with Claire and we started Vet Empowered.
Fast forward to the present day and I've accumulated lots of additional coaching qualifications, but this time driven by passion and curiosity not scarcity. Notably, in 2023, I finished a Masters Degree in Emotional Wellbeing Therapy, and a CMI Level 7 Qualification in Somatic and Trauma Informed Coaching & Leadership. I've been fortunate to speak at all the major UK conferences, as well as global speaking engagements, and running our own events too. I've also been honoured to be recognised by the RCVS with their Inspiration Award in 2023, The Bright Minds Wellness Champion Award in 2024, and to be given a RCVS Fellowship for meritorious contributions to the profession in 2025. I'll always be real though - these are amazing things, but they're not the full story.
Others describe me as wise, kind, authentic and curious. I usually have a study, metaphor or analogy up my sleeve as well as daring to ask the questions you might avoid asking yourself. I love supporting the human beings of this profession in any way that I can, and I'd love to be part of your story if it feels right.
Claire Grigson BVM&S MRCVS ACCP
My name's Claire, and I live in Edinburgh! I love connecting with new people, dancing in my kitchen to old school Ibiza tunes, yoga, meditation, and having long hot baths whenever I can. I've been qualified as a small animal vet for 18 years, and I still thoroughly enjoy working with my clients and patients. I have a particular passion for charity work and I genuinely love being a vet and helping others reconnect with their passion.
But I fully understand the potential for work to become an area of stress. Before my own coaching journey, I had gone through divorce and was completely disconnected from who I was and what I wanted from life. I suppressed my emotions, filled my life with distractions and hoped that it would all just 'get better by itself'. From the outside I was confident, capable, high achiever, but on the inside my self-esteem was at rock bottom, as I placed all my self-worth on other people's validation and approval. Work became a coping strategy as it allowed me to 'put on a mask' and not deal with what was going on behind closed doors, but without doing the inner work I became stuck in a loop of unhelpful behaviours that just further chipped away at my self-esteem.
After hitting my lowest point after losing two of my best friends, I realised that something needed to change, and I sought support from a counsellor as well as investing in my personal development to help me move forwards in a more positive way. I trained to become a certified and accredited life coach after being part of a coaching programme myself, and the experience completely helped to transform my mindset and the relationship that I had with myself.
I earned my Advanced Certificate in Coaching Practice (ACCP) in 2020, qualified as a meditation teacher, and like Katie, trained further in trauma-informed somatic coaching. What many people don't know is that I've also built a large TikTok following through my dating and relationship coaching work - because once you learn to have a healthy relationship with yourself, all your other relationships transform too.
I have learned a lot through my personal challenges, and I am passionate about supporting others to make positive sustainable change in their life, by improving the relationship they have with themselves, and learning to listen and trust their authentic self over their inner critic. I fully believe in the power of coaching, having experienced it myself and also experienced the transformations in those that I work with. Others describe me as a warm hug with infectious energy, and I'm so excited to be part of people's transformational journeys alongside Katie.
We're also supported by two incredible coaches, Beth Handley and Alex Kendall, both qualified, accredited coaches who've been through the Vet Empowered Signature Programme themselves.
Our Science-Backed Approach & Proven Impact
Look, we're not here to give you information that sounds nice but doesn't actually work in vetmed. Our methods are grounded in proper, evidence-based practices - we're talking nervous system regulation, self-compassion research, somatic awareness, cognitive behaviour principles, positive psychology, mindfulness, and meditation. Packaged in a relatable, engaging, and fun wrapper.
Here's what makes us different: unlike traditional wellbeing approaches that often stick a plaster on the problem, we focus on identity-level transformation. We're not interested in just managing symptoms - we want to help you remember who you actually are beneath all the professional conditioning. We want you to walk away with a toolkit that you can keep using.
We've helped over 1,000 veterinary professionals through our programmes, workshops, and 1:1 coaching, and honestly? The most common word in our testimonials is "life-changing."
We're trusted by 4 major veterinary corporations to develop their graduate teams and we've spoken to veterinary teams globally.
But here's the thing that really sets us apart - we're the only veterinary coaching service with trauma-informed and somatic QUALIFICATIONS to CMI Level 7. Not just weekend certifications or fancy certificates to stick on the wall - proper, rigorous qualifications. At our events, we also collaborate with therapists and bring in guest speakers including clinical psychologists, because we believe in giving our community access to the very best expertise available.
Authenticity | Collaboration | Compassion | Energy | Integrity
These aren't just words on our website - they're how we show up every single day:
Authenticity - We walk our talk and aren't scared to shine. We won't introduce ourselves with qualifications first - when you meet us, you'll feel the passion. We're real about our struggles and our successes.
Compassion - We passionately believe in getting out of our heads and remembering what it is to be human, which is why we've trained in somatic coaching and provide nervous system education. We meet people (and ourselves) exactly where they are without judgement. Whether you need a hug or a kind kick up the butt, we've got you. We firmly believe this is a hill we're prepared to stay on, and kindness extends to how we treat ourselves too.
Collaboration - We're creators, not waiters. We choose to take ownership of our lives and help you do the same, building a community of supportive, like-hearted professionals who lift each other up.
Energy - We deeply value the work that we do, and people say our passion is contagious - it shines through in everything we touch. We genuinely believe in what we do, and wherever we turn up, we give our absolute best for our audience to remind them of their value too. Our energy comes from a place of deep purpose and commitment to this work. You'll laugh and cry with us. We'll dance in our virtual kitchens and bring the energy that makes transformation feel joyful rather than heavy. Personal development doesn't have to be serious all the time.
Integrity - We absolutely walk our talk. There's nothing that riles us up more than a company that says they value something and their actions say otherwise. That's why you'll find our founders speaking up on the important topics and living the principles we teach. Our values aren't marketing - they're what we live by.
The Vet Empowered Signature Group Programme
Our transformational life coaching programme for veterinary professionals, designed to raise self-awareness, self-compassion, and provide valuable mindset tools. This immersive experience helps professionals reconnect with who they really are and build authentic confidence.
- 6-month programme: £1111+VAT (or 6 monthly payments of £199+VAT)
- 12-month programme: £1888+VAT (or 12 monthly payments of £169+VAT)
- Includes weekly group coaching sessions, monthly development discussions, meditation sessions, 10+ hours of signature content, and up to 52 hours of CPD
1:1 Coaching
Heart-centred individual coaching focusing on helping veterinary professionals define authentic success, improve confidence, and find daily enjoyment beyond societal expectations.
- Starting from £995+VAT
- Packages available on retainer or block basis
- Includes complimentary discovery session
Trauma-Informed Workplace CPD
We offer trauma-informed workplace CPD for full workplaces or as CPD events you can book onto - keep your eye on the Vet Empowered website for exciting announcements in Autumn 2025. These have been developed in collaboration with a psychotherapist and are CPD Accredited.
Team Workshops & Corporate Wellbeing
Bespoke programmes for veterinary organisations wanting to support their teams' wellbeing and personal development. We work with groups from 2 to 500+, covering topics like imposter syndrome, confidence building, nervous system education, and sustainable self-care.
- Pricing varies based on group size, duration, and requirements
- Contact for bespoke quotes
On-Demand CPD Workshops
Ready-to-access courses that can be viewed immediately on our website:
- Imposter to Authentic Workshop (4 hours CPD): £129+VAT
- 21 Day Reconnect Programme (3 hours CPD): £99+VAT
- Confidence is Queen Workshop (2 hours CPD): £47+VAT
Speaking & Live Events
High-energy, transformational speaking engagements and workshops that bring science-backed personal development to veterinary audiences.
- Fees vary based on event type and requirements
- Annual Vet Empowered Live event (March in Manchester)
Free Resources
- Comprehensive coaching guide, FREE download here: https://www.vetempowered.com/the-vet-empowered-coaching-guide
- Boundary-setting and difficult conversations FREE CPD sessions: https://mailchi.mp/vetempowered/boundaries-difficult-convos
- "5 things we wish we knew as new graduates" FREE video: https://mailchi.mp/6fb86a8ce81a/5-things-we-wish-we-knew-as-new-grads
All programmes can count towards CPD requirements and are delivered by qualified coaches with Masters-level training in emotional wellbeing and trauma-informed practice.
If you tell us on the discovery call that you came from VSGD and opt to come on board with the Vet Empowered Signature Group Programme, we will gift you FREE access to the 21 day Reconnect Programme (worth £99+VAT).
Your veterinary career doesn’t have to follow a script written by someone else.
There’s no single definition of success in vet med - and the more time you spend trying to fit someone else’s version, the more disconnected and exhausted you’ll feel.
Our biggest piece of career advice? Start with you.
Your values. Your strengths. Your energy. Your priorities.
The more self-awareness you build, the easier it becomes to make aligned decisions - whether that’s staying in practice, pivoting, taking time out, or creating something totally new.
Because when you know who you are (beyond your job title), you stop chasing certainty and start leading your career with intention.
You’re not “just a vet.” You’re a whole human - and that’s where the magic lives.
Start writing here...