About Visible Progress
Because progress is often happening before we recognise it.
Visible Progress was created from a simple idea:
People are more than their problems and progress is often happening in ways that can be easy to miss.
When we are focused on what isn't working, what needs to change or how far there is still to go, it can be difficult to see the things that are already helping.
A different conversation can create space to notice those things.
Visible Progress is a practical, solution-focused approach that helps people clarify the future they want, recognise their strengths and resources, notice what is already working, and identify meaningful next steps.
It is about looking not only at where someone is now, but also at where they want to go — and what is already helping them move in that direction.
The thinking behind Visible Progress
Visible Progress draws on strengths-based, solution-focused and relational practice.
It is grounded in the belief that people have strengths, resources, relationships, experiences and abilities that can provide important foundations for change.
That doesn't mean ignoring difficulties.
It means making space for a fuller picture.
Alongside asking:
“What is difficult?”
“What needs to change?”
we can also ask:
“What do you want instead?”
“What is already helping?”
“What are you already doing that is making a difference?”
“What strengths and resources can you draw on?”
“What would be one small sign that things are moving in the direction you want?”
These questions can open up possibilities that might otherwise be missed.
Visible Progress is for Individuals and Practitioners
Visible Progress can be used by individuals for personal reflection, goal setting and navigating change, as well as by practitioners and coaches supporting people through change.
The resources have been designed to be practical and accessible — something you can actually use rather than another complicated framework to learn.
For individuals, Visible Progress offers a way to pause, reflect, get clearer about what matters and take small steps towards the future they want.
For practitioners and coaches, it provides a structure for conversations that keeps the person, their hopes, strengths and possibilities at the centre.
We Believe
We believe:
- People are more than their problems.
- Progress doesn't have to be big to be meaningful.
- Small changes can provide important information about what helps.
- People are experts in their own lives.
- The future we want can give us direction.
- Strengths and resources are worth noticing.
- A different conversation can create different possibilities.
And perhaps most importantly:
Progress is often happening before we recognise it
When we can see it, we have something to build on.
Why "Visible Progress"?
Because sometimes progress is there — but we can't see it yet.
It might be a difficult conversation someone managed differently.
A decision they made.
Something they tried again.
A boundary they set.
A moment when they coped.
A relationship that became a little stronger.
A small step towards something they care about.
These moments can easily get lost when we are focused on the problems.
Visible Progress helps bring them into view.
And once we can see what is happening, we have something to notice, understand and build on.
About Rachel Kemish, Founder of Visible Progress
Turning experience into a practical approach for meaningful change
Visible Progress was created by Rachel Kemish, a social worker and experienced leader in children’s and community services, with more than 28 years of experience across the UK and South Australia.
Throughout her career, Rachel has worked across frontline social work, child and family services, professional education, practice development, quality assurance, performance, strategic leadership and service improvement. She has supported practitioners, families and organisations through complex situations and periods of change.
One of the approaches that has had the greatest influence on Rachel's practice is solution-focused practice. She values its emphasis on strengths, hope, respectful conversations and the belief that small, achievable steps can contribute to meaningful change.
Over time, Rachel became increasingly interested in a question:
What might we notice if we looked not only at what needs to change, but also at what people want their future to look like and what is already helping them move towards it?
That thinking became the foundation for Visible Progress.
From practice experience to Visible Progress
Visible Progress brings together Rachel's experience in social work, solution-focused practice, leadership, practice improvement and change.
It is designed to help people clarify the future they want, recognise their strengths and resources, notice what is already working, make progress visible and identify meaningful next steps.
For Rachel, the approach reflects something she has seen throughout her career:
Progress is often happening before we recognise it.
Sometimes it is:
- A small change in behaviour.
- A different choice.
- Something someone managed that they couldn't before.
- A strength they drew on.
- A conversation they approached differently.
- Or simply the first small step towards something they want.
Visible Progress was created to help make those moments easier to see — because when we can see progress, we have something to build on.
Rachel's belief
People are more than their problems.
Rachel believes that conversations about change can create more possibilities when they make space for people's hopes, strengths, resources and preferred futures alongside the challenges they are experiencing.
That belief sits at the heart of everything she is developing through Visible Progress.
Your future. Your strengths. Your next step.