How to use this site: a simple guide
Richardbutler.coach offers short, optional questions to explore what matters during a life change. You can finish the free reflection and download or copy your writing without an account or email. You can also use a blank printable sheet, or choose a free account if you want to save on the site and return later.
What is guided self-work, and who is it for?
Guided self-work means taking time on your own with prompts that help you notice your thoughts, needs and values. Here, it is for people going through a life change who want space to reflect on what matters and a possible next step.
You decide what to explore. This is not a conversation with Richard, therapy or crisis support, and it does not promise a particular result. You can stop whenever you need to.
How to use Richardbutler.coach for the first time
- Open the free reflection. If you would like an invitation first, visit Where to begin; its three choices lead to the same reflection.
- In What matters right now?, read one question at a time. Write in Your response (optional), or think quietly. Choose Continue or Skip this question. Continue moves you forward; it does not save your writing to an account.
- After three questions, What you noticed. shows your responses together. Revisit your responses lets you go back over your unsaved draft.
The questions ask what change is taking up space in your life, what feels important in that change, and what might give that important thing more room today. A few words are enough. You do not need a finished plan.
Pause hides the responses and offers Resume reflection. Exit & discard draft offers a way to leave without keeping the unsaved draft.
A small example
An example—not a required answer—might look like this:
- Change: “My working week has changed, and I want more time for friendships.”
- What matters: “Connection matters to me.”
- A little more room: “I could invite a friend for a short walk.”
Your answer could also be “I don't know yet.”
How do I keep a copy without an account?
At the completed summary, find Keep a copy on your device. You have two options:
- Choose Download my reflection for a readable text file (.txt) with all three questions and your responses. Skipped questions are marked as unanswered. Check your browser's downloads or your device's files to find the copy.
- If no file appears, or you prefer copying, choose Show text to copy, then Select all text. Use your device's Copy command, paste into a private note or text file, and save it. The displayed text is read-only; use Revisit your responses if you want to change your answers before making a new copy.
Neither option uploads your writing or saves it to an account. Your unsaved draft stays in this browser tab; closing the tab clears it. Keep your downloaded file or copied note private, especially on a shared device. Discarding the draft or deleting an account cannot remove these local copies; you manage them on your device.
Copy link is different: it shares only the public invitation, not your reflection writing.
Can I use a blank printable sheet instead?
Yes. On Where to begin, find Prefer to reflect on paper? and choose Open the blank printable reflection. You can also open the blank sheet directly.
Choose Print blank reflection and use your browser's print menu to print on A4 or Letter, or choose Save as PDF if available. The sheet has the same three questions and space to write by hand. It is blank: it does not include your online responses or upload writing, and opening it leaves an existing draft unchanged. No account is needed.
Do I need an account to save on the site?
An account is optional. Choose it if you want to keep writing on the service and return to it there, rather than only keeping a copy on your device.
- Choose Create an account to save. Stay in the same tab so you can return to your draft.
- Enter an email and password, read the free account terms and privacy notice, tick the agreement box, and choose Create my account. If you already have an account, choose Sign in instead.
- Back at your reflection, tick the permission box and choose Save to my account. Signing in alone does not upload the draft or start a subscription.
Saving requires your choice and permission; it is not automatic. Keep your password safe: email verification and password reset by email are not available. Saved writing is not end-to-end encrypted. Read the privacy notice before saving sensitive details.
How do I return to saved writing?
Choose My reflections and sign in to open your saved reflection. The original stays unchanged and read-only. Further writing belongs in a separate, optional follow-up about what has changed, what is still unclear, or whether a small next step still fits. Saving a follow-up requires permission; you can edit or delete it without changing the original.
For an account copy outside the site, go to Account & privacy → Download saved writing. This text file includes saved reflections, questions, responses, dates and current saved follow-ups—not unsaved drafts or an edit-history archive. It is separate from Download my reflection, which copies the current free reflection from your browser tab.
Downloading leaves saved entries unchanged. Account & privacy also provides deletion controls. Deleting an original reflection removes its follow-ups too.
What is free, and what is paid?
The free reflection, its local download and copy options, the blank printable sheet, optional account saving, follow-ups and saved-writing download are available now without a paid subscription.
The collection shows a proposed offer starting at $25/week. Paid access is not open. Richard is reviewing the exercises and commercial terms; billing, renewal, cancellation, refunds and any trial will be shown before purchase.
For help using the site, email richardbutler-coach@brainer.one. You do not need to send your private reflection answers.