About me
Life Coach & Journalist
Sometimes the story we're living is no longer the one we want to be in.
Perhaps you feel stuck, you're at a crossroads, or life looks fine from the outside but no longer feels quite right. You may be facing a career or life transition, questioning what comes next, struggling with confidence or self-doubt, or simply feeling that something needs to change but not knowing where to begin.
I'm Lisa Sewards, a life coach and long-standing journalist. For more than 30 years, I've made a career out of listening to people and understanding what lies beneath the story they tell.
As a feature writer for the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine, I've interviewed an extraordinary range of public figures, alongside writing for publications including The Independent, Evening Standard, Daily Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Red and Grazia. My journalism has taken me into conversations about ambition, pressure, identity, relationships, grief, resilience and reinvention.
That experience is now at the heart of my coaching. I'm interested in the person behind the problem: what is really going on, what may be keeping you stuck, and what would need to change for life to feel more like your own.
Who I Work With
I work with people who are navigating change, questioning what comes next, or simply feeling that their current way of living no longer fits. You may be dealing with a career change, a relationship issue, low confidence, difficult decisions, overthinking, or a lack of direction.
- Confidence and self-belief
- Career and life transitions
- Personal development and personal growth
- Clarity, direction and purpose
- Relationships and healthy boundaries
- Decision-making and overthinking
- Self-doubt, perfectionism and people-pleasing
- Life change, reinvention and finding a new direction
- Resilience, mindset and moving forward
You don't need to arrive with a perfectly formed goal. Some clients begin simply with, “I'm stuck.”
That's enough to start.
My Approach
Lisa Sewards 1I see coaching as an extension of my journalism. I'm used to listening carefully, noticing what isn't being said, and asking the question that gets to the heart of a story. I bring that same curiosity into coaching, creating a calm and confidential space where you can speak openly about what is really happening.
My style is warm but direct. I won't tell you what you should do or give you a ready-made answer. Instead, I'll help you step back from the noise, challenge the assumptions that may be keeping you stuck, and work out what you genuinely want.
Sessions are reflective but practical. We identify what matters, explore what's underneath it, consider your options, and agree on meaningful next steps. My aim isn't to give you more things to think about. It's to help you think more clearly.
My Four Pillars of Coaching
Confidence & Core Stability - building self-trust, reducing self-doubt, and moving away from patterns such as perfectionism, comparison, and people-pleasing.
Relationships & Boundaries - understanding recurring patterns, communicating more honestly, and learning to set boundaries without guilt.
Clarity & Direction - quietening the mental noise, understanding what you really want, and making decisions that feel right for you.
Momentum & Growth - turning intention into consistent, meaningful action and creating progress that feels sustainable.
My Background and Training
My coaching practice brings together journalism, professional coaching and behavioural insight.
I hold a Triple Accredited Associate Coach Diploma through Optimus Coach Academy, accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and the Association for Coaching (AC). I'm also trained in DISC Behavioural Profiling.
Alongside my coaching work, I'm undertaking Master's-level training in psychotherapy and counselling and work on a charity helpline, providing empathetic, non-judgemental support. I'm registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and am DBS-checked.
My journalism career began as an NCTJ-trained reporter in South Devon, followed by work with the Daily Express in London and New York, before my long-standing career as a feature writer. That experience continues to shape how I listen, question, and understand people.
Coaching Programmes
I offer a 6-Session Programme, 3-Session Reset, Monthly Support and Single Session Clarity Call.
The right option depends on what you want to work through and how much support you feel you need.
Sessions are usually 60 minutes, with longer sessions available when more space is useful.
Coaching is available online, with in-person coaching also available in London and the Cotswolds.
Everything we discuss is confidential. The first step is a complimentary discovery call: a chance to talk about where you are, what you'd like to change, and whether working together feels right.
Sometimes clarity begins with one honest conversation.
Lisa Sewards
Training, qualifications & experience
Triple Accredited Associate Coach Diploma (ICF, EMCC, AC) by Optimus Coach Academy: a comprehensive accredited programme covering coaching methodology, ethics, emotional intelligence, NLP principles, client-centred frameworks, and applied practice.
I'm also trained in DISC Behavioural Profiling. I am DBS-checked.
Alongside my coaching work, I'm undertaking Master's-level training in psychotherapy and counselling and work on a charity helpline, providing empathetic, non-judgemental support. I'm registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Member organisations
The Association for Coaching is one of the leading professional bodies for Coaches and Organisations.
The Association is made up of a number of different membership categories, e.g. Associate Member (AMAC), Member (MAC), Accredited Member (AC Accred), with the different categories standing for different levels of training and experience. Accredited Members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
The Association has a Code of Ethics & Good Practice and a Complaints Procedure.
