Lucia Fontaina-Powell

I coach clients through career transitions, the ups and downs of self-employment, and “There must be more to life…” moments.

Life, career & freelance coaching

If you've ever stared at a spreadsheet wondering whether you're on the right path, pushed through another week of long hours and high dramas, or made a huge change only to find out it's not quite what you expected—and thought "there must be more to life than this"—you're not alone.

I'm Lucia, an EMCC-accredited life, career and freelance coach, and I meet people like you all the time. Plus I've been there myself!

I love working with two main groups of clients:

1. Recovering high achievers seeking direction and purpose at a life or career crossroads.

Maybe you're:

• Moving through feelings of stress, stuckness or dissatisfaction at work
• Questioning what’s next after burnout, a redundancy, or career break
• Wondering if "climbing the ladder" has really been worth it
• Reconnecting to more authentic and aligned foundations
• Exploring possibilities and making courageous decisions about a career change

Through coaching, we can work together to bring you more clarity on what you want from your career and life, tools for managing the uncertainty and self-doubt that come with big transitions, and a renewed sense of agency—the feeling that you're intentionally choosing your path, and creating the life you want!

2. Independent spirits (freelancers, founders, business owners and portfolio careerists) who need a sounding board for the rollercoaster ride of self-employment.

I specialise in the emotional, existential, and mindset challenges of working for yourself.

Freelance coaching can cover:

• Building tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity
• Managing stress, cultivating work-life balance, and setting boundaries
• Creating collaborative, respectful relationships with clients
• Getting to the root of self-doubt, imposter feelings, and comparisonitis, and procrastination—and building greater clarity, courage, and momentum
• Working towards a slower way of life with more balance and freedom
• Taking time to reflect, measuring success and celebrating wins

Rather than bombarding you with yet more strategies and systems to "10x your followers" or "make six figures", coaching with me is a space for you to slow down, think out loud, and get to the root of what's really going on. Over time, clients find themselves making decisions with more confidence, setting boundaries without the guilt, and feeling genuinely optimistic about what comes next.

You can learn more about my 1:1 coaching pathways, Crossroads and Sounding Board, on my website.

If neither of these is quite the right fit, feel free to reach out anyway. I'm always happy to chat and offer ad hoc sessions and bespoke packages.

About me

I spent almost a decade climbing the ladder in early-stage startup marketing…only to realise I didn’t like what was at the top. So I quit the hustle and branched out on my own as a freelance writer and consultant, before training as a coach with the Animas Centre for Coaching.

I follow a person-centred, trauma-informed approach, drawing from psychology-based methods (especially Internal Family Systems Therapy, Gestalt Psychotherapy, and Transactional Analysis).

In plain English: my style is calm, creative, and gently challenging, with a sense of humour for good measure!

What my clients say

“I was feeling stuck where I wasn't sure where my career was going, what I was 'living' for essentially. I felt disempowered with where I was working and I had the opportunity to change paths yet I was filled with imposter feelings. I've noticed that I've built back my confidence in myself, and that I have a clearer sense of where I'd like to go in my career and life. I had gained more courage in addressing my weaknesses as well as acting on plans and ways to protect my lifelong vision and values.” - Naomi, Creative Strategist

"I was stuck in a rut with my career, feeling like I’d ended up in a place where I wasn’t really choosing my next steps and was living my professional life quite passively. Coaching with Lucia has made me feel optimistic and excited about the future. I have a much clearer idea of what I want to get out of the next few years.” - Hannah, Freelance Content Specialist

“I was struggling with...imposter syndrome, scarcity mindset, and not being able to set appropriate boundaries, which ended up making me feel frazzled and lost... I've noticed a huge change in myself since starting coaching with Lucia. I feel like a calmer and more collected version of myself, because I'm able to rationalise and look deeper at situations rather than jumping to conclusions or anxious thoughts.” - Laura, Freelance Graphic Designer

"Lucia would somehow manage to take all my messy thoughts and worries and help me sort through everything and create a clear path for me to action in both my professional and personal life.” - Lindsey, Digital Marketer

“I was going through a hugely challenging time in my business and financial life, with a somewhat forced transition to new employment. Talking with Lucia over a period of time has helped me to get more clarity on the things that are really important to me (as opposed to those I perhaps feel should be important to me) and a different perspective on professional goals.” - Gavin, Self-Employed Recruiter

How we can work together

Core pathways:

Crossroads: 8 sessions + additional support (session notes and resources) 

Sounding Board: 6 sessions + additional support (session notes, resources & weekly check-ins)

Ad hoc sessions & bespoke packages:

Book sessions on a rolling basis or purchase as a package (e.g. 4 sessions)

Sessions last for 60-minutes and are held on Zoom or in-person if you are based in Bristol.

Pricing:

Starts at £80/hour for ad hoc sessions and bespoke packages, and up to £300 per month for core pathways (payment plans available).

Book a discovery call

If you're curious to learn more, I'd love to meet you for a free, no-strings discovery session. We'll talk about what you're working towards, what's getting in your way, and decide on the best next step.

🌍 Learn more: moretolifecoach.co.uk/home

📩 Email me: luciafontaina@gmail.com

📝 Read my Substack, Messy Work: https://luciafontaina.substack.com/

You can learn more about my programmes and pricing on my website, or we can discuss a bespoke package.