Andrew Lacey

Hi, I'm Andrew, a qualified and experienced coach and counsellor. I've always had a passion for seeing people heal, develop and flourish. Having benefited greatly myself from therapy, in my early 30s I decided to train as a counsellor, and later to train as a coach.  

Coaching is all about helping you achieve the results you want in your life. The focus is on getting really clear about your goals and then identifying the steps you need to take to realise your full potential. This could be about any aspect of life … landing your dream job; running your own business; finding the work-life balance that suits you; improving the quality of your relationships; or daring to have a go at something you’ve always longed to do!

How I work

As your coach, my role is to ask the right questions to get you thinking, open up to new possibilities and find your own answers.

Always with your best interests at heart, while supportive and encouraging I can also be challenging!

With many years counselling experience, I am well placed to help you through any emotional issues that may arise as part of your coaching.

I work flexibly - you might prefer to go out walking on the seafront rather than sit in a room, and that’s fine by me!

Areas of particular expertise  

Work-based coaching, including:

• confidence and motivation
• getting clear what you want to do workwise
• job applications, CVs, interviews
• organisational restructuring
• threat of redundancy or actual redundancy
• difficult workplace relationships
• work-life balance
• moving from full-time to part-time
• approaching retirement

Self-employed/business owners, including 

• aligning business with personal values
• getting started in business
• business planning and development
• managing staff
• work-life balance

Personal/life coaching, including:

• improving relationships
• discovering your passion
• work-life balance
• navigating significant life changes
• daring to have a go at whatever it is you told yourself you couldn't/wouldn't/shouldn't do!

Integrated coaching-therapy

Blending counselling/therapy with coaching brings together the depth of therapy along with a focus on your strengths and potential to thrive despite challenging circumstances. As a dual-trained practitioner, I’m very comfortable working in this integrated way.

My wider professional background

In addition to coaching and counselling, I've had considerable experience across the public, private and non-profit sectors in learning & development (when I lived in Brighton, I was programme director for the Brighton & Hove branch of international leadership development charity Common Purpose) and PR/corporate communications (including most recently as part-time communications manager at South Western Ambulance Service).

I am a trustee of Gaia House, a retreat centre in the depths of the Devon countryside offering silent meditation retreats in the Buddhist tradition.

Taking the first step 

I offer an initial discovery call (phone or Zoom) to explore broadly what you're looking for from coaching - usually this lasts about 15-20 minutes and is free of charge. If you're happy to continue we'll come up with a plan about number of sessions, how often to meet and where, set specific goals ... and get cracking!

So, if you would like to find out more about me or how I can help you, please get in touch!

Coaching session = £75.00: 1 hour, face-to-face, online or phone

Integrated coaching-therapy session = £75.00: 1 hour, face-to-face, online or phone

Flexible package = £395 paid upfront: 6 hours' worth of support, delivered in a timeframe of 1 - 3 months, tailored to you. Choose a mix of face-to-face, online or telephone sessions or email contact. For example, you might start with a face-to-face session (at my office, in a coffee shop or walking on the seafront), then regular short phone sessions over a number of weeks, finishing with a wrap-up face-to-face session.

Contact me by email or on 07904 675052 to book your free 15-minute discovery call!  

How and where I work

If you're based in Torbay or south Devon, we could meet face-to-face:

• at my consulting room
• in a local coffee shop
• or, if being outdoors in nature appeals, we can take a walk for example along the coast path or around Cockington Country Park in Torquay

Within the UK phone, coaching is an option, and wherever in the world you are we can meet online using Zoom.

Standard sessions are one hour, but there is also flexibility for longer or shorter sessions, plus coaching packages or bespoke coaching/mentoring services.

For face-to-face clients in my Torquay consulting room

Our young Jack Russell called “Toby” is super-friendly and (mostly!) very well behaved. He prefers not to be left in the house while I’m working in the annexe, so often sits in on sessions – but only with your prior agreement, of course!

Client testimonials

“Andrew was a great help to me to get my career confidence back after 16 years in the same job and help me to see that I was not an ‘imposter’ but very good at the job I do, to the point of always getting extra responsibility as other people obviously see it too. He also gave me the courage to try again for a position in an organisation that I’d already applied for three times. I was successful on the fourth try, I believed in myself and my CV was updated to remove a lot of irrelevant bullet points – that was the main difference. Andrew is very easy to talk too and tease out what the real career issues are. I would definitely recommend him as a career coach.”  SD

“Andrew is a consummate professional, knowledgeable, compassionate, open to learning and always demonstrating his passion for supporting others. Andrew qualified as a coach when I worked with him at Mid Devon District Council, part of a wider and very enthusiastic team of coaches. Andrew contributed to the learning and cohesiveness of this team and was a valued and effective coach. This team continued to develop, and Andrew demonstrated his previously gained skills as a counsellor, supporting the learning of others in the group.  He is a natural relationship builder, showing understanding, empathy and kindness. Andrew has a compassionate, calm and supportive approach which makes him very easy to connect with, talk with and open up to. As well as being a genuinely nice colleague, Andrew is a skilled communicator, counsellor and coach.” Julia Bickley, Learning & Development Manager and Coaching lead

“My time working with Andrew really helped me with setting goals and achieving them, something I struggle with doing independently. His style of blending therapy and coaching really suited me and helped me work on my issues regarding anxiety and returning to full time study. Having his dog Toby in the sessions really helped me relax. Toby sometimes loved to sit on my lap while we were chatting away!” Connor - integrated coaching-therapy, face-to-face and phone

"I have the pleasure of knowing Andrew on the professional network for a number of years, and as an Associate Coach, he made a significant and positive contribution to our coaching business throughout 2021. Andrew is highly professional in all aspects of his practice. He works with each client in an individually tailored way with empathy and understanding, thereby building trusted relationships from the start. From his wealth of skills and experience, Andrew chooses and applies the most appropriate coaching style and pace, depending upon the individual’s aspirations or goals. For the particular group of clients within our business activity, Andrew coached with a supportive and encouraging style, gently stretching his clients within their capabilities enabling them to move forward along their chosen path with growing confidence, self-esteem and achievements. I have no hesitation in recommending Andrew as an extremely capable and talented coach, alongside being a most dependable and delightful colleague." Dr Sarah Barrett, Director, Inspire Thinking Ltd

“When I first contacted Andrew I felt rock bottom. Andrew offered great emotional support and practical guidance on how to improve my situation. Working with him helped me gradually come out of the depressive state I was in. It was easy to open up to Andrew as he showed genuine empathy. Some of his recommendations have had great impact on my life and I am sincerely grateful to him.” AT - integrated coaching-therapy, online

Contact me by email or on 07904 675052 to book your free 15-minute discovery call!