Meet the Coach: Lynda Loveday
Lynda Loveday is a life coach in Bath and online
What attracted you to become a coach?
I recognised the power of coaching and in particular therapeutic coaching when I needed it the most – in recovering from a health condition and the issues associated with that.
Having benefited from it directly myself, I discovered that coaching others felt like a great fit for me. It allows me to use my natural skills of empathy and sensitivity, along with the wisdom I have gained from my experiences and training, in order to support and empower others.
Where did you train?
I trained as a therapeutic coach with The Optimum Health Clinic in London.
The training comprehensively integrates key principles of NLP, developmental psychology, hypnotherapy, life coaching, EFT and mindfulness, giving you accreditation in a number of modalities. So it prepares coaches to support others with a wide range of issues.
I found it inspiring and transformational to do the training - on both a personal and professional level.
What kind of coaching do you offer?
I offer therapeutic coaching – compassionate and gentle solution-focused coaching, integrating powerful techniques such as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).
For each client, I ensure there is an understanding of where you are, where you want to be and what is getting in the way of that. From here we are able to work on those conscious and unconscious blocks and get to the root of the problem, in order to enable the positive change you desire.
How does therapeutic coaching help people with low confidence?
It allows us firstly to understand how having low confidence is affecting you – the impact it is having on your life. We then imagine how you would like it to be different and what that would be like. We uncover the root cause(s) of your low confidence, for example the experiences that have contributed to it, and the limiting beliefs you are holding about yourself and the world.
From here we work with those thoughts, feelings and beliefs (which are often unconscious), so that you feel more confident within yourself and in the choices you make going forward.
What sort of coaching clients do you usually see?
I often work with women who are tired of struggling and want to find a new way forward so they can live more joyful and fulfilling lives. But I do also work with men.
I have worked with adults of all ages, who are feeling stuck with a particular issue, whether that is to do with their health, relationships, their work or their sense of purpose in the world.
I work online so clients can be anywhere in the world! Often my clients either feel things very deeply or are feeling quite cut off from their emotions, so both are looking to find their way back into balance.
Do you ever suggest books or other materials to clients?
I am an avid reader of psychology and personal development books and have many on my bookshelves that I often refer to. I also love to read articles, listen to podcasts and talks, as I find understanding the human condition fascinating. Sometimes I will recommend books or materials that are relevant to individual clients, such as…
Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Find Your True Voice by Emmy Brunner
What do you like about being a coach?
I love supporting others to gain greater awareness about an issue they are experiencing, to understand what is contributing to it and to find empowering solutions that are right for them.
It’s a privilege to accompany clients on this journey and to witness their healing and transformation.
What is less pleasant?
In order to heal from an issue, it’s important to acknowledge the uncomfortable emotions, thoughts and beliefs we are holding that often have roots in past traumas and experiences. So often it is necessary to encourage clients to focus on whatever it is they may have been resisting or subconsciously trying really hard to avoid. Fortunately, the tools I use enable us to do this very gently and effectively, providing a tangible sense of relief for the client and in that sense it is very rewarding.
What is one life lesson you try to live by?
Be kind – to myself, as well as to others. Sometimes it’s easier to do the latter and we forget to be kind to ourselves. I’ve learnt the hard way how important it is – by being too hard on and critical of myself in the past, which led me to feeling out of balance.
Learning to have more self-compassion and developing a more supportive, nurturing relationship with myself has transformed the way I live.
What do you wish people knew about coaching?
That the kind of coaching I offer is therapy with a focus. It is a hybrid of therapy and coaching, both solution-focused and therapeutic. Also, just how empowering it can be to experience coaching – enabling you to connect with yourself more fully, to understand yourself better and to create the positive change you long for.
Do you have a favourite client testimonial or particular success story?
I’ve had countless clients who begin the sessions feeling tired, heavy and dragged down by an issue and who end by saying that they feel so much lighter and more optimistic. They report feeling more relaxed, confident and content outside the sessions. This has led to clients making big decisions to change jobs or careers, to move on from or commit more fully to their relationships, or take time out to go travelling. Or even to move countries, as one of my clients found the confidence to do, having originally come to me with a small issue which stemmed back to not feeling good enough, which we worked on with EFT and hypnotherapy. Of course, it doesn’t always result in such dramatic life changes. Sometimes it’s just about clients finding a greater sense of peace and ease in their lives, as that is what they have been most desiring. This in its own way can be just as significant and lasting.
