Who I Am

My name is Leia Francisco, and I coach people on how to get the most from their life transitions, especially the wisdom available in all life changes.  I will help you create a space in which you  get clearer, better equipped, and more creative as you make choices about your transitions.

Transition work has been my specialty for many years, as a coach, teacher, writer, and former leader of transition teams. I have worked with all types of organizations and people with a wide variety of backgrounds.  I remain fascinated by this work!

In 2008, I became a faculty member of the Therapeutic Writing Institute, designing a program for facilitators of transition writing, which led to the  revised edition of my book. Writing Through Transitions, a Guide to Transforming Life Changes.

My education and training include a Master’s degree and several certifications, including being a CCE Board Certified Coach and a Certified Journal Facilitator. I was trained in the William Bridges model of organizational transitions.  My methods for using specific writing strategies during transitions have shown that writing tools improve clarity and personal power during and after a transition.

As a child in a military family, I learned early on how to be resilient in transitions of geography and culture.  As a trainer and manager, I saw how little support people have when leaders and organizations do not take time  to manage the human side of change.  In coaching people about career choices,  I noticed how often people feel isolated.  Sometimes they cannot describe the change they face.  Usually they have no framework for understanding their response to change.  Through my own difficult, sometimes messy transitions and through years of study, I developed tools for successfully navigating transitions.

I am not transition expert, but I am a guide who has observed transitions deeply.  The people I work with see me as a careful listener, compassionate and gentle while also practical and clear-eyed about moving them forward.

If I work with you, I want you to feel safe, normal, hopeful and prepared to manage your transitions. Every transition, even the happy ones like a promotion or marriage, can be challenging.  I know, when you are ready, I can help you tap into you personal wisdom.  Every transition is truly  a shaping opportunity.

Our world is churning with transitions in culture, society, and institutions.  We know that transitions grow more complex and come faster than ever.  The good news is that there is no expiration date on the transitions tools and strategies you will learn with me.  They are good for a lifetime.