Our main objective here at the National Coach Academy is to enable aspiring coaches to reach their full professional potential. One of the most effective ways to educate students about the world of coaching is by offering them a window into the world of real, practicing coaches and showing them all the different ways coaches make a difference in the lives of their clients.
We hope today’s interview adds another insightful glimpse into the dynamic world of coaching.
Today we are interviewing Leanna Lapidus. Leanna is an Addiction Recovery Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist based in Tarzana, CA.
NCA: Can you describe your coaching practice and the kinds of clients you typically work with?
Leanna: My coaching practice consists of several modalities. I practice life coaching as well as hypnotherapy and NLP. My clients are mostly recovering from addictions to drugs, alcohol, or prescription pills. I work with them on a deeper level of understanding themselves, helping heal trauma, anxiety, and fears. I help clients release it and create goals that are right and in alignment with who they are.
NCA: What initially got you interested in becoming a coach and working with this particular set of clientele?
Leanna: The journey started for me with my own personal struggles with anxiety and fear of life and the future. My journey led me to the School of Hypnotherapy where I studied NLP coaching. Life circumstances led me to work in the addiction recovery field because I had family members struggling with addictions. I was around it so much and I saw the struggle and suffering from it. I also witness the recovery part of it — the part where you have victory.
I saw the steps and I wanted to share it with others. I wanted to share the education that I received with my own transformational journey on how to overcome anxieties and fears and depression, and teaching all the coping skills and coaching people in understanding the power within them and of their mind.
NCA: What would you say is the most rewarding part of working with those recovering from addiction and on the flip side of that, what is the most challenging aspect of the work that you do?
Leanna: The most rewarding is when someone achieves a sense of inner peace, comfort in being who they, accepting themselves and meeting themselves where they are regardless of accomplishing the goals. I believe this is the most important base point and from there anything is possible! Watching people overcome the battle of addiction is inspirational and it continues to inspire me to do the work and help many more people.
It’s hard to say the challenging part, I meet my clients where they are. It’s not a challenging process because I know that everybody’s starting at a different level. I don’t really have a challenging part, to be honest with you.
If you’re getting into this field of coaching others, there’s a calling that’s within you and it’s authentic. Honor your truth and be confident that you’re coming from a sincere place and you’re leading somebody on their journey — that is always going to be the right way.
NCA: Have you had any mentors or coaches along the way who were vital to your success and in what ways did this mentor or coach help you thrive in your career?
Leanna: I had a life coach of my own who helped me connect with myself on a deeper understanding of my life purpose. This coach helped me understand my thinking and how to use the power of my mind to make positive changes in my life, shifts in my emotions and in my goals.
Someone who I started following was Oprah. Eckhart Tolle once appeared on the show and it was something that was eye-opening to me and very transformative. Whatever he was talking about, I just really connected with. That was the start of my journey to many more teachers and influencers.
NCA: What is one piece of advice that you would give to somebody who is just starting out in their coaching career?
Leanna: If you’re getting into this field of coaching others, there’s a calling that’s within you and it’s authentic. Honor your truth and be confident that you’re coming from a sincere place and you’re leading somebody on their journey — that is always going to be the right way.
