When someone who is adrift recognises the need to initiate change in the way they live their lives, there are countless reasons why they seek navigation from Cambuslang life coach, Jayne Swanson.
Whether their relationship is in a rut, their career’s at a crossroads, their confidence has crashed or they’re carrying a heavy heart, Jayne draws one natural conclusion about people who feel the need to reset.
She believes they already have the answers and it’s her role to help them find them.
Jayne’s journey which led her to launch Jayne Swanson Coaching last year was far from conventional.
Having graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1998 with a degree in History and Politics, she was,in the run-up to the 1999 Scottish Parliamentary election, appointed campaigns and press officer for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
As Jayne Struthers, she stood as the Liberal Democrats’ candidate in the Hamilton North and Bellshill constituency and again in the UK and European elections.
Having been a trusted aide to Jeremy Purvis and David Steele, she went on to join a strategic communications business founded by Purvis and was later to lure Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie into its fold. There, her pedigree and prowess in the fields of public affairs, advocacy, community engagement and event management earned her partner status within the firm.
After 15 years, Jayne became restless.
With two young children and a husband whose work involved much travel, fellow partners supported her decision to step back from the business.
She grasped an opportunity not only to join but to shape Glasgow City Council’s new homeless prevention and family mediation services.
It became clear helping people to help themselves was Jayne’s calling.
Keen to regain control of her own destiny as her own boss and with seven years’ mediation experience, she began training as a life coach and gained certification in December.
As well as life coaching, Jayne supports people to overcome phobias and feelings of anxiety – which many have experienced acutely during the last year.
The many people who have vented to her the frustrations about being stuck indoors and unable to exercise during lockdown prompted Jayne to offer a free, socially-distanced walk-and-talk service in local parks.
As well as a friendly chat and some company with a trained coach and natural listener, it gave those who were feeling isolated or alone a reason to step outside and draw energy from the fresh air.
“I know that this third lockdown hit people hard, and I wanted to help,” said Jayne, 44, who continues to have a weekly stroll with a woman she met this year.
“Having someone completely impartial to just listen objectively and perhaps offer some insight can be a really helpful experience, especially during this stressful time.
“I wasn’t trying to be their friend. I was trying to give them someone additional to talk to.
“The people who got in touch were varied. But the common theme was having someone else, someone impartial to talk to.
“Even after lockdown, I’ll ask clients if they’d like to walk while we talk, as it’s a great way to get them to relax into talking openly.”
Just as she encourages conver-sations, Jayne is refreshingly trans-parent about her own life.
She was a teenager when her 43-year-old mum lost her battle with cancer – a disease that also claimed the life of her dad when she was aged 34.
She’s the first to admit that, like anyone else, the tears can flow when she least expects.
Having had her fair share of personal tragedy, challenges, success and happiness, Jayne believes that the experiences have combined to make her open-minded.
“Change takes courage. It takes determination.
“But with the right support and encouragement it can be rewarding, life-changing and totally liberating,” explained Jayne, who was for six years chairperson of Calderwood Primary’s parent teacher council, and is mum to Sophie, 13, and nine-year-old Jake.
“Change happens from the inside out, but sometimes we need a nudge in the right direction – a bit of help to navigate
life, particularly during a time of uncertainty such as this.
“It is not about goal-setting, pressurised tasks or layering coping strategies in the hope one might stick.
“It’s about genuinely helping you become unstuck, inspiring the change you’ve decided to make and helping you to reset.
“Life coaching can help with virtually any aspect of life, whether it is in
your personal or professional life.
“There is nothing that cannot be improved through talking, re-evaluating and resetting.”
Visit www.jayne swansoncoaching.com for more details.
