Leia Francisco
My love for journaling and expressive writing is entwined with my passion for helping people with transitions. After many years of writing and coaching, I completed applied poetry facilitation training in 2004 and received my certification in journal facilitation through The Therapeutic Writing Institute (founded by Kathleen Adams), where I was one of its first faculty members. I have taught my signature program, Writing Through Transitions, for ten years. In 2015, I published the revised edition of Writing Through Transition: A Guide for Transforming Life Changes.
Through my individual coaching and certification program, I will train people to facilitate transitions with their own signature workshop or coaching. I know from years of working closely with individuals that writing makes a qualitative difference in how well people navigate difficult transitions.
I believe that our prior work enhances how we coach others in writing their stories. I am a reformed English instructor, a former senior manager who worked for many years on policy issues for women, and a consultant for organizational change. My good fortune has included studying with William Bridges, Dr. Frederic Hudson, and Richard Bolles—my mentors and inspiration in coaching transitions. These experiences have profoundly shaped my work.
What I want to share with the Journal Council are my ideas about developing a new generation of expressive writing leaders.
“In this expanded version of Writing Through Transitions, Leia Francisco brings even more of her signature methods for transforming transitions into powerful portals of growth and self-affirmation. Her writing program is theoretically sound, compassionately structured, and expertly delivered. Two thumbs up!” -Kay Adams, author of Journal to the Self and CEO, Center for Journal Therapy “If you are facing a transition or suffering through one, you’ll find Writing Through Transitions to be just what the doctor ordered. In this extraordinary resource, Leia Francisco draws on her years of personal and professional experience in transition work to guide you clearly and patiently through the intricacies of change. This guide contains a wealth of information, insights, and processes that can help transform life challenges into high successful transitions.” -David Borchard, Ed.D., Board Certified Coach and author of The Joy of Retirement: Finding Happiness, Freedom, and the Life You’ve Always Wanted.” “Writing Through Transitions is the essential guide in the emerging field of transition writing…insights about transition across the life span, warmth, and wisdom infuse every page.” -Edwina Cowdery, workplace coach and facilitator.
