Get unstuck. Ignite your strengths. Also offering Polyamory support 😉 I value inclusivity. I respect your lifestyle. Teneriffe.
Forge a purpose-driven mindset!
🚫Anti-toxic positivity
🚫Anti-fascist
🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🖤💛❤️✊🏽🍉
Your first consult is free. I respect your pronouns (mine are she/her/hers). I am a proud polyamorous woman, an ally for marginalised groups, and an outspoken advocate for racial and social equity. I have spent over a decade working as an educator, trainer, curriculum developer and workshop facilitator in Aus
tralia, Europe, Asia and the US. I now dedicate my work life to using a no-nonsense approach to empower my clients to navigate major life changes and find direction and fulfilment. When you work with me, you will be expected to put in the work we agree on to make your goals your reality 😉 I believe in the power of positive thinking, but I reject ‘toxic positivity’ or ‘spiritual bypassing‘. Yes, working to manifest what you want in life is important, but it is counter-productive to fall into the ‘positive vibes only’ trap which often leads to empty, unsustainable illusions of fulfilment. What matters is the strength of the foundation upon which you build the life you want! A FAMILY LEGACY OF HELPING
Helping professions are the armature around which my life has been formed. My mother worked for 30 years as a counsellor in a children’s hospital. She now assists older adults with developmental disabilities in an in-patient facility. My sister has been a social worker for many years and is currently undertaking a Masters degree in psychotherapy. My father worked as a mentor throughout his engineering career and now owns a consultancy business. He has also been very active in community building and politics and has developed a number of programs to support at-risk youth. My brother has developed a number of programs through which he has led groups of young people from North America on educational expeditions through the Amazon rainforest. To draw upon this foundation of helping is not just a skill I have developed over the years; it is a part of me. It is who I am and it is why I connect with my clients so effectively. It’s also worth noting that my husband is a professional teacher of Philoshopy and Applied Positive Psychology. Discussing the deeper meanings of human behaviour is a daily conversation in my home. In fact, we are so committed to examining reality from various perspectives that we named our daughter after the philosophical concept of Qualia- the raw sensory perceptions that individuals hold which cannot be measured from one person to another. Think ‘is your red like my red’. A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR CRITICAL THINKING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
I am a proud human rights activist. When it comes to the commonly touted coaching adages of ‘stepping into your power’ and ‘making your voice heard’, I do more than ‘push’ these messages onto clients; I walk the talk. I stick my neck out repeatedly, navigating the risk of ostracism, personal attacks, online vitriol, and everything that comes with living one’s values unapologetically. I fight for what I believe in. That said, I work with clients across the political spectrum. I don’t bring politics into my one-on-one sessions, but given the intimacy of the coaching relationship, it is important to me to be fully transparent about my context before we decide whether we will work together. A TRUE WOMAN OF THE WORLD
I am a world traveller, a serial expat and a triple citizen: USA by birth, Peru by maternal descent and Australia by naturalisation. My early childhood was spent traveling back and forth with my family between Peru and whichever US state my American father was working in at any given time. After settling in Pennsylvania, my life in Peru became a 3-months-per-year ritual of running around with my wonderful cousins, becoming educated in Andean lore and traditions and living in a reality very far removed from the country in which I undertook my formal schooling. Bear in mind also, this was Peru in the 1980s and 1990s–a very different Peru from the one of today. Beautiful and wonderful all the same, but it was certainly more fraught in terms of the socio-political climate. Terrorist attacks were a regular occurrence and, due to my family’s political status, my sister and I were particularly at risk. Consequently, I had to learn to be resilient from a very young age. Having been raised a traveler, it was not long before my need to see more of the world took me on solo trips throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia for the purposes of travel, exploration, study, and work. Eventually, after two years working in Vietnam, I found my way to Australia where I had planned to live and work for a year before moving to another country. That was over 10 years ago! Here I still am, now married to a remarkable man I met during our time as Parkour instructors, and raising an even more remarkable toddler. She is an amazing little travel buddy and we can’t wait to show her even more of this big, beautiful world. A CAREER OF EDUCATING, FACILITATING, AND LEADING
Before I started my private coaching practice my major focus was in training and developing innovative methods for using technology in language teaching. I spent several years teaching in the U.S, Europe and Asia before moving into the Australian university sector, during which I also delivered a number of professional development sessions domestically and abroad. I also served as staff representative on the Academic Board in my most recent university position. Among other factors, it was a growing desire to work one-on-one with my students that led me to pursue coaching as my primary career. I realised, after several years of coaching my students toward academic success, that what I was truly passionate about was helping them achieve deeper engagement with their internal motivations and assessment of their own study/life skills. I owe so much of my unique coaching abilities to the lessons I learned through working and studying around the world in various cultural contexts. I am very well-versed in rapidly adjusting to the differing communication styles and support needs of my clients, having done so on a daily basis with classes of students comprising up to 15 different nationalities at a time. I actively draw upon these skills in every coaching session and workshop I conduct. My educational qualifications include a Masters degree in Applied Linguistics, which focuses heavily on how language is used to communicate across cultures, verbally and non-verbally. The expressions people use to describe themselves and the world around them reveals so much about their self-belief and their values and provide valuable material with which to explore their stories. Having a solid foundation in how people communicate allows me to help my clients connect the dots between their words and behaviours in a manner that leads to deeper insights, clarity of communication, and more efficient goal achievement. My Life Coaching training, delivered through The Life Coaching Institute of Australia, a sister school of the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, comprised modules focused on a variety of therapeutic practices, psychological principles and coaching techniques. My ongoing training involves regular communication and practise sessions with coaches, counsellors and students from the LCIA and AIPC programs. A FORMER SERIAL CLIENT
There are situations in life when it is just not appropriate to rely solely upon the expertise of ones family and friends in order to crawl out of a hole. Sometimes, outside sources of support are essential. This has certainly been my experience as well. Social workers, psychiatrists, mental health nurses, counsellors…these are just some of the support sources I have drawn upon in the past to tackle issues related to depression and anxiety partially caused by a very high risk pregnancy and PMDD. I had suffered four heartbreaking miscarriages before becoming pregnant with my daughter. Those 39.7 weeks carrying her were fraught with crippling fear of another loss, remedied only by a dedicated mindfulness meditation practice. This fear had been exacerbated by the numerous warnings (during the countless hospital visits) that I was on the verge of miscarrying my 5th pregnancy due to heavy blood loss. My relationship with the universe and everyone in it had been under threat for so long during my pregnancy journey that it was a struggle to find my place in the world again after giving birth to my daughter. It was around this time that I had to seriously revise my list of mental health professionals with whom I was comfortable speaking, as the effectiveness of each relationship varied widely. Through this revision process, I developed a much deeper understanding of the purpose, limitations, strengths and weaknesses of each relationship in terms of my needs at the time. This process also led to an epiphany–that the support I was receiving could help me feel more stable, but could only get me so far towards achieving vitality and thriving in life. I realised that what I needed was not only an action plan for fulfilment, I needed to be on the other side of the conversation. This, along with a deeper understanding of my changing career needs was the catalyst for my launch into coaching as an explicit career focus. It is within the coaching space that I am most authentically in my element. Witnessing my clients’ breakthrough moments and helping them reach their goals is a truly rewarding experience. I come out of each session feeling uplifted, inspired and grateful for the encounter. Now, how can we work together to help you design your customised personal transformation curriculum? Book a free online consultation with me to find out! I hold online sessions via Zoom and face-to-face sessions in my private office at 91 Commercial Rd.
17/06/2026
Are you a people-pleaser? Do you get so caught up in what other people think that it distracts you from living your own life? Maybe you don’t, but still want to chat about the topic. Either way, join us for meeting 56 of The Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development to discuss the New York Times Bestseller, Are You Mad at Me?: How to stop focusing on what others think and start living for you, by world-renowned psychotherapist Meg Josephson.
Meg Josephson
📖When? Sat 20th June, 3-5pm AEST (12-2pm ICT - Vietnam - in person from 11:30 am)
📖Where? Online via Zoom and in person at The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Bistro - Lounge - Bar
📖How to join? through our Meetup.com page -bit.ly/VanguardMadAtMe (link in bio)
📖How much? It's free! Just buy something to support the venue if you're coming in person.
You don't even have to read the book!
Publisher description:
Are you constantly worried about what people think of you, if they like you, if they’re mad at you? This book will help you understand why. We’ve all heard of fight, flight or freeze. Psychotherapist Meg Josephson reveals a fourth common yet overlooked trauma response: ‘fawning’, or people-pleasing. If you ever:
• Leave social situations overthinking something you’ve said
• Overlook your own boundaries to make other people happy
• Struggle to say what you really want – even to yourself
. . you might be fawning. In Are You Mad at Me?, Meg explodes the idea that people-pleasing is a personality trait, exposing it to be an instinct learned in childhood to become more appealing to a perceived threat in order to feel safe. Yet many people are stuck in this way of being for their whole lives.
Weaving her own moving story with case studies and thought-provoking exercises, Meg will show you how to identify your needs, rethink conflict and build stronger connections: empowering you to stop focusing on what others think and start living for you.
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We insist on respectful and inclusive interactions! 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊🏽 ♾️
See y'all soon!
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-
09/06/2026
Tenderness and strength go hand-in-hand. After May’s focus on ‘reckoning’ I knew that a slow sway into June was the best way forward. Hence why I’m posting my word for June over a week into the month. Slap a dang grin on my face, cuz I’m being tender AF with myself this month.
I strongly value being aware of the harm that personal development media often causes when it intersects with social justice movements. That awareness can be exhausting, if I don’t manage my energy properly. That’s why it’s crucial to make intentional time to unburden myself, especially as someone who identifies with a number of marginalised communities. Sometimes, the outspoken among us just have to ‘nope’ out of certain conversations and challenge the silent ones to rise to the occasion.
One thing I’m NOT wasting my energy on this month is engaging in bad-faith arguments about human rights abuses:
🚫Homophobic comments under Pride Month posts? ←I’m not taking the bait from someone who just wants to sound off.
🚫‘Devil’s advocate’ questions about racism/sexism/ableism, etc? ← No, these are not things you get to ‘play devil’s advocate’ about. Stop talking.
🚫Tone-deaf suggestions that ‘healing your triggers’ is better than dismantling the systems that created them? ← I may enjoy reading other people’s comments explaining why that’s so out-of-touch.
The social media anti-intellectualism wave has made one thing certain–that people with dangerous opinions have been emboldened to demand ‘debates’ in contexts where they have no interest whatsoever in having their opinion challenged. To them, word counts win arguments, likes and shares indicate validity, and critical thinking = contrarian thinking. I don’t play these games.
The chronically silent (especially those with massive platforms) have a lot to answer for. So start answering. I’ll catch y’all in July 😉.
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense, Anti-Fascist Life Coach-
30/05/2026
This is how we roll in Vietnam, apparently 😆. Merry weekend, everyone!
- Leslie 💜
21/05/2026
This Saturday! Join us for meeting number 55 of The Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development. It's also our 5-year anniversary, so we've got a lot to celebrate 🥳
This month's book is The Year I Met My Brain: A travel companion for adults who have just found out they have ADHD, by Matilda Boseley! Whether you're a loud-and-proud ADHDer, or just curious about the experience of late-diagnosed ADHDers, this conversation is sure to provide a mountain of valuable insights.
As always, you don’t have to read the book to participate.
📖When? Sat 23rd May, 3-5pm AEST (12-2pm ICT - Vietnam)
📖Where? Online via Zoom and in person at The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📖How to join? through our Meetup.com page - bit.ly/VanguardMetBrain or DM me
📖How much? It's free! Just buy something to support the venue if you're coming in person.
From the book jacket:
Matilda Boseley's adult ADHD diagnosis was a massive, earth-shattering event. She was given a prescription but had no idea what ADHD meant for her identity, her relationships or her future. Twelve months of confusion later, journalist Matilda embarked on an epic voyage to figure out what's really happening in the stormy seas of the ADHD brain and write the guide she wished she'd had.
The Year I Met My Brain is the ultimate travel companion for navigating and enjoying life as an ADHD adult, covering: what adult ADHD symptoms look like, why so many ADHDers (especially females) are missed as kids, how the disorder impacts our relationships, careers and self-esteem, why we unfairly treat ourselves like failures and how to find self-forgiveness and healing, practical tips for social and organisational wins, and most importantly, how to make our lives work to fit our brains rather than trying to force our brains to fit our lives.
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We insist on respectful and inclusive interactions! 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊🏽 ♾️
See y'all soon!
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-
07/05/2026
Glamping with a book about ADHD? Don’t mind if I do! As a bonus, this book is the featured title for meeting number 55 of The Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development. 😊
ADHD barely gets mentioned in books about productivity, focus, and organisation, which is unacceptable, if you ask me. That’s why this month’s discussion will put it in the spotlight! Join us on Sat 23 May to discuss The Year I Met My Brain: A travel companion for adults who have just found out they have ADHD, by Matilda Boseley!
As always, you don’t have to read the book to participate.
📖When? Sat 23rd May, 3-5pm AEST (12-2pm ICT - Vietnam)
📖Where? Online via Zoom and in person at The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📖How to join? through our Meetup.com page - bit.ly/VanguardMetBrain or DM me
📖How much? It's free! Just buy something to support the venue if you're coming in person.
From the book jacket:
Matilda Boseley's adult ADHD diagnosis was a massive, earth-shattering event. She was given a prescription but had no idea what ADHD meant for her identity, her relationships or her future. Twelve months of confusion later, journalist Matilda embarked on an epic voyage to figure out what's really happening in the stormy seas of the ADHD brain and write the guide she wished she'd had.
The Year I Met My Brain is the ultimate travel companion for navigating and enjoying life as an ADHD adult, covering: what adult ADHD symptoms look like, why so many ADHDers (especially females) are missed as kids, how the disorder impacts our relationships, careers and self-esteem, why we unfairly treat ourselves like failures and how to find self-forgiveness and healing, practical tips for social and organisational wins, and most importantly, how to make our lives work to fit our brains rather than trying to force our brains to fit our lives.
--
We insist on respectful and inclusive interactions! 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊🏽 ♾️
See y'all soon!
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-
06/05/2026
The word ‘reckoning’ may sound a bit ominous, yeah? As if there is danger on the horizon and we’re all doomed? Well, hang on a minute! Let me explain why ‘reckoning’ is my word for May 😊.
I’m ‘reckoning’ this month by taking stock of some of my recent actions and habits, assessing their impact on my life, and using that info to decide my next steps. I’m prioritising the needs of my family and my mental health and putting EVERYTHING else on a waiting list. Period.
Some people expect life coaches to be beacons of sunshine, free from mental health struggles, ‘live laugh loving’ our way past the problems of mere mortals. Some dismiss mental health challenges as having a ‘victim mindset’. Well, y’all know that I’ve NEVER bought into that garbage 🤮. Toxic positivity helps NO ONE! We need to be able to discuss mental health openly. The health of our communities depends on it.
When I feel joy, I puke friggin’ rainbows. My friends know me as a big goofball! But I also don’t pretend that there aren’t horrible things happening in the world that occasionally knock me on my butt. We need to ‘reckon’ with a lot of different things, and the best way to do that is with the support of the people we trust.
So, what are YOU reckoning with this month? Comment or DM me and let’s chat about it.
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense, Anti-Toxic Positivity Life Coach-
(Intro consults are free. Link in bio.)
30/04/2026
I live in Vietnam and I have Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. In a fast-paced city like Saigon, time doesn't stop because my body needs a rest! Where have you taken a 'surprise nap' due to PMDD fatigue?
April is PMDD awareness month, so let's keep this conversation going 👇🏾.
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
- Your No-Nonsense Life Coach -
30/04/2026
I live in Vietnam and I have PMDD. In a fast-paced city like Saigon, time doesn't stop because my body needs a rest! Where have you taken a 'surprise nap' due to PMDD fatigue?
April is PMDD awareness month, so let's keep this conversation going 👇🏾.
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
- Your No-Nonsense Life Coach -
24/04/2026
When trying to explain Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder to your people, you sometimes just have to meet them where they are.
April is PMDD awareness month, so share this with a Breaking Bad watcjer in your life, and see if they finally 'get it' 😊.
With gratitude,
Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-
17/06/2026
09/06/2026
21/05/2026
07/05/2026
06/05/2026