Expert Life Coach Annie Ashdown is currently transforming lives in ITV's ‘Kyle’s Academy’, here she shares her experience as a business woman, life coach, TV personality and all round inspirational lady….

How did you get started as a Life Coach?
I worked in TV and film for 15 years and hit a personal rock bottom around about 6/7 years ago. Life Coaching was big in the USA but had not yet taken off over here. As it happened, I ran into someone from L.A who inspired me so much I employed her as my own life coach for 3 months and my life changed beyond belief; before life coaching, I was a ‘Moaning Minnie’ and a total diva – always negative – it’s hard to believe I was so dreadful now as I'm a professional Life Coach myself and because I'm such a different person. My ex-boyfriends would never believe the difference if they met me again now!

Why is there suddenly such a demand for life coaching?
I feel that people are so much more informed today. People know how important it is to achieve balance and manage the many different elements of their lives. Also, with the press reporting that so many celebrities, Captains of Industry and Hollywood stars are employing coaches, it inspires people to go get help and see seeking help and ‘taking action’ in their lives as an achievement rather than a weakness. A Coach does for your mind what a fitness trainer does for your body.

But isn’t ‘life coaching’ just a new term for therapy?
No. Coaching and therapy have very different agendas. Therapy works with the past and coaching works with today and the future. Coaching helps people achieve clarity and gain a heightened awareness of what they want to achieve. It helps them set and obtain goals, along with motivating and inspiring them to act with courage, self confidence and faith – which are all potentials we need to discover within ourselves. Therapy goes back to uncover many layers of pain, frozen anger, repressed feelings and shame.

Are some people just too ‘far gone’ to be helped by coaching?
I find if people have got stuck in their story – where they are blaming everyone else and not taking responsibility for their actions and the choices they have made, they will find it virtually impossible to move forward. Some people appear to enjoy staying stuck. Maybe they are fearful of their own capacity to be powerful and make life changes – growing and expanding may frighten them. If this happens I always suggest they see a therapist to resolve their issues.

What’s the most important thing you have achieved in your career?
The best ever is witnessing changes within clients. It is the most amazing thing in world for me to hear from them that they have taken that leap of faith after our sessions and gone for what they have dreamt of. I love seeing people blossom before my eyes, losing weight, changing their appearance, leaving the partner they were so unhappy with, quitting the job they detested, starting up their own company, moving abroad, following their dream – whatever it was they came to see me for and truly felt they could never achieve.

What factors have contributed to your success?
Not giving up on my dream. Keeping going when things were challenging and money and clients were scarce. Believing in myself, walking my talk, staying passionate about what I believed in. Keeping the faith, when others suggested I should go and get a ‘permanent’ job. Not allowing any rejections to knock me down. Changing my old, limiting beliefs. Discovering my vulnerability was my strength and not my weakness. Gaining humility and coming from a place of authenticity.

Are you proud of your involvement in Kyle’s Academy?
Yes, I loved every moment of it. Jeremy Kyle is absolutely awesome. The team were amazing and the contributors rocked! I feel very proud of my achievements in it, although it must be made very clear – it was a team effort!

Do you have a motto that you live by?
Stay true to yourself.

Annie Ashdown is a celebrated Life Coach based in London. Annie is currently appearing on ITV in Kyle's Academy.