Hi There, I’m Lyssa!
I’m a Founder, Business Woman, Clinical Social Worker and Master Certified Coach, author, podcast host, and educator with over 25 years of experience helping people rewrite the stories that shape their lives and leadership.
Whether I’m speaking to a room full of coaches or a corporate audience of leaders and change-makers, my talks are always practical, thought-provoking, and just the right mix of science and soul.
I speak on two tracks:
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Coach & Therapist Focused Talks
Designed for professionals who want to deepen their coaching mastery, these sessions explore metaphor as a tool for transformation, the neuroscience of client insight, and the art of deep, client-led conversations. -
Keynotes for Broader Audiences
These talks inspire personal reflection and growth, centering on themes like narrative identity, mindset shifts, co-regulation, and crafting a story worth living, even when life is messy.
Every keynote is crafted specifically to your organization and to spark insight, invite curiosity and courage, and offer actionable tools that participants can take with them. Expect moments of laughter, depth, and the occasional “that’s exactly what I needed to hear.”
Let’s light something up—together.
Keynote Topics Include:
Craft a Story Worth Living
Rewriting the Narratives That Shape Us
We Don’t Think in Words: But in Metaphors
Why Language Reveals More Than You Think
Finding Your Inner Compass
Making Aligned Decisions in Complex Times
The Adaptive Edge
Building Resilience for What Comes Next
I witnessed Lyssa’s presentation on The Adaptive Edge: Building Resilience for What Comes Next at the Center for Coaching in Organizations’ (CCO) virtual summit on April 24, 2025. Lyssa crafted a keynote that beautifully aligns with the principles CCO focuses on—inspiring her audience to remain steadfast to the overarching goal, even when the path must continually adapt. The message “The goal is the goal; the plan is not the goal” reflects the essence of resilience and innovation we advocate for in our work. By rooting her framework in historical examples, Lyssa taps into “audience-centered storytelling”, inviting listeners to find the courage and flexibility that today’s DEI landscape demands.
One thing that really stuck out for me in Lyssa’s keynote was the care and attention she took to understand and engage with the messaging the other speakers shared throughout the day and made deliberate ties to their content. I was unsure if having a keynote at the end of the day would work; yet, Lyssa’s ability to integrate the whole day while still honoring her own message and content was a unique skill I have not seen in other keynote speakers.
Lyssa always delivers insightful and engaging learning experiences for the Coaching.com community. In her most recent workshop, she combined teaching, a coaching demo, and interactive discussions, providing valuable insights and real-time learning. Lyssa’s warmth, energy, expertise, and thoughtful delivery make her an engaging and inspiring speaker who captivates audiences and leaves a lasting impact.
As Program Director for ICF – North Texas, it is my responsibility to bring the very best speakers and programs to our membership that I can find. In August, Lyssa presented her program, “Build Your Foundation on Trust and Safety.” It was a big hit! Even though we were meeting virtually, she did a masterful job of engaging the group and teaching us about the new core competencies. We have a wide range of coaches from pre-ACC all the way to MCC, and across the board, the reviews were clear: Lyssa was outstanding as a coach, teacher, and presenter. I highly recommend Lyssa deHart and look forward to having her back.
Craft a Story Worth Living
Rewriting the Narratives That Shape Us
Ideal for: All audiences • leadership retreats • personal development events • women’s summits, wellness or HR conferences.
Overview:
We all live inside stories, some we inherited, others we wrote in survival mode. In this inspiring keynote, Lyssa invites audiences to become conscious authors of their lives. Drawing on her book StoryJacking, neuroscience, and decades of deep listening, she explores how mindset, meaning-making, and language shape our identity, choices, and possibilities.
You’ll walk away with tools to reframe limiting narratives, regulate emotions through storytelling, and craft a story that reflects your values, courage, and agency.
Core themes:
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Identity and mindset shifts
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Emotional regulation through narrative
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Empowered decision-making
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Self-authorship and resilience
Key Takeaways:
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Recognize the internal stories that shape your self-concept and behavior
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Learn how to interrupt disempowering narratives and reframe them with intention
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Explore how storytelling supports emotional regulation and psychological integration
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Connect personal values to actions for more aligned and purposeful living
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Cultivate self-awareness and agency to move from survival mode to intentional growth
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Build resilience by choosing meaning over momentum in times of uncertainty
Key Takeaways:
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Decode everyday metaphors to understand what people are really communicating
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Spot early signals of burnout, misalignment, or disengagement through language
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Lead more effectively by reflecting metaphors that build clarity and trust
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Equip teams to shift from disempowered talk to forward-focused action
We Don’t Think in Words, We Think in Metaphors
Why the Language Your People Use Reveals More Than You Think
Ideal for: Organizational Leaders • People Managers • HR & L&D • Cross-functional Teams
Overview:
What do your team members mean when they say they’re “drowning,” “hitting a wall,” or “walking on eggshells”? These aren’t just colorful expressions, they’re neurological signposts pointing to stress, overwhelm, or unspoken needs.
In this energizing keynote, Lyssa deHart, MCC, unpacks how the metaphors we use in everyday language reflect how we see ourselves, our challenges, and our capacity to act. By tuning into metaphor, leaders gain a powerful lens into team morale, motivation, and mindset. This talk doesn’t just change how you listen, it changes what you hear.
Through vivid examples, stories, and actionable tools, Lyssa shows how leaders can use metaphor awareness to foster clarity, reduce misunderstanding, and increase psychological safety at every level of the organization.
Core Themes:
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Language as a window into emotion and mindset
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Metaphor as a tool for understanding and influence
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Listening beyond words to lead with impact
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Building trust through deeper communication
Book Lyssa deHart
📧 support@lyssadehart.com | 🌐 www.LyssadeHart.com | 🎙️ Host of The Coaching Studio Podcast
Your Inner Compass
Making Aligned Decisions in Complex Times
Ideal for: Executive Teams • People Leaders • High-Performers • Strategic Offsites • Leadership Retreats
Overview:
Pressure is part of the job, but reactive decision-making doesn’t have to be. In this powerful keynote, Lyssa deHart, MCC, explores how self-leadership, nervous system awareness, and values alignment help leaders make clear, confident decisions in uncertain times.
Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and decades of executive coaching experience, Lyssa guides audiences through what it takes to shift from stress-based reactions to intentional responses. Attendees learn to recognize when their inner compass is off course, and how to realign for better outcomes.
This keynote is ideal for organizations navigating rapid change, complexity, and emotional fatigue.
Core Themes:
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Self-leadership under pressure
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Emotional and physiological regulation
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Values-based decision-making
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Clarity and confidence in uncertainty
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Narrative awareness in leadership
Key Takeaways:
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Understand how stress affects decision-making in the brain and body
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Learn to regulate emotions and shift from reactive to responsive
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Clarify your core values as tools for aligned action
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Use narrative and metaphor to recognize internal conflicts and unlock insight
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Build confidence by trusting your internal wisdom — even when the path isn’t clear
The Adaptive Edge
Building Resilience for What Comes Next
Ideal for: Corporate leadership events • Team development • Change initiatives • DEI-adjacent programs • HR and L&D leaders
Overview:
Life and leadership aren’t about following a plan — they’re about staying anchored to your purpose while flexing with the moment. In this dynamic keynote, Lyssa deHart, MCC, shares how nervous system regulation, mindset, and meaning-making offer a powerful antidote to burnout, fear, and reactivity. With clarity, humor, and research-backed strategies, this talk invites leaders to build resilience through grounded self-care, adaptive thinking, and practical tools for emotional agility.
Core Themes:
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Self-regulation and mindfulness
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Internal locus of control
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Navigating uncertainty and change
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Sustainable leadership practices
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“Leader as Coach” mindset
Key Takeaways:
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Understand how stress and dysregulation impact leadership presence and performance
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Learn science-based tools to return to calm, focus, and clarity, even in the moment you are under pressure
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Shift from control-based leadership to adaptability and influence
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Reclaim energy and purpose through intentional self-leadership practices
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Discover how adopting a coaching stance fosters trust, engagement, and team resilience
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Explore how meaning-making and mindset shape culture and outcomes
I had the sincere pleasure of collaborating with Lyssa deHart on her presentation to hundreds of ICF coaches on a topic she’s deeply passionate about—Playing with the Power of Metaphors. Initially, I approached her to present to our local ICF chapter, but it quickly became clear that Lyssa’s expertise and her broad recognition within the coaching community warranted a larger audience. I extended the invitation to other chapters across the country, and the response was phenomenal. The number of enthusiastic participants and the glowing feedback far exceeded my expectations.
There is no doubt that Lyssa is a true master coach, dedicated to helping other coaches achieve mastery. She shared not only a deep understanding of the science behind metaphors but also provided practical tools for using metaphors to accelerate client growth. Many participants expressed how much they now notice metaphors in their conversations and how they’re applying these insights in their coaching practices.
What impressed me the most, beyond her profound expertise and passion for coaching, was Lyssa’s heart. She is one of the most genuine, kind-hearted people I have ever met. Every conversation with her left me feeling more joyful and inspired. I would highly recommend Lyssa for any coach training or speaking event.
