Ruth Harrison-Swift

Professional Coach, United Kingdom

Ruth is an experienced coach with a specialism in supporting times of challenge and transition, such as navigating neurodiversity, caregiving, loss, parental transition, menopause, and the wider challenges of midlife.

With over a decade of experience, she has worked with clients from a broad range of professional backgrounds, helping them navigate change with greater clarity, balance and confidence.

Ruth brings a deep understanding of the emotional and practical complexities that can arise during periods of uncertainty and transition. Known for her resourceful, flexible, and empathetic approach, she creates a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore what matters most, process their experiences and move forward in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.

Background

Ruth’s background combines a successful 15-year career in corporate IT across the UK and Australia with a long-standing passion for supporting people through growth and change.

Working across sectors including communications, banking, and travel, she held project and team management roles where she was particularly drawn to developing and supporting individuals – often finding this more rewarding than the technical delivery itself. This natural inclination towards coaching led her to share her knowledge and guide others through challenges she recognised from her own experience.

Following significant life transitions, Ruth deepened her interest in the human experience by formally studying psychology, alongside areas such as neurodiversity, grief, and mental health.

Approach to coaching

Ruth’s coaching approach is grounded in empathy, shaped by her extensive experience supporting both professionals and families through complex life transitions. She works in a non-judgemental,
person-centred, and forward-thinking way, creating a safe space where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions openly.

Her holistic approach considers the full picture of a client’s life, supporting them to create balance in a way that promotes positive mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, and enables sustainable, meaningful progress forward.

Experience and qualifications

Ruth brings a rich and diverse background to her coaching, combining 15 years in corporate IT across the UK and Australia (IBM, Flight Centre, Suncorp Metway) with extensive training and experience supporting individuals and families through life’s
transitions.

Working closely with families and through formal study in psychology, menopause and neurodiversity, Ruth has developed deep expertise surrounding the challenges of the parental transition, neurodiversity, caregiving, loss, menopause and midlife health.

Ruth is a full member of the Association for Coaching and a certified Professional NLP Practitioner (ANLP), holding an ICF-accredited Parental Transition Coaching qualification and a First Aid Award for Mental Health (RQF). She also holds a Diploma of Higher Education in Breastfeeding Counselling from the University of Bedfordshire and the NCT and was nominated for Practitioner of the Year in 2015 and 2016.

Her commitment to continuous professional development includes CPD-accredited training in Neurodiversity with Thrive Neurodiversity, as well as grief training and volunteer work with SANDS. Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience as a carer, Ruth offers empathetic, practical, and highly informed support to her clients.

“I would wholeheartedly recommend Ruth. Working with her helped create the time and space to grapple with the mixed emotions and changing identity that comes with motherhood. She offers practical advice and tools to help build your confidence as a parent.” Coachee

“Ruth was gentle and gave me the tools to aid me in my growth, I am living life again.” Coachee