We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hope Firsel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hope below.

Alright, Hope thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

There’s a moment that forever changed the trajectory of my career—and it didn’t happen in a conference room or during a planned coaching session. It happened in a quiet exchange with a client, a woman unraveling mid-divorce. She came to me unsure of how to speak up in front of her attorney, completely overwhelmed by her financial fears, and barely holding it together for her children. Her self-worth had been chipped away by years of losing herself in a marriage where she had put everyone else first.

As I sat with her in that pain, I realized I knew that space all too well—not just professionally, but personally. Just a few years earlier, I had survived cancer. And then, after 18 years of marriage, I found myself navigating the storm of divorce with two young boys, half a home, and a heart that felt both broken and brave. I had endured my own silent battles—moments when I wondered who I was without my old titles, my partner, my certainty. But I also knew this: I had been through a lot, and I had come out the other side.

In that session with my client, I wasn’t just coaching her. I was holding space for her with the kind of empathy only someone who had been there could offer. I used everything I had learned—from my certifications, my Rapid Resolution Therapy training, and most importantly, my lived experience—to guide her through her emotional storm. I reminded her she wasn’t broken. She was becoming.

When she told me, months later, “You were the first person who didn’t make me feel like I was failing,” I realized this was more than a career—it was a calling. That moment made everything clear: I wasn’t just meant to help women get organized or emotionally steady during divorce. I was meant to walk beside them as someone who had been through the fire and knew the way forward.

Since then, I’ve built a practice grounded in compassion, strategy, and resilience. I collaborate with attorneys and financial advisors to provide women with a full-circle support system. I lead support groups, offer webinars, and remind women daily that their pain doesn’t define them—their courage does.

The wisdom I’ve gained? Sometimes our deepest wounds become our greatest teachers. And the most powerful thing we can offer another woman is not advice—but presence, strength, and the reminder that she’s not alone.

Hope, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

About Hope Lutz Firsel & My Work as a Divorce Coach for Women

I’m Hope Lutz Firsel, and I help women rise from some of the most disorienting, overwhelming, and life-changing moments they will ever face—divorce.

After 18 years of marriage, I went through a divorce of my own while raising two boys and navigating life as a cancer survivor. I know firsthand what it feels like to lose your footing, your identity, and the life you thought you had secured—while still needing to show up, make decisions, and move forward.

My background includes a Master’s degree in Organizational Behavior from The London School of Economics, professional certification from iPEC as a Life Coach, and additional distinction in Rapid Resolution Therapy with Jon Connelly. I’m also a Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS). These credentials gave me the tools—but it’s my lived experience that gives my work purpose.

How I Got Started

During and after my own divorce, I realized how many women were silently struggling—trying to be everything for everyone while emotionally unraveling behind the scenes. They were expected to keep up with legal paperwork, financial negotiations, co-parenting plans, and still manage the rollercoaster of grief, fear, and anger—often alone. That’s when I knew I had to create something different. Not just support. A safe space. A strategy. A sisterhood.

What I Offer

I specialize in coaching women who are considering divorce, in the thick of it, or rebuilding afterward.

My services include:

• Complimentary Discovery Calls
A 30-minute safe space to gain clarity and see if we’re a fit.

• 1:1 Divorce Coaching
Personalized guidance through the emotional, practical, and strategic aspects of divorce.

• Collaborative Divorce Support
I partner with attorneys, financial planners, and mediators to help clients stay emotionally steady and proactive during legal proceedings.

• Virtual & In-Person Divorce Group Programs. I lead transformational divorce recovery groups based on Dr. Bruce Fisher’s “Rebuilding” model, and offer trauma-informed, somatic tools to support healing.
• Educational Webinars & Community Events. I host and co-host events with divorce lawyers and therapists to demystify the process and empower women with legal, financial, and emotional knowledge.

Who I Help

I work primarily with women who are considering, in process or post divorce. Often my clients are smart, capable, and generous—and often feel paralyzed, insecure, or unprepared as they face the legal and financial complexities of divorce. They don’t need fixing—they need clarity, confidence, and connection. That’s what I help them find.

What Sets Me Apart

I blend personal resilience, deep empathy, and professional strategy. I’ve been where my clients are—scared, uncertain, and rebuilding. My trauma-informed training, background in organizational behavior, and experience collaborating with legal professionals allow me to offer a 360-degree approach to healing and empowerment.

I don’t just help women “get through” divorce—I help them transform through it.

What I’m Most Proud Of

What I’m most proud of is watching my clients go from frozen to fearless. From questioning everything to trusting themselves again. I’ve watched women find their voices in court, set boundaries with their exes, become financially informed, and show up stronger for their children—and themselves.

I’m also proud of the community I’ve cultivated—one where women don’t feel ashamed to start over, where they feel seen and supported without judgment.

What I Want You to Know

If you’re reading this and you, or a loved one, is facing the end of a marriage, know this: You are not alone. You are not broken. And this is not the end of your story. I’m here to walk with you, step by step, helping you stay grounded, informed, and empowered through every part of the journey.

This is hard. But you are brave. And I’m here to help you remember that.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What helped me build my reputation within my market was showing up with empathy, consistency, and integrity—especially when no one was watching.

In the divorce and emotional recovery space, trust is everything. Most of my clients are coming to me during one of the most vulnerable, overwhelming times of their lives. They’re not just looking for information—they’re looking for someone who understands what they’re going through, who can offer both compassion and clarity without judgment or agenda.

Because I’ve lived through cancer, infertility, and divorce after 18 years of marriage, I speak from experience—not theory. I think that authenticity comes through in everything I do, from webinars and support groups to one-on-one coaching and professional collaborations.

Additionally, I’ve built strong relationships with divorce attorneys and financial professionals who trust me to support their clients emotionally and practically. These partnerships have been key in expanding my reach and building a reputation as someone who can bridge the gap between emotional healing and strategic decision-making.

Ultimately, I believe my reputation has grown because I lead with heart and deliver with professionalism. I’m not just helping women survive divorce—I’m helping them reclaim their power and rebuild lives they’re proud of. And word travels fast when transformation is real.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been building genuine relationships—both online and offline—while showing up consistently with value and vulnerability.

I’ve found that growth doesn’t happen from one viral post or flashy promotion. It’s been a steady, intentional process of showing up where my ideal clients are—social media, webinars, community events, support groups—and offering real support without a hard sell. I share insights, reflections, and tools that women going through divorce can actually use right now. That builds trust.

Partnering with divorce attorneys, financial planners, and therapists has also been key. When professionals see how I help their clients stay calm, organized, and emotionally grounded, they’re eager to refer women to me because it improves outcomes for everyone. I don’t just coach—I collaborate.

Lastly, word-of-mouth from past clients has been powerful. Women trust women. When someone has felt truly seen, supported, and strengthened through our work together, she tells her friends. That kind of referral is priceless, because it’s rooted in transformation.

So for me, the strategy has never been about chasing numbers—it’s about creating connection, offering real value, and being the kind of guide I wish I had during my own divorce. That’s what grows a business with heart and longevity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.hopefirsel.com
• Instagram: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/hopefirsel/%3Fhl%3Den&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjy6L_zouqNAxUXgYQIHfZsMYwQFnoECCYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw15aMIi0mIfVS_sBFmzPpF4
• Facebook: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://m.facebook.com/hope.firsel/&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwiEiIyMo-qNAxX8TTABHfv7GVgQFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3K8LnCx6m-4Fe6fWaNh8TQ
• Linkedin: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-firsel-72b10641&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjGg53_ouqNAxWeRDABHUPIN78QFnoECCMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3fL4ebl2rS0_mAg396JeCO

Image Credits

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Jessie Hearn