“Everyone has a unique story. Uncover yours and create a clear path toward college, career, and beyond.”

-Joan Lockwood

Confidence coaching and job prep support for recent grads

“Everyone has a unique story. Uncover yours and create a clear path toward college, career, and beyond.”

-Joan Lockwood

Helping Students Navigate Life’s Big Decisions

Joan Lockwood empowers students and young adults to take charge of their future, whether they’re exploring colleges, preparing for their first jobs, or building confidence in new environments.

Based on the North Shore of Massachusetts and serving students and young adults across the Boston area and beyond, Joan offers in-person and virtual coaching tailored to each student's unique needs.

Her work begins with listening, really listening to what matters to each of her clients. Through guided assessments, honest conversations, and steady encouragement, Joan helps students understand who they are, what they value, and what kind of life they want to build.

Because success isn’t just about getting into a “top” school or creating a perfect resume, it’s about finding your path, owning your strengths, staying true to your values, and moving forward with confidence.

How Joan Helps Students and Young Adults

Joan Lockwood supports students and young adults through three core services designed to meet them where they are and help them take the next step with purpose.

  • For students seeking thoughtful, personalized guidance through the college search, preparation, and application process, Joan Lockwood offers a proven approach grounded in authenticity and fit.

    From students considering highly selective schools or exploring alternative paths, Joan helps her clients build strong academic and extracurricular profiles, manage timelines, and craft compelling applications. With having worked with over 300 students, 99% have been accepted to one of their top three choices by identifying schools where they’ll thrive instead of chasing rankings.

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  • Whether they’re looking for an internship, their first job, or a meaningful pivot, Joan helps young adults identify their goals while helping them build and articulate their story. Helping them create resumes, develop networking strategies, hone interview skills, and more.

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  • From social communication to self-awareness Joan offers personalized coaching that helps students and young adults show up with clarity, presence, and purpose at school, work, and in life.

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What Makes

Joan’s Approach

Different

Joan believes the best decisions come from deep self-knowledge. That’s why her work always begins with connection, getting to know every client’s personality, strengths, interests and challenges. Using personalized assessments and reflective exercises, she helps students move past external pressures and tap into what truly matters to them.

Her calm, grounded presence offers both structure and support, creating a space where students can tackle and hard questions, try new strategies, and develop lifelong skills.

Whether she’s helping a student refine their college list, brainstorm essays, or navigate a career pivot, Joan brings warmth, clarity, and decades of experience to every step of the journey.

What Makes

Joan’s Approach

Different

Joan believes the best decisions come from deep self-knowledge. That’s why her work always begins with connection—getting to know every client’s personality, strengths, interests and challenges. Using personalized assessments and reflective exercises, she helps students move past external pressures and tap into what truly matters to them.

Her calm, grounded presence offers both structure and support, creating a space where students can ask, tackle, and consider hard questions, try new strategies, and develop lifelong skills.

Whether she’s helping a student refine their college list, brainstorm essays, or navigate a career pivot, Joan brings warmth, clarity, and decades of experience to every step of the journey.

Is this the right fit?

Joan Lockwood supports a wide range of students and families through pivotal academic, career,  and life transitions, offering expert guidance that’s personal, practical, and deeply attuned to each student’s needs.

Student working on college applications with guidance from Joan Lockwood

Joan loves to work with:

  • High school students beginning the college search process

  • Students exploring a range of schools, from Ivy League to private universities to public colleges, or alternative pathways

  • Teens who thrive outside traditional academic environments

  • Young adults preparing for internships, first jobs, or graduate school

  • Families in the Boston area and across the North Shore of Massachusetts

  • Teens building confidence, independence, and communication skills

  • Parents seeking support around big decisions with less stress at home

  • Families looking for personalized, student-centered coaching not a one-size-fits-all approach

“I support students in building balanced college lists that include everything from Ivy League and highly selective universities to strong public institutions and exceptional liberal arts colleges. It's about matching each student’s strengths, goals, and interests to a community where they can thrive.”

Common Goals Joan Helps Students Achieve

Joan Lockwood coaching a young adult on career planning
  • Gaining admission to colleges that align with their goals, strengths, and values

  • Building self-awareness and confident decision-making skills

  • Strengthening time management, study habits, and organizational strategies

  • Learning to advocate for themselves in academic and professional environments

  • Navigating social dynamics with greater ease and resilience

  • Developing interview, networking, and professional communication skills

  • Finding clarity around interests, values, and career direction

  • Using their newfound insights to create an authentic, compelling story so they can build meaningful connections

Interested in Working Together?

If you’re ready to support your teen or young adult as they take their next big step (or you’re a student yourself), Joan would love to connect.