Inspiring Excellence and Unlocking True Potential – Exclusive Interview with Vikki St Leger

Vikki St Leger is a Hypno-Psychotherapist, Vocal Performance Coach, and Transformational Mentor with over 35 years of experience helping artists, performers, and professionals realise their true potential. A certified hypnotherapist trained by the legendary Paul McKenna, she integrates counselling, hypno-psychotherapy, NLP, and performance coaching into her signature St Leger Method, a deeply compassionate, results-driven approach that empowers lasting growth. Based in Cornwall, she has worked with consultant surgeons, Olympic athletes, and international performers, all united by one goal, to become the best version of themselves.

Vikki St Leger, Voice Coach & Transformational Mentor

Introduce yourself. Could you tell us about yourself and your background, so we can get to know you better?

Hi, I’m Vikki St Leger, a Hypno-Psychotherapist, Vocal Performance Coach, and Personal Development Mentor with over 35 years of experience helping high-performing individuals, elite professionals, and artists unlock their true potential. I’ve spent more than 30 years as an advocate for special needs and autism, specialising in autism behaviour and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). I’m deeply passionate about young people's mental health and have always stood for those who feel unseen. I naturally support the underdog and love helping others rise.

Outside of my work, I’m endlessly inspired by Cornwall, where I live. I love walking the coast, exploring sacred sites, and visiting holy wells, Megalithic and Neolithic places filled with history and energy. I’m currently writing an album and several books inspired by Cornwall’s landscape and heritage, blending its beauty with my love of storytelling through music.

I’m married to Baz St Leger, a music industry consultant, master drummer, negotiator, and HR consultant for major blue-chip companies. As a professional drummer, Baz has had the privilege of performing with many famous musicians, and his incredible teaching methods have inspired students for over 40 years. His ability to draw out the very best in every student, no matter their level, is something truly special. His teaching methods are the most efficacious.

I’m also a proud mum to two wonderful boys and a very happy grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren. Spending time with my children and grandchildren brings me more joy than words could ever describe. The love I feel for them all is immeasurable and fills my heart every single day. There are no words big enough to describe this feeling!

My lifelong passion is enabling people to become greater versions of themselves. When you love what you do and watch people transform before your eyes, it never feels like work. It feels like purpose.

With your extensive background in the music industry and various fields like counselling, psychotherapy, and hypnotherapy, how do you integrate these diverse skills into your approach to vocal coaching and mentoring?

With my background in music, counselling, psychotherapy, and hypnotherapy, I approach Vocal Performance Coaching holistically. Many clients come to me feeling vulnerable, lacking confidence, and struggling to find their voice, not just in singing but in life.

To encourage growth, the right conditions have to exist. When clients are offered unconditional positive regard, a complete suspension of judgment, combined with congruence, empathy, and a deep understanding of music and the human voice, growth happens naturally. Once trust is established, clients feel safe enough to make mistakes, face their fears, and discover their true power.

Vocal Performance Coaching is about taking the whole person into account, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. This approach, lived authentically rather than superficially, creates real and lasting transformation. Self-belief in the client is everything, and deep belief in their ability to succeed is paramount.

Could you share some examples of the transformative experiences or successes that your students or clients have achieved through your mentorship?

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing remarkable transformations in my students and clients, many of whom have faced huge challenges.

H, for example, was painfully shy, severely bullied, and found it difficult even to make eye contact. He was taking piano lessons with my husband, Baz, and through the St Leger Method, we helped him find his voice, both musically and personally. His confidence flourished, and two years later, after sharing videos online, he was personally invited by Little Mix to audition for a new boy band supporting their world tour.

A’s story is equally powerful. She is autistic and had been taken out of school after experiencing severe bullying. She struggled with anxiety, self-harm, and depression, and had lost all will to live. I homeschooled her, and together we wrote two albums. Lyric writing became her therapy, and through our work, she began to heal. Today, she’s completing her university degree, a beautiful example of how creativity and belief can rebuild a life.

M came to me lacking confidence and struggling to get lead roles in her local theatre group. With the help of the St Leger Method, she found her strength, identity, and voice, eventually going on to win The Voice and flourish as an artist.

K is non-verbal but is able to sing beautifully. His story has touched millions worldwide. I’m currently writing his third album, and his videos continue to inspire countless people, especially those on the autism spectrum. Working with non-verbal individuals requires extraordinary skill, and this is where the St Leger Method truly shines. It reaches places words cannot.

Mr A, an actor, had become stuck in smaller roles and couldn’t seem to break through. I wrote him a personalised hypnotherapy script focused on self-belief and visualising bigger opportunities. Shortly after, he landed a highly lucrative job worth tens of thousands.

Sometimes, one powerful mindset shift can change everything.

These are just a few of the hundreds of transformations I’ve witnessed. Every story reinforces my belief that when someone is supported, believed in, and given the right environment, extraordinary growth can happen.

As an award-winning voice coach and mentor, what do you believe sets your approach apart from others in the field, and how do you tailor your methods to meet the unique needs of each student or client?

What sets my approach apart is the depth of connection I create with every client. It’s not just about technique. It’s about truly understanding who they are and what’s holding them back. I work with the person as a whole, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, helping them release limiting beliefs and uncover their natural confidence and strength.

Every client is unique, so my methods are always tailored to the individual. I create a safe, supportive environment where they can grow at their own pace. My aim is to help them rediscover or find their voice, not just as performers but as people. Through empathy, honesty, and an unwavering belief in their potential, I guide them through genuine personal transformation.

With over 30 years of experience in the music industry, how have you seen the landscape of vocal coaching and mentorship evolve, and how do you stay ahead of these changes to ensure your clients receive the most relevant guidance and support?

The landscape of Vocal Coaching has changed dramatically, especially with the rise of the internet. It’s now easy for anyone to call themselves a coach, even without the right training or experience. Sadly, many lack depth and understanding, and when you’re dealing with people’s mental health and confidence, that can be dangerous.

I stay ahead by drawing on decades of hands-on experience, continuing my own learning, and maintaining a deep understanding of both vocal performance and personal development. My work is grounded in real expertise and ethics. The trust my clients place in me is sacred, and I take that responsibility very seriously. My focus is always on integrity, quality, and helping people grow into the best version of themselves, both on stage and in life.

Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.

Being named runner-up for International Woman of the Year was an incredible honour, and having a student go on to win The Voice was another proud moment. But honestly, it’s the everyday breakthroughs that mean the most.

There are too many achievements to count, but seeing people rise above adversity, find their confidence, and start living fully again is what drives me. Watching someone achieve what they once thought impossible is one of the greatest gifts you can give another human being, the belief that they can succeed. That’s when I know I’ve done my job well, and that feeling never gets old. Mic drop!

Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.

A pivotal moment in my life came when I survived 18 years of long-term domestic violence, which stripped away my self-worth and confidence. I had to rebuild from the ground up.

Then I met Baz. He believed in me when I had stopped believing in myself. He encouraged me, challenged me, supported me, and helped me rediscover who I was. He has been my husband, my mentor, and my best friend for 21 years. I wouldn’t be doing what I do today without his unwavering belief. That is the true power of belief.

Through the pain, I discovered something beautiful, there is magic in suffering. It gave me a depth of empathy and understanding that I now bring to every client I work with. It taught me how to help others find strength in their own pain and transform it into something powerful. That experience didn’t break me. It built me, and it’s why I do what I do today.

How does hypnotherapy help singers and musicians overcome performance anxiety, and who is your ideal client?

Hypnotherapy is incredibly powerful for singers and musicians because it works with the subconscious mind, the part that holds fear, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs. Performance anxiety rarely comes from a lack of skill. It comes from the mind’s fear of failure or judgment. Through hypnotherapy, I help clients release those fears, reframe their thinking, and perform with calm confidence.

Performers often feel the pressure to be perfect, which can lead to anxiety and self-sabotage. Hypnotherapy helps quiet the internal noise and regulate the nervous system so they can perform with clarity, focus, and joy.

Using my St Leger Method, which combines hypno-psychotherapy, NLP, and performance psychology, I guide clients to reach a state of flow where mind, body, and creativity work in harmony. When they reach that place, everything changes.

My ideal clients are high-achieving individuals, artists, and performers who are ready to overcome fear and unlock their full potential. The best way to begin is with an initial consultation, where we explore goals and create a clear plan for growth and transformation. From there, we take it step by step, one session and one breakthrough at a time.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info!

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