[Carrie Calkins]

Initial post.
I am scheduled to meet with a new client over the weekend, but noted this post needed to be entered.
I will reflect on a previous client, for whom I use the Gestalt and the NCC techniques. My client was experiencing blockages in moving forward in their career / career goals. The client admitting noted that they cognitively know what they need to do to move forward, but was still experiencing the blockages. The client session was conducted outside, per the client request.
I set the stage of confidentiality and creating a safe and comfortable space for the client, giving them permission to lead the session, noting my role is to help coach and guide.
During the coaching session, I felt the gestalt and the NCC blended together quite nicely. I actually have a hard time differentiating between the two when I am in the coaching session. I feel asking a lot of questions, being in the here and now, observing body language, reflecting on what the client is saying just flows naturally.
Each question and answer builds upon the next, which leads to the core of the issue at hand. Creating an experience to solidify/ creating a threshold brings the session a solid footing.
I feel, I can always improve upon my questioning, going deeper; asking more questions on feelings, sensations, imaging. I felt I held back on creating a experience because it wasn’t in the “rules of NCC”. But after the session and reflection, I wish I would have created an experience (like stepping over a log/ the blockage). This could have been in conjunction with the client created threshold.
I feel practice and experience will make the coaching session more successful and make myself more confident in coaching. I need to continue practicing with questions and letting go, going with the flow. One of my greatest obstacles is coaching and NOT providing. I have been a provider for 20 years (as a nurse), it is a change in mindset.
All in all, I love this practice. I love bringing NCC and gestalt together. I am excited about continuing this practice and growing as a coach.

[Carrie Calkins]

Kate, well done. I appreciate the challenges of working via skype and not having your client with you. But, you adapted well to the situation. I love that you went to your sit spot, finding time to connect with nature, so you could more readily connect with you client. I like the probing questions of what do you feel, see, etc.
In this day and age, virtual coaching is becoming more common. We need to learn to work with type of client to create the best session we can for them. Although, being face to face is great, and may be ideal, virtual is the way of the times, and, can also expand our practice.
Keep up the good and hard work.

[Carrie Calkins]

Thank you Brad!

[Carrie Calkins]

Of note, I am trying to reply, not sure this is working or if I am hitting the correct link.

HI Elizabeth,
Thank you for sharing. I can relate to your experiences. I feel much more confident when in the F2F. When we get home and try to apply in our own sessions, it seems to get a lot harder.
The important thing is that you keep practicing and building confidence. Part of the big hurdle is “getting out there”, feeling the discomfort within ourselves during the coaching session, feeling it and learning from it.
Remember during the F2F, Derek even said he gets nervous before each teaching session. So, give yourself a break. You continue to put yourself out there and continue to learn from the session and apply the new knowledge to the next session.
I also can relate to feeling or being “too stiff and formal”. I think this is natural. As we are training and practicing, we try so hard to follow the rules or outline and doing so, we are not being ourselves. That is another learning process. Learning to practice and be ourselves… using our own natural body language and speech patterns. It will all work out in the end.
Are you grounding yourself before your sessions? Are you connecting with your “soul center”, are you bring your vision counsel along with you to assist?

Keep going, you got this. It is a learning process!