[Gina Lobito]

Foundations 4 – Summary:

While it has taken me a while to reach more clarity on my vision. I realize that creation is always in state of change. While I can create a vision, I am reminded that its meant to breathe, grow, reshape itself. Sometimes it’s necessary to start over, or move in another direction or just be still and listen for the baseline of the vision. Creating can be a threashold experience, and many ideas can come during this time, not every idea or concept is meant to be put into creation. I am reminded that It’s best just perhaps start with the loudest idea. Pay attention to how that idea feels in my body. How do I react to it, is there resistance, anxiety, what are those telling me. Or is excitement and scary to step into something new. Like diving of the high dive, it’s scary/exiciting, the hardest part is leeping off the edge, the rest is and falls into place, as I feel my body break the plane of water and submerge then I swim to the surface…” It becomes easier and easier each time to take the leap. As I step into this new phase of vision and calling forth an ideal client, I reminded, I have all the tools and experience within me to have a solid foundation to build from. The vision is an evolution of growth and requires steps to obtain the ultimate dream. The dream must unfold through the steps of the vision.

[Gina Lobito]

@ susan,

Throughout foundations, you lite up when speaking about rights of passage. To have this focus with woman, well I know you will have a strong foundation and ability to create a space of empowerment and impart wisdom that will carry through the lives of many women. It will be a beautiful ripple of growth and expansion you create for others.

Gina

[Gina Lobito]

@ David, I inspired by your focus with guiding is to focus on those with little to know nature experience. What an amazing opportunity to bring forth powerful new experience for those people. When bring ourselves to an “edge” or out of our comfort zones many opportunities can present themselves. I love, should you chose to create a business, you will bring your wisdom along with you as well as the tools of EBI’s education to create a well rounded supportive experience for those you guide.

[Gina Lobito]

This post is a bit late, I realized I was not ready to post at the time:

When I consider the ideal client, at this point in my coaching, is to work with individual and groups who are willing to create change in their life and are open to being curious willing to approach the process with a beginners mindset. That they are open to being asked the deeper questions and willing to be open to their self- discovery and how they relate to the world.

There are two groups of clients that light me up the most, working with first responders and working with those who would like support going through the ascension process and transformation and self mastery, working with energy and frequency within the self and the plant/nature, moving from a state of duality to a state of unity with all living things and universe.

I was part of teachings that worked with Self Mastery, as we learned how to work with the chakra system and ascended masters, and worked with 7 main attributes of god, associated to the frequency/energy of each chakra, ultimately relating to the 4 lower bodies (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual). Ultimately this school was called the sacred seven mastery school, but ultimately closed. As I grew with the school I became a co-facilitator guiding new and current students on retreats to places such as Mt. Shasta and Sedona, it was calendared to go to Maui, HI, and Grand Tetons…etc. These power centers were associated to specific energies and frequencies associated to 7 Rays/Flames as well as the chakra system and ley lines of the planet. When on retreat I just would lite up and new this work had purpose in transformation of individuals, particularly when incorporating the Nature competent, and what messages and teachings one can receive from nature.

It’s in this discovery of my own transformation that allowed me to stay in the career of Law Enforcement and maintain compassion, healthy boundary between work, home, and personal life, and I began to no longer treat them as separate. I realized in an attempt to keep my worlds separate was an attempt to protect those in my life from the negative experiences that are innate in working in Law Enforcement or similar related fields. While, my intention was coming from a place of love and wanting to protect, I was ultimately causing disharmony in my life.

As I learned to relate to myself from a place of authenticity, I found my my voice, and true self. I began to lead my life from a place of truth, and openness. I began to understand the quote, along with many other references, “Be the Change You Wish to see in the World. That ripple of change began with me. As I began to take an active role in my life, my world began to change. The more momentum and I gained, and kept a daily spiritual or ritual practice, over a 2 year period, I became less impacted to the world around me, I had my feelings and emotions, but learned to come from a place of response, instead of reaction. This is still a daily practice, but comes with more ease and self correction, as my awareness continues to grow.

There are a couple places that come to mind when thinking about offerings:
1. http://www.mountshastaretreat.net
Andrew guides individuals, couples and groups around the sacred mountain of Mount Shasta. He connects with the land, and the energies of the Mountain. He introduces the mountains history and folklore which enhances the majestic experience of Mt. Shasta. While exploring the land he also leads groups in guided meditation. He uses the connection to the land and spirit to support the growth of those he guides. While Andarew is amazing at connecting with the land and spirit and heart and his guided meditations are powerful, EBI stands out, by bridging the gaps through the use of connecting with emotions, taking the deeper dive through powerful questioning guiding the client to an awareness and potentially the root of what is going on with in their physical body. EBI supports the client using the language of emotions as an ALLY for growth and awareness and transformation.

2. https://pspsa.org/conference/
Public Safety Peer Support Association began about 3 years ago and continues to grow. While it offers support through story and experience of traumatic events on a large (events like Las Vegas Concert Shooting) and cumulative scale (years in service). It offers a wide arrange of panelist/speakers throughout the week. It addresses counseling, and therapy, EMDR. All these things are supportive in toward the MIND-Body-Spirit Connection, but fails to bring in the relationship of the physical body and how it constantly is taking in the surrounding environment and the concept that our thoughts are energy and creates patterns. I find that this program struggles to bridge the gap and bring in the language that would reach 1st responders to maintain a mental and physical wellness that’s supportive throughout a first responder’s career. Bring in concepts and practices introduced by EBI program can enhance the message of Peer Support Conference and bringing harmony to Mind-Body-Spirit. Specifically, bringing awareness of emotions and recognizing them to support the process of wellness.

Ultimately, I would like to create a place similar to Kripalu Center in Massachusetts, their work with Four Winds (shamanic healing Practitioner program) and Neuroscience education and nature based offerings, has captivated my attention. I discovered the center in a dream. In the dream, clearly stated, ‘Take them to Kripalu”… I googled the name and discovered it is a real place. Though, I have yet to go there, I like aspects of the workshops and education Kripalu offers. I heart became more drawn to EBI ‘s program which offered me what I was looking for and has brought practical and tangible approaches to coaching that can be applied with any type of client that’s before me, First Responder or Ascension Process. To me they are both the same, just with different “costume”.

[Gina Lobito]

Takeaway for Brain Change 1:

There was so much content covered during the Brain Change 1 intensive and readings its going to take some time to collate it all. Write now the biggest takeaways for me is recognizing what stage of change a client is in, the use of resourcing, and being able to weave in some basic concepts of the Neurology and the nervous system and how new patterns can be created. (Depends on the willingness and dedication to their process of change and to maintaining it).

I am beginning to gain an understanding of the language of science from a neurological perspective and the language of emotions and bridge them together to have a deeper understanding of what drives a persons behavior and how that behavior might be expressed. Being able to guide a client and bring awareness and understanding of what possibly drives behavior can support the client to have sustainable change. We need the external world to promote change/growth. It’s throught our experiences that change or habbits occur, potentially identity of the self. Reminds of Why God Wont Go Way, “All human babies are born with the neurological potential to form a self, but they do this through living and experiencing the world ad they grow older. The development of the self also requires the development of certain neural connections in the brain.” As I read this, it was a reminder that a person can recreate the self at consciously and subconsciously. Change is always occurring.

As a person continues to build awareness and put tools into practice it can support their personal experience with transformation and freedom of limitations. Build the tools and skill set to become the alchemist of their life and come to self mastery and unity with the inner (the self) and outer (earth) worlds, junction of these worlds meeting at the heart. Hopefully come to harmony. This reminds of me of how powerful Ritual is, not just to support change and creating a new neuro network or patterning, but also for the overall well being of the physical and mental body.

[Gina Lobito]

@ Maria, Thanks for these thoughtful questions: “I am curious about what connections you see between her growing body awareness and her path to greater self-awareness? How did you know that body awareness is what she needed to practice?

1. Maria, the body holds information, and it’s often ignored by most people, the more anyone learns how to understand the language of their body and the ability to recognize and honor what the body is telling them it allows for their own facilitation of healing process, in whatever way that looks like for the individual. This particular client, after putting suggested exercises into practice, that focused on breathing, pausing and noticing what was occurring in her body when she felt tension, and what emotions might have come. She expressed she felt anger and resentment, but also practicing not reacting from these space of these emotions, taking a pause and a breath, she was able to allow the energy of the emotion to pass, and have more of a response to what was in front of her. She also noticed a change in those around her, as she made small changes to her own behavior, simply by breathing, pausing, placing her hand over her heart and telling her body “thank you for the information.”… The body awareness is brings many levels of awareness. One of those things is the client learning how to “go inward.” The more she learns to go inward and seek her own answers from the heart, which in this case, we are beginning with the physical body, the more her self awareness will grow. I know with the stage she is currently in, mostly pre-contemplation and has much resistance to change, though she desires peach and Harmony within, as the potential to be a challenging process for her.

2. I listened and observed her body as well as where my body felt the energy running through it. When she speaks, it’s fast paced, shallow breaths, it’s like her mind is always 10, 20, 20 steps ahead.Part of that is what she does for a living and her natural personality When she arrived she was not fully present, parts of her were at “work” or in other “conversations”. All her energy was held in her upper chest, and limited movement from the diaphragm. And she’s very cerebral. Her mind is in a constant state of multi-tasking. When we multi-task we are not fully present. Brining in exercises to support body awareness supports single pointed focus, practicing exercise, also allowed the energy to moving down her body and become more grounded and present in her body, the moment, and in our session.

[Gina Lobito]

I met with my client following the intensive. She’s in her late 40’s and works for a company that focuses on environmental change. When we first began working together she described her frustration with not being “heard” by her fellow co-workers and bosses and noticing that she was feeling more conflict between herself and other co-workers and feeling like she no longer identifies with her work. She expressed that she wanted them to change, but also wanted to have more harmony at work and in her life. Most every time when I would ask a question having her relate the experience at work to herself and what was being brought up for she would immediately, bring the conversation back to the external force, or other co-worker who has been pulled off projects, and stated “well that just would not happen to me. I would never put myself in a position to be pulled off projects.” What did not realize, until after attending Brain Change intensive, that my client was popping in and out of Pre-contemplation and Contemplation. My client exhibited some self awareness, but would quickly focus on others and how she would be frustrated that they did not agree with her, or see her point of view. I asked her how it felt in her body when she felt she was not being heard. And she would state she did not know. So I asked her she was open to some small exercises and meditation. She was.
I realized right a way that this would take some time. Even after the meditation, she gained some insight to herself and feelings anxiety and emotion of anger, but then would pop right back into the external, in this case her co-workers, occasional she would bring up her mother, but then pop right back to her co-workers. At this point it’s is still undefined as to what her deeper need is. She was open to an exercises to support her to become aware of her body. I asked her how it felt to place her hand over her heart, she said it made her feel more calm. I asked what would it look like if she was able to bring this sense of calm to her self throughout the day. She got excited and stated well my day would have more peace and ease and would feel more like my co-worker who is a practicing Buddhist, “Nothing seems to bother her”. I asked her How might she use this simple practice of placing her hand over her heart when she felt moments of anxiety and to create a mantra she could say to herself. She created a mantra thanking her body for information and that she was safe., This practice, not knowing at the time, reminds me of A stroke of Insight, when Right hemisphere of the brain. Right Hemisphere, holding the joy, compassion gratitude, connection to deep inner peace and one with the universe. The client operates mostly from her Left Hemisphere in mind consciousness, verbal language. She was not aware of her body. In My Stroke of Insight, she describes All thought there are certain Limbic System (emotional) programs that can be triggered automatically, it takes less than 90 seconds fo one of these programs to be triggered, surge through our body, then out the blood stream (Pg.153).The follow up visit and asked her how this practice was for her. She said great, I used in a working meeting, I felt the urge to speak out an interupt my boss, I did not, I realized I was feeling anxious and angry, I placed my hand over my heart, and I felt calmer, and I felt my boss become calmer…

Which now brings me to our latest session following the intensive. Knowing from past sessions, she typically comes to a session on overdrive, meaning overthinking, and analytical, bringing all parts of her day with her, even the future parts. I changed locations for our meeting this time to a larger space, with more trees and less walking trail activity. The environment was much more conducive to support a coaching session. The environment itself, shift the clients baseline and calmed her her system. It was nice, she noticed the trees and acknowledge how nice the park was. I witness her taking in everything really fast and then talking about work and on and on. I acknowledge her, and asked if she was open to grounding exercises that will support us to be fully present with the session and our surroundings… used some of the Somatic Grounding techniques. So we began taking notice of the souls of our feet on the ground, wiggling of toes in our shoes, and moving up the body ankles, thighs, hips, and harms, fingers, head and neck, Bringing awareness to the body, then gently twist to the left taking the awareness outside to what occuring to the left of us in the park, then changing direction what was occurring to the right of us at the park. I asked her to be aware of any sounds, like the birds, construction, people talking in the distance, and allowing it to become part of the background, bringing ourselves back to center, all while gently inhaling and exhaling into a natural soft cadence. I invited the client to sit on the grass and she was welcome to use one of the back jacks I brought.

Doing this somatic exercise immediately assisted with the client slowing down, dropping into her body, and grounding, ultimately being more present within herself and able to focus on the session. Since it had been about 3 weeks in between session, I suggested an exercise for her to journal, and right down when she recognized being triggered, by an event or interaction with someone and to right down what she felt, was there an emotion, where in her body did she feel it, to write down if any thoughts that may have come up for her in her observation herself. I asked her she did the suggested journaling and if she noticed a pattern and if it was helpful. She said it was quite helpful, and she’s recognizing how much tension she has in her body, particularly when she wants to be right, or disagree with someone. As I listened to he it became clear to me she was more in a State of Change still bouncing back and forth between pre-contemplation and contemplation. Right now just bringing awareness to herself and her body’s nervous system is enough.

I use this client as an example because she challenges my coaching. I really have to practice deep listening, and let go of any agenda at all. When the slightest questions comes to close to the “nerve” she immediately has a response, which is great, but I am mindful how far I take the powerful questioning, she shows in her body language and in her immediate change of the subject on to the external or events occurring outside of herself. She circles around the issue, but what i do enjoy and praise her for is her ability to recognize more the physical sensations in her body, and how she becomes more aware of herself, she is also becoming more aware of others and how as she changes, like being calmer by placing her hand to her chest and taking a breath, also impacts the interaction she has with co-workers. I am mindful how much of the terminology of neuroscience and change theory I bring it this juncture only because I am witness her being very ruled by her left hemisphere and mind consciousness. I realize, finding the balance of how much information I offering during a session matters. If I offer to much, she “runs” with, analyzes it, then almost as if to try to control the session. I realize this may be a way for to feel safe, when she knows information; however, if I offer too much information it takes away from the self awareness of her inner self as well as the nature that surrounds us during the session. I am becoming more mindful about being patient as a coach.

During this session, she expressed that at work she just wants those on her team working on parts of the same project to work better together and she wants it to look and be a specific way, and she shared her frustration, because she just wants it done “right.” I asked her what around stands out to her that might represents a a group working toward a common goal. She picked out the group of people working out with a lead instructor. I asked her to describe it, and if each person looked the same, moved the same, had a common goal. How did the effort of the participants impact the instructor? How did they interact? She described that the all looked differently, and the instructor would assist each one where they needed assistance. I asked how might she take this observation and apply to her work environment to assist and raise others up, what would that feel like and look like. She said well, that would bring more collaboration which is what I want. I asked her how does it feel in her body now. She says it feels lighter, and more at ease.

While I recognize I could be discussing more about the process of change, and Neuro networking, and perhaps even addressing the question of what control brings the client. I am simply just meeting the client right where she is, and she even stated, she felt good and want to continue the journaling for now and pay attention to her body and how it feels when she is triggered. I am reminded of the quote in How you change “No therapy is any more successful than the change strategies that determined, persistent, and hardworking individuals develop for themselves.” We are are right wear the the clients needs to be for herself. She is still in her process of change which is described as “any activity that you initiate to help modify your thinking, feeling, or behavior is a change process. It does not have to look like any particular way that I believe it should look. It observing her I feel she has already experience change within herself, her physical and mental body as well as interactions at work. She expressed a moment where she snapped at a colleague, the later apologized for her behavior, she realized she was triggered by something and it was not due to anything he did. I reminded her how great that was that she self corrected, was aware and took responsibility for her behavior. I reminded her that she is creating a new pattern for herself neurological creating the pattern, and sometimes that takes time until the patter is set, and the old patter goes dormant from lack of use. This is part and signs of her willingness and awareness to change. She’s moving from a left hemisphere to a right hemisphere response. She may not realize this yet, but working toward the balance of the two hemisphere’s.

Working with this client allows me to practice severance, deep listening, and meeting the client right where she’s at, let go of any personal agenda and my comfort in working in the threshold. I am happy to recognize that she is a change process.

Gina

[Gina Lobito]

David…wow, I love reading your post about your coaching experience with your client…It is masterfully written. As I read it, it drew me in, almost as if I were having the experience of your client. The awareness she came to of how she was identifying herself as “I love to shop.That’s who I am”… you guided her through her process. The experience as described felt seem-less moving from one stage of change into the next, with the awareness and understanding as a coach that clients are not always in a stage of action. What a wonderful reminder as a coach to let go, and allow the process and meet the client where she is at., The way you wove in the Neuro networking and that ultimately became her state of being that she was living in, and bring wisdom into your session. It’s just beautiful. At the end being able to tie it all in with the Nature component and to keep her open to her process and incorporating nature. It seems to me you understood the material and readings are able to see what is occurring or be presented by your client and know how to apply knew techniques with coaching. I could feel your confidence with depth. It’s clear also the practice of deep listening and powerful questioning was also an important piece to working with your client. I could feel your coaching presence as I read about your session. Very nice. It felt as if your client was empowered and excited by the end of your session. well done!

[Gina Lobito]

Maria,
I reading your post brings me joy, to read how you weaved new concepts of Brain Change, and the neurology of patterns embedded in the system. What you shared about your client stating that the habits were learned, and she was aware of her habits, and lack of understanding to those are organized. It appears that you confidently applied new knowledge that met the client right where she was at and she was able to gain my knowledge and understanding of herself in away that propels her forward to her goal. Congrats! Very exciting for both you and the client. I can feel you confidence in guiding and coaching her.

Did any challenges come up for you when applying new knowledge from the intensive?

Gina

[Gina Lobito]

There are many takeaways from working in the threshold. As I pause, I realize the Threshold is part of the Natural Cycle of inner/spiritual growth. Remembering to allow nature to be part of the experiential process, as a metaphor, messenger, mirror, and co-creator of reality. The threshold is a powerful space for transformation. Though, nature has it’s natural cycles, it’s also unpredictable and uncompromising. Nature just is. As humans beings, we have forgotten to be, and forgotten to listen, we have forgotten our inner compass and knowing. It’s when we begin to see ourselves in nature and nature in us, that the threshold can deliver wisdom to those open to receiving it in a way that is ancestral, through spirit, through allies (North/South, East, West…Eearth, Wind, Fire, Water, etc…), brings out the hidden wisdom that already exists deep in are hearts and bones.

Being in the threshold can be a scary just as easily as it can be an exciting place to be when entered into. It’s important to not rush into the threshold. The process of severance and clarity of the goal is important prior to moving into the threshold is important. If a severance is not complete and the goal not clear, well going into the Threshold may reflect that lack of clarity and can be confusing. There is still a message in it, however; it’s important to remember, as a coach, that the process is marathon, not a sprint. Being Aware of limitations, surroundings, feelings within the body, emotions, etc. supporting the client with foundation of tools/skills is important when working in the threshold. I found that that navigating the threshold, and being in the ebb and flow requires a culmination of skills, Trust and Awareness. Arguably, the threshold is perhaps one of the most important stages of ceremony, because it can be so fluid and unpredictable, yet powerful. As a coach the ability to hold space and be comfortable, grounded and flexible becomes important. Allowing the unfolding process to occur for the client. Guide the client into and out of the threshold “safely.” and lead into the integration process. It’s important to remember, integration can occur over an undetermined amount of time. The coach can support integration, but ultimately, it’s the client having the experience of integration into the “new” version of themselves and world around has changed because the client’s perspective and bodies (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) have potentially changed. The client may not realize right away in what way(s) they have changed. The same tools of awareness, trust, allowing, etc. become just as important out of threshold and into integration.

[Gina Lobito]

@ James, what a beautiful description of the inner landscape being the threshold. I am always inspired the way you describe and share your experience in words. It’s quite thoughtful beautiful. As I read you post about the inner landscape being the threashold. A thought crossed my mind that the external landscape can be what draws one to go inward, or to be “cracked open” or “stretched”. Since man is nature and nature is man (or one might say reflection of God) and it’s through life’s experiences of the external that some may crash themselves against nature and express their inner conflict and discord in order to find resolution and peace within the self only to discover they there was nothing external to conquer at all, what they seek was always within them. A movie example that comes to mind is from Forest Gump, when Lt. Dan, throws fights the storm (GOD) on the shrimp boat. The storm passes, and Lt. Dan is set free from his anger.)
Your post reminded me of the symbiotic nature of the internal and external experience.
In your coaching presence I feel you create such a welcoming space, patient, that even someone that may experience conflict internally or externally, you find a way keep a calming presence and boundary that is supportive in navigating the experience of the threshold.

You also brought up an important questions: “Just because something is uncomfortable for a client to hear, does that make it unproductive or inappropriate to share?”

Do you find this question could also be an experience of being in the threshold? There could be a possibility for growth and awareness in bringing a the “uncomfortable” to light. I imagine, paying attention to your intuition you’ll know whether or not it’s appropriate to share. I imagine Trust would play an important role here as well and letting go of any attachment to a specific outcome.

Gina

[Gina Lobito]

@ Deana,
Yes, “Crossing the “threshold” is like crossing one massive edge” I love the way you described crossing the threshold and how it brings up may emotions. Vulnerability, excitement, playfulness. It’s a nice reminder that what the coach experiences, so will the client. it becomes important for the coach/guide to be confident and have a strong coaching presence in order to hold such an important space for the client. Being in the threshold requires trust, not only between client and the coach, but the coach must trust their own skill level and comfort in this space and relationship/collaboration in working in this space. The threshold contains many possibilities for the the client, the coach/guide must trust their abilities to meet the client in just the right way, just enough distance and presence at the same time, be grounded and allow the experience to unfold.

Gina

[Gina Lobito]

@ Leslie,
You make reference “Looking at Cornell’s flow of learning, Steps 1 (enthusiasm) and 2 (attention) could be equated with Severance/Focusing, step 3 (experience) with Threshold, and step 4 (inspiration) the move from Threshold into Incorporation. Something that the text makes note of within this flow of learning is, “the context and timing of learning is equally, if not more, important than the content,” and this also reminds me of the coaching process. It’s more important for a coach to be able to guide a client through the process of self-learning and actualization than to understand all of the content and details of the client’s situation.”

I appreciate the reminder of the importance to guide a client through the process of self-learning and actualization than to understand all of the content and details of a client’s situation. I find people get caught up in the details or story that frames the client’s experience. It can be easy to get drawn in. I know form me, I have grown not to care for to much detail as I find it distracts from the core issue and I find myself having to be patient as a coach and be gentle in redirecting a client back to themself. Sometimes I just want the client to “get there” faster. I have to practice patience, particularly in Severance phase. Once you’ve gudied someone into the Threshold, what has been your experience in moving them into Incorporation? If find, depending on the client, the transition from Threashold into incorporation cabe challenging for me to have it a smoother transition. Imagine, clients I work with the easier this will become. Happy to hear your experience.

Gina

[Gina Lobito]

Foundations 3 – Initial Post Due by 3/23/20

Kick-off Question: Reflect on your experience as a client in the “threshold”. How does that experience inform your coaching and why? How did Nature participate in your process and what does that tell you about coaching others? What ICF core competencies are essential for you to practice and build on to feel confident in that “place” as a coach? This is not a feedback session to your coach, but a self – reflective response
• Use citations from assigned readings (or other resources), your experience over the weekend, and your past experience to discuss your perspective.

The THRESHOLD! Just the word “THRESHOLD” excites me and is a comfortable place for me to be, but it was not always. As I reflect on my experience as a client in the “Threshold” I realize I have experienced this place at a much younger age than I realized. Surprisingly, one of the first thoughts that come to mind is when I had scheduled a massage with a Body worker my sister recommended. She recommended bodywork after I expressed how angry and trapped I felt inside. At the time, I did not realize I was also seeing a coach. I just thought I was seeing a massage therapist. I was 18, had completed my first year of College. I scheduled the appointment, figured, well I will try it. I asked my twin brother to come with me, and we drove to Los Angeles, in our VW Beatle that we shared. I asked my brother to be back in an hour or so. It was the drive on the road to LA that allowed me the time to prepare as I stared out the window.

The practitioner, Barry, worked out of his home, the room, was peaceful and calming, there was small chair I sat in. He was also calm, and welcoming, and had a gentle presence. As soon as I sat down, I just started crying. The tears would not stop. He was so patient got me a glass of water. He sat down across from me, looked at me directly in the eyes and said, we will just talk today. He simply asked me open ended questions, and allowed me to respond to them, and brought awareness to things I was expressing and related them back to me. I remember him asking me if I was open to doing an exercise. He asked me to draw a circle around myself. I began to draw a circle, but what I really drew was an outline almost tracing the outer edges of my body. He then asked, “What’s that circle feel like?” I said, “Restricted. Like a can’t move.” I remember him saying, “yes, that feels like a small world you’re living in.” He guided me through a few more exercise and questions, and then I drew the circle again. This time the circle was larger, and had taken on more of the shape of a circle. We continued, eventually, I would draw the circle as big as my arm could stretch out to make. My body felt free, and I could physically breath with more ease. I visualized the globe or the earth as he guided me. It was the fist time, I felt I could be just as big as the planet or I could make myself small like a marble.

The reason I share this experience because as a client, experiencing Trust, setting the foundation, feeling the coaching presence began long before I entered the physical space. It began the moment I received the referral and made the phone call. The moment I said yes to the referral, my body knew I could trust him. After making the phone call, I was already feeling a sense of ease. As I approached the house, I remember my body was already responding, I held back my tears in an effort to hide my tears from my brother, even though I know he cold here the emotion in my voice. Once inside, I was safe to “let go.” If I was not experiencing Trust, and a safe presence, I would not have been willing to participate in the exercise Barry suggested in the same way if at all. Barry would not have been able to guide me to the edge that we reached that day. He also had the ability to know when and how far to the edge he could take me and when it was enough. It’s the culmination of multiple competencies that supports getting to and being in the threshold.

Reflecting on a coaching session during the intensive, I remember, working with someone. I was the client, in my body I felt resistant. I felt the moment I knew who I was working with. Not sure why, I felt closed and guarded, but I knew at that moment, not much would I allow to happen for me during that time frame, until I could feel safe. The coach did nothing wrong, my body, just shut down, and I became very closed off and it took me a while into the session to relax. There was no way I was going fully into the Threshold. As a client, I found something to focus on to assist me in relaxing, breathing, feeling the cool air against my skin, rocks to feel safe and grounded.

Being that The way in which I hold a coaching presence matters., knowing how to adjust the coaching presence, to meet the client where he/she is at. Having the ability to cultivate space of trust and safety is important long before the session even occurs. If the client and I are not able to cultivate a Trust, and a foundation is not set, in a way the client feels supportive and safe. It’s less likely that the client and I will even get to “Threshold”. As a coach, while in the threshold, it’s important to be comfortable in that space, while the client gets adjusted to what may be a new experience and continue to practice deep listening and feeling into where the client’s edge is. The threshold is where much can unfold for the client. It has the ability to “Awaken Sensory Awareness; Cultivates Knowledge of Place, and restoring the bond between People and Nature.” (Coyote’s Guide pg. 258). To me, the threshold is where the magic happens, witnessing and/or experiencing the remembrance of our connection to nature (and each other). It’s in the remembrance that we realize all life is connected and in a synergistic relationship with each other. To become comfortable in working with the Threshold, I must be willing to go into and allow myself to be open to the experience, allow the experience to come to me, without any expectation or attachment of what I might experience. This is where the potential for transformation lives and the world speaks and gives messages only to be interpreted by the one experience it.

[Gina Lobito]

Foundations 2 Module Recap 3/13/20

As I reflect on Foundations 2 Module and associated readings. I am reminded that it’s beautiful how shamanism and science eventual meet. The human connection to Nature is innately within in us, and finds another language to be taught and remembered through. In this case Eco Psychology. As I read the Eco Psyche, articles, immediately, I a light bulb went off in my mind, this is shamanism, why are they just calling it that. Later in the readings shaman’s, earthing, nature therapy, etc. were referenced. It reminds me how important it is to discover a client’s a “language”. For me to discovery a client’s language, that requires me to also learn multiple languages and bridge the translation of “language” so I can hold a coaching presence with more depth and confidence, not just for the client, but for myself as well. It will also assist me in better meeting a client where he/she is at in terms of themselves and where he/she is within the coach ability graph The skill of mastering the Art of Questioning and to have child’s curiosity, that sat with me. How can I be curious and excited like a child and still breath into my body, pause, and pay attention to what I am experiencing in addition to what the client is experiencing and not let my excitement get ahead of the client’s process. Really allowing the process of severance and use of sacred questions, and attuning to create space for the deeper need of the client to rise to the surface. Just allow the ceremony to happen. Allow the client to come to the remembrance that he/she is connected to and has already has a relationship to Earth, they are just remember it’s “language” and that they are connecting with it and themselves in every moment. It’s up to the client how they want that relationship to change/grow. As a coach/guide I can observe, hold a presence, bring awareness, and just allow the ceremony to unfold, learn to pay attention to the shifts, and changes, and know when and when not to bring a client to an edge. I am getting used to experiencing this Ceremony and Nature Connected Coaching from a different perspective, through the language of the client.