[taylor.j.short]

Melody! I love the similarities in our responses. And what I felt from your post was the true vastness of OPPORTUNITY when embarking in NCC and LTC. I think for us nature lovers, it’s like a kid in a candy store figuring out all the great tools we can show them and how nature is so amazing AND to support and witness their transformation over time.

[taylor.j.short]

Initial Post – 6/9/2020

I did not do this with an actual practice client, but will base my mentions on how I have/will do this moving forward.
• Describe how you would Establish the Coaching Agreement
I would establish the coaching agreement after an initial discovery session to see where the client is and what needs/expectations they have. With the coaching agreement, I would offer three tiered options to work in long-term coaching agreement.
• What opportunities could arise that would allow you to apply the concepts learned in this module, and how would you invite it in.
The ability to hear a deeper need under the initial want in the discovery session with the client. Additionally, working long term would allow for the unknown and the willingness to be flexible and work together with the client along the way to determine milestones.
• What steps did you take to establish the Coaching Relationship and focus the session?
I plan on having a contract before starting and level-setting expectations up front. I really want to bring in the direct ask early on in the session posing to the client, “what do you want to work/focus on for this session?” I also really loved the monthly check in/assessment with the client and definitely intend to implement that with my clients.

• How did or could Long-Term Coaching fit into your nature-connected coaching session?
I love playing with how nature can fit into long-term coaching. So many ways! Perhaps having the same nature spot to meet at to almost develop a “sit-spot” with a client for sessions. With this, you have the ability to notice changes, animals, seasons and play with the changes of nature over time and tap into those metaphors.
• What did you learn about yourself and nature-connected coaching?
What I am learning about myself as a coach is the need to push a bit more in directive guidance. That continues to be an opportunity for me and know that I want to play with having a loving presence that is also grounded and secure for my clients.
• What ideas do you have for how you might use Long-Term Coaching and nature-connected coaching in the future with your client?
Personally, I really only want to focus on long-term coaching. I have realized that over time, my ideal client is someone who is really ready to do the work and willingness to transform. It’s not a short process. With this, I have been figuring out what length of time my packages would be. I think three months would be the shortest. Of course, as always, bringing nature into the picture. Helping to transform that client’s relationship to nature right alongside with their relationship to themselves. Guiding them on how to work and learn from nature over a long period of time.
• How does Long-Term Coaching effect or enhance your Coaching Presence and approach?
Working with someone long-term is ideal. You truly get to know your client and understand them on a deeper level. Your coaching presence is more natural and laid back and you have the ability to notice trends or patterns from your client. Additionally, the understanding in communication will be established so not as much will be lost in translation and listening and learning on a deeper level will happen.

[taylor.j.short]

Initial Post:

Create a hypothetical situation:
• Provide us with a short back story of the client. Note: it helps to consider people in your life to create this scenario.
• Backstory of client would be overwhelmed with life. Never has enough time for anything and is ready to make a change but overwhelmed with how and where to start.
• Describe how you would Establish the Coaching Agreement
• I always start out my intial sessions by explaining what coaching is and what the client can expect. Additionally, I always make a point to state my personal and professional belief in confidentiality. Finally, if it is someone I know personally, I also disclose the shift of taking on the role of coach for them and asking permission.
• What opportunities could arise that would allow you to apply the concepts learned in this module, and how would you invite it in.
• The opportunities of the change progression of contemplation to integration to relapse. Inviting that in by talking about the change process with my client and identifying where they were at. I love including a technique of education as well to help empower my clients. Not overwhelming, but to provide them with the “why” when appropriate is something I appreciate personally and like to bring in to my practice.
• Additionally, the actual process of creating new pathways to new desired habits. Again, communicating how the actual brain is changing while doing this and the importance of consistency and focused intention in creating new habits. Nature connection could come in big time here. Using different pathways in nature, finding how nature has charted different courses, etc.
• Feeling overwhelmed also is something to work with in exploring existing beliefs around overwhelm and working to play with what it would look like (with the support of a coach) to choose calm. And here as well, nature connection can truly help drive home the feeling of calm and patience versus overwhelm and rushed. Nature doesn’t hurry and it still gets everything accomplished. Note to myself personally as well.

[taylor.j.short]

Summary Post:

I dig partswork! I really enjoyed it on so many levels personally and professionally. I feel it can be so transformational and empowering. I always go back to Michael mentioning this brings everything to light so that you have a choice to make. Without that choice, we simply cannot make one. On so many levels, I see parts as an integrated part to my work with clients as well as myself.

[taylor.j.short]

Summary Post:

I learned a lot in gestalt and through this forum. What I took away is that we all have different styles and preferences and that will change with each client, session and landscape. All goes back to THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY to do this beautiful work. It truly is about deep connection with your client and creatively finding ways to bring awareness and insight to them. Great session and posts.

[taylor.j.short]

Initial Post:
• What steps did you take to establish the Coaching Relationship and focus the session?
• This was interesting. This was with a current client, so the Coaching Relationship was established. For focus, I simply mentioned being open to trying something new.
• How did or could Gestalt fit into your nature-connected coaching session?
• I find that I weave gestalt in when trying to bring the brain trying to “figure it out” back to the body and somatic experience of how that is feeling with those thoughts/ideas. I love this tool as an awareness exercise and bringing it in to help your client understand how something is affecting them.
• How did or could you collaborate with Nature and combine Gestalt and Coaching principles?
• I did not pull in nature for my practice session, but could see nature being a great gestalt partner. In using parts of it to bring in the parallel to what they are experiencing. If they are having trouble articulating what they are feeling, nature is a great support where they can look out on the land and say that they feel as heavy as the boulder or as grounded as that mountain.
• What challenges did you face? How did you adapt?
• I found it a bit challenging to bring in body awareness for some folks. I adapted by providing some examples of words they could use to describe it.
• What flowed and how did you build off it?
• I find it interesting with this, most of my clients visually “shift” when I bring them out of a past or future story and into the present of how it is making them feel. I find that will be more and more the case as we continue in this digital and fast-paced era. The first time asking how they are feeling now always gets a bit of a pause and curiousity, but continuing to weave that in really heightens the ability to come back to the present and the body to understand how the thoughts/story/idea are impacting the body right now.
• What did you learn about yourself and nature-connected coaching?
• I learned that I get easily swept away in the story. And can get caught listening to the “how” or “why” all day. However, as a guide, it is my job to dance with that storytelling and forward progress. Always learning and playing. Also, that this isn’t black and white. This continues to be a learning curve for me coming from corporate background where you do x, then y, then z. In coaching, you start with z and then pop over to k, back to z and then q, b, l, and c.
• How do the readings relate and interact with the face to face material and your work with your practice clients?
• Yes, more about the background and the why. I love to have the information on how and why it works and then the field experience of seeing it in action.
• What ideas do you have for how you might use Gestalt and nature-connected coaching in the future with your client?
• I want to work on developing a rich vocabulary for gestalt-focused questions. The power of verbiage in questioning is palpable in coaching and this is an area I desire to consistently grow in.
• How does Gestalt Therapy effect or enhance your Coaching Presence and approach?
• I think it really brings your client trust in that you are truly in the present moment and connected to them. To have someone so present is a rarity these days, so the coaching presence is helping to connect on a deeper level.
• How does Nature-Connected Practices, and Gestalt Therapy interface?
• At first, it was difficult for me to see how, but after playing a bit here, it seems more natural. Not ever that it has to be all gestalt or all parts or any other technique. However, having the knowledge gives you the freedom to weave these tools in where naturally fitting.

[taylor.j.short]

Initial Post 5/27/19

Partswork! I had my first outside of EBI practice client experience in Partswork. While it was more than one session – it will be actually be many sessions… it was excellent. I am just learning so much in every one of my practice sessions. What I learned in my first actual session interviewing the parts is how challenging it can be to actually get people to embody their parts. I’d love to learn how to adapt ways to continue to be nimble in sessions. For so many years being in corporate, creativity definitely wasn’t accepted and definitely not encouraged. With this, I am realizing how hard it can be for me to “go with the flow”. But, every session I am pushing this and letting go a little bit more. By the end of the first session, my client was saying how excited she was to actually begin to break through some of the things that have been holding her back for so long. The energy she had was amazing and left me so, so grateful to be doing this work. Partswork has already changed my life immensely and I am jazzed to bring it in to my regular clients.

[taylor.j.short]

Sandy,

I love this SO much! Weird as that sounds, but this is such a beautiful example of the timeframe the process of change can happen at. For me, as I know for myself change happens over a long period of time, sometimes I find myself “pushing my agenda” and wanting the client to move along faster. And that simply isn’t the goal at all. It is their process and we are there to support. I really enjoyed your final reference of one long pendulation session. I could definitely see that. Thank you for sharing!

[taylor.j.short]

Ben,

I love how you bring in the ritual and rewiring together. The act of practice and what is really happening in the brain is powerful. And such an art to be able to articulate that to your client that they are simply having the experience. Thanks for sharing!

[taylor.j.short]

MJ,

I enjoyed hearing about your experience with your client. I especially resonated with your ending point on the ability to do this anywhere – regardless of landscape. I am working to build a remote business long term, so in person is not likely. I enjoy bringing in our reality (digital, technology) as a partner, rather than constantly trying to change it. Getting creative and seeing how virtual or untraditional settings can still prove to be so powerful. Great post!

[taylor.j.short]

Sandy,

I love your questioning, “I wonder, where else is that belief showing up in your life?” The genuine curiousity you hold and the way you bring it in is so authentic. Also, I really thank you for mentioning your intuition. I myself rely and use my intuition regularly and as time goes on am really allowing my intuition to come into play with my clients. And guess what? It’s almost always a solid next step! It is nice to see someone else bringing that in as well.

Thank you as always for your share!

[taylor.j.short]

Lisa,

Your mention of holding space and meeting your client where they are are great reminders for me. Going back to the Foundations intensive and this mention was timely. Once again, the invitation to simply hold space, chill out and stop trying so hard. Simply connect with your client where they are. Ah, the power of simplicity.

Thanks for the post!

[taylor.j.short]

Sandy,

I love your parallel between your listening to nature to listening to your client. It really all does come back to nature as our own guide, doesn’t it? I enjoyed listening to your experience in the threshold.

Thank you!

[taylor.j.short]

Ben!

Me too! It’s so hard for me not want to relate my personal story all the time. Have to remind myself often of who’s agenda.

[taylor.j.short]

Ben!

I love it! What metaphors did you use? You are so good at bringing the nature-connection in. Love it! I too, found it challenging to get my client to stay in that level of soul-directed questioning.