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Forum Replies Created
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Response 1
@ Ally
Hi Ally,
I appreciate the insight gained from your initial post. Providing examples of three different clients shows the various ways you approach coaching. I enjoy your question you ask in the start of your session which I can see brings them into the present day awareness. I agree offering the care and consideration to shift into the session opens up the space of being. I think that observation of how a client is being that day provides a friendly way of assessing where they are with their goals. Nice job! From a brain perspective how has it informed the techniques you mention using in session. Where do you think C1 is in the process of change? I’m curious how you bridge nature-connected practices with C 2 garden envrionment. I wonder how neuroscience principles inform your session with these people. Have there been any rituals co-created? Sounds like you have a great start with these folks.
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In Coaching Skills by Jenny Rogers p. 71 there are some useful tips on approaching a session from a brain perspective. One tip is to educate your client about their brain and how it functions. If we “teach clients how the amygdala and limbic system generally work as a way to control it” it can support them in regulating their nervous system as they process emotions. This then can guide them in feeling like they are participating in more of their change as guided by their own knowledge. I find it empowering to educate a client in this way because as a coach I want to dispel any hierarchy or concept of being the expert on their life as my philosophy is that the client is the expert on their own life. So framing this basic brain stuff as a way to bring more awareness and coaching presence is one part of my approach in cultivating autonomy in the coaching relationship. From a feminist perspective I see this as valueable to the dismantle the harness of oppression in a client especially women. I say this because historically in a wide angle view of gender and social status women have been for so long unable to be the authority of their life. There are many examples through history and seen in literature. The sociological context of women has had some dominant patriarchal ideology that prevented them from education, owning their own land, standing alone as sovereign being conditioning them to a social identity that is either the role of mother or “their place” in the home and to some degree unable to make political decision. There are degrading social connotations and stereotypes of women in society that perpetuate false images of women especially reading their emotional lives. With more knowledge of basic brain education the sources of oppression might begin to loosen its muzzle in the wild of women . What I’m saying is that brain perspective can demystify and shed distorted socially constructed beliefs in society regarding gender role and status and give permission to be guided by the function of emotions toward the change they want.
What I’ve used and seen in my coaching practice
What really stands out in the neuroscience principles that is going to help my coaching presence is teaching about the function of the conscious mind. A client may want to change something but never reach their goal. AS coach I can enter a session and think about the process of change they may be in and how that corresponds to the part of the brain that is working at that time. What I took away from the lecture was the prefrontal cortex is the place to set intentions; it is the conscious mind. Then there is the reticular activating system the RAS which is the network of nerve pathways that signal the brain. The function of the RAS acts as a way to program what the client wants. So as coach then my job is to guide the client in discovering what they really want to their RAS can look for it. Then comes the magic as I call it known as ritual. I think back to the SMART goals in collaborating with the client to ritualize their life. This is where the nature-connected practices can help bring some creativity and tangible practical sensory experience in their transformation. I’ll reference the Coyote’s Guide here “with nature, there is no one-size-fits-all curriculum” (130). This is the part of coaching that seeks to get to know who the client is and what their environment and landscape is like and through this collaborate on a nature-connected practice that excites them. So far in my practice I’ve noticed that looking for what makes the client come alive regarding nature and what special connection they may already have is a door to co-guide their ongoing process of discovery and threshold of becoming. It is unique and tailored to their intimate relationship where all these concepts interface. I personally always introduce the concept of the vision council which so far I have noticed ignites the inner child fire of innocence and wonder. I think there is some kind of association between the words nature and adventure that resonates for many and my approach is to invite adventure into the coaching relationship. The best part is that I don’t have to do anything except point toward the expertise of nature to co-guide. In this way I am deepening my nature-connection by guiding others to seek nature for guidance.
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Initial post
I met my client in the cafe where we chatted over arroz con pollo about the great pause of the pandemic and how within a pause there are opportunities that come to the foreground suddenly. As I listened to him explain what pause was teaching him he segued into his desire to return to his art after a long time of stepping away from it. In severance the story of why he stopped making art carried heavy emotions and an unclearness that frustrated him to a teary reflection. In summarizing what I had heard I drew on the core competency Embodies a Coaching Mindset #6. Develops and maintains the ability to regulate one’s emotions because I too have an artist story that carries some emotional pain. I also used the core competency communicating effectively #2. Reflects or summarizes what the client communicated to ensure clarity and understanding. These two CC helped me stay client led instead of my story interfering with his soul truth.
He had many voices or parts to his story of an artist that I could just see partswork clearly coming out of him searching for answers and resolution. So I told him how partswork could benefit him and explained the process as giving me a deer in headlights look but then said he would try anything at this point. I created an agreement that stated we would do partswork nature connected coaching over three month’s time. For our first session after the meeting in the cafe I saw them really take to partswork when we hiked along the coast. I offered a short wander to identify his parts to create a mandala. His inner artist effortlessly gathered shells, leaves, sticks, rocks. It was fun and exciting to witness. At first it was a little challenging to use symbols in nature to represent parts as I had been using words in the jamboard. But it was interesting to see how his parts were symbolized according to his meaning. It gave more of a textural sensory experience to partswork the jamboard did not.
On page 27-28 of “Self, Soul, Spirit: A Current Working Model for Understanding Human Development”, Strachan, R. T., Reid, M. (2011). Center for Creative Choice, “consciousness raising” “process””involves an external environment can give you to begin or continue to make change” these keywords and phrases affirms my own belief and NCC principle that the natural world is the co-guide in holding transformational space. And on page 34 “choice” is mentioned in a paragraph that is applicable for this. The choice to make change for my client through nature-connection through partswork opened up more internal freedom to choose how he wanted to reclaim his art. On page 45 there is a section “Maintenance” that gets my long term coaching gears moving “without strong commitment to maintenance there will surely be relapse to pre-contemplation or contemplation stage”. This really sheds light on my responsibility to this client but to all future clients. It primes me to think way ahead of even working with a client. Thinking about maintenance with the stages of change and incorporating it with basic brain information about neuroplasticity brings in the ritualized transformation needed to see results. In reflecting on this client’s journey so far I’m holding onto this concept to encourage growth for my client when or if they may “relapse” I can be a little more prepared. It is natural to think this could happen since change takes time there may be a little dance between stepping away and then moving forward. Like a rhythm. Which makes me think now as I reflect about the labyrinth walk and how life has many twists and turns. I think as a guide I can keep holding the journey of his deeper need that may take turn to more severance especially as parts are explored more and more. There is so much going on underneath the process of change like I’ve written before for me it feels like a living story I’m walking with. But more on the client..
who during the partswork entered into deeper contemplation on his artist’s part and paused as his emotions came up I relied on gestalt techniques of “what are you noticing or are aware of?” I remember learning that contemplation can be a comfort zone and how we as coaches nudge clients out. There was a lot of anxiety as expressed by his artist part. So I supported him in journaling about this to give some quiet reflection and integration to this intense work. I taught him the stages of change and will continue to remind him to help him learn how to assess where he might be so he can move forward in organizing what he discovers toward resolution. I think my coaching practice long term used to kind of make me nervous as to what to do. Like do I have three month’s worth of knowing what to do with this client? But now I feel like that is way too much pressure on myself to think that way. That the “knowing field” will show up and support my client and I get to be the lucky witness to it. There is something “shamanistic” about this work. It is undeniable. I call it magic. I think approaching my personal practice as a long term commitment will season as I discover how someone in this context can change and how I will change accordingly. It’s the start of an exciting brave new adventure.
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Summary Post
What I feel is my take away from this module is diversity in the varied ways we meet our clients. There infinite possibilities in approaching gestalt/partswork tools and integrating them at times when we as guide feel it will serve our client’s session. I enjoyed reading about how this is a tailored to meet the needs of client kind of experience. It kind of reminds me of the shapeshifter archetype who in the widest sense of the term changes form to meet the needs of the moment.
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Sorry about the typos hope you get what I’m trying to say. I tried editing but it wouldn’t let me and gave me a red alert!
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The client I worked with is an adult who wanted to express some creative side to him he felt he couldn’t access. So in our session I asked what his goal was and it was to write poetry which up until that point he had not. We worked through severance for several sessions until just under the surface we had located a “part” where the poetry wanted to be communicated from.
We established the coaching agreement to do partswork when I asked if we could explore the voice of that part a little more. I introduced how parts work could help by explaining the basic orientation of how this is a soul-directed practice and to organize his parts and that there would be an interviewing process for them. I created a short term contract stating what we agreed to do in three sessions with the possibility of continuing our work together if the client desired. After consenting to do parts work together.
In my coaching style and approach I always try to initially claim nature as a co-guide as well as the “knowing field” consisting of other than human world, ancestral relations, environment and vision council. As a foundational start my client was able to access that support and guidance as they needed. Doing this is an authentic practice I arrive at coaching already but it also serves as an act of humility releasing any notion of “knowing it all”. I make sure to ground that so clients can feel like their own knowledge is valid and there is no hierarchy between us.
Challenges I faced were strong emotions that were felt by a part that client wanted to explore. More specifically in interviewing that part there were long pauses and body language changed. I noticed discomfort in the client as they tried to organize themself. I think what is challenging in this is my curiosity to learn what is happening for them while respecting their rhythm and flow and bravery to approach this part. My mind goes in a million directions when that happens like “okay if trauma is surfacing then I can utilize resourcing” or “is there grief and what is happening in their brain?” All of this inner dialogue as coach while trying to maintain presence with the “unknown”. I have a little hyper vigilance about it, I notice. SO I try to keep redirecting myself to what they are noticing, so I can be guided by them instead of my agenda which sneakily seeps in. Just learning how to discern I think is the best way for me to support myself in those moments.
What flowed is when the relationship between parts was invited to communicate their needs through Soul it opened doors for my client. I could see a brighter complexion, wider eyes and even smiles as the insight poured in through my guiding and prompting questions. I made sure to ask for consent from his parts which helped him feel acknowledged. This is a universal human need so I witnessed this as flowing in a good direction toward healing and resolve. The client told me they got greater clarity on what was blocking them, which was an inner battle that had been fought for years by another party trying to protect them. I realized then establishing more safety would be critical for me and my client to go deeper. Experimenting with the part that needed protecting we co-created their version of safety for that part and wha tI noticed was they really blossomed in that experiment. The hiding ceased and a little more of that voice of the part, the one that wanted to express creativity was more accessible for my client.
What I’m seeing in this experience is that coaching can be hard work trying to guide a client to their goal. It isn’t straightforward to walk with them through the labyrinth winding around things that aren’t quite clear as to where you are but when you arrive a little closer to their goal it is for me a living story that takes us on an adventure. Which brings me to the Wander as a nature -connected practice as a literal and metaphorical concept excellent for partswork. This is exciting as guide to see client interact with the natural world on their “labyrinth” Wander and how I get to use deep listening and sacred questions to invited my client into what they are being taught or showed through nature about their parts. For me in this way It kind of feels like a secret world of enchantment that I have the honor to behold the intimacy of my client’s deep communing with nature.
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this is the initial post with typos
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Summary
What I’m getting more awareness around Gestalt is that this is a unique process of discovery for us all. I read how people in this forum wrote it’s like layers and how there are somethings we havn’t yet been able to bring into session. But AWARENESS is key in ourselves and in guiding our clients and that Gestalt therapy has things in common with Nature-Connected coaching like “presence” and “authenticity” the “here and now” and Sacred Questions are similar to Gestalt questions with slightly different words and intentions but can deepen the experience quickly and “experiment” which is like “threshold” in “ceremony” an “responsibility for one self” and “autonomy”
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@Deanna
Hi Deanna,
I’m with you when you mention being more aware of contact and boundary disturbances. When I was with my client it was after the Gestalt module and I was aware of this concept. I noticed at one point she habitually picked up her cell phone and quickly realized she was in session still and apologized and put it down. Had I not become aware of Gestalt and “awareness” I may have not really noticed the contact break. I feel as though now that was a deflection of sorts on her part. But This is really an important concept you mention and will strengthen us as coaches! I also resonate with your emotionally engaged vs involved. I’ve been there before and I know as a dancer I am sensitive to what sensations my body is telling me. So when I get engaged it feels different in my body than when I am involved. Thanks for helping me reflect on this!
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@ DAvid Fontaine
Hi David, I like how you mention the many approaches of both fields. I agree that this is a great toolkit for helping clients to their desired outcomes. I relate to your valid point about how change happens over time and how we can help through that change in clients life. It is interesting to be aware of your awareness. It is something I have studied as a yogi and meditation practitioner. I like this concept in the work and how close it relates to sacred question “What are you noticing?” I appreciate your comment about this feeling like “genuine human contact” and I think it takes a willingness to be brave to be aware on such a deep level.:)
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Initial Post
I met client on the beach and began with setting the context that this was a practice session of nature-connected coaching and I’ve learned a variety of techniques to guide them as they work on their goal with me. I asked permission to be their guide and then stated confidentiality.I told them I would take notes and if they wanted to transition with a breath into the session. I let them decide how to transition which they closed their eyes and when they opened them we smiled and I asked what is it they wanted to work on today? I noticed the deeper into ceremony they led me, their discomfort arose. I noticed it in their body and facial expression. I made sure to ask questions that brought them into the present moment like Sacred questions.
In their threshold I used Gestalt questions like What are you aware of right now? I noticed this made them uncomfortable as they may have been thinking something they didn’t want to share. I asked what sensations they were experiencing and to stay with the experience of the moment while in threshold. I then asked sacred questions again a little back and forth with What are you aware of and sacred questions to focus on their goal which I repeated for them while in threshold to be reminded. It was going deep an dI am thankful that nature which in this case was ocean water made client feel playful flowing and free. It was like we were submerging into her goal with lightness of the the elemental being water. I pointed out when wind blew or when the water flowed after an ebb and she was delighted to notice this as a message from nature which affirmed her goal.
What I learned about myself and nature-connected coaching is that I love it. It is like a dream job. I also learned that it is not hard to do this kind of coaching when you’re out on the land it speaks to you when you have skills like we are learning. It is a language that you get to be in on or “remember”. The Gestalt Therapy:An introduction by Gary Yontef and the concise version of the work in the EBI handbook was helpful. “Awareness” as the guiding concept got me to focus coaching presence in the session with my practice client. I also used Cycle of Experience: Sensation and the “Here and Now”.
I am thinking I may introduce some concept before session to give client a sense of how I work. I think this will help them feel like they have the choice to go deep with me and their awareness.
Gestalt Therapy effect or enhances my Coaching Presence and approach by helping me to be in the here and now and aware of my awareness.It helps me maintain this through greater sense of what “contact” means.What I took away from this module was that Nature-connected practices and Gestalt Therapy have the following: Awareness and presence showing up fully in the here and now, congruence, following the energy of client noticing what has the biggest charge, experimentation which is like threshold, holistically viewing client, authenticity in self and encourage in clients, both are a process of discovery, the aim is increased awareness, enabling clients to be autonomous and self responsible.
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Reflective Summary:
There are many great ideas in the Coyote’s guide in the core routines to incorporate as a lesson plan or curriculum for coaching practice. I see my cohorts and I are woman centered in our work and have other things in common in our ideal client. I think it is important to remember the process of ceremony throughout and to find ways to include it in retreats and outdoor sessions will help my ideal client stay focused on what goals they are working on. That will serve as the main feature of NCC. I enjoyed reading about my cohort’s ideas and visions for ideal client. I sense it stirred a little excitement in us all to imagine. As I become more skillful in the art of asking questions a universal theme will emerge and a pattern will reveal it self in my style and in my ideal clients. I sense this could expand into bigger longer term coaching and that is exciting to think about. What I feel I am taking away from this module is a greater clarity on my ideal client which then makes me think more about how I’m going to show up for that ideal client.
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@Ally
I love how you mentioned ideal client as eager to explore “wildernesss and get dirty”. You have a bright energetic presence about you and I’m sure your ideal clients will have fun with you on your retreats. I like how you imagine bringing in ways that you already have knowledge in like making herbal medicine. That’s another way to be nature-connected. I also mentioned “wild women” in my ideal client and think thats so cool we share that. Love the idea of the “wandering interview” and was curious how you’ll bridge your vegan life into your practice!! Exciting!
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Reply 2
@ Sophie
I also favor partswork. At first it’s a little weird but then it gets really interesting quickly! I also came to stop with pretty much the same points you laid out for self-inquiry. Mostly #3 and #5. Now I’m thinking which part of me feels this way ! I also had a notion that “oh man now there is more complexity to my multidimensional life, more work, more healing parts in so many places and times AY!!!” I appreciate your strategy for implementing partswork into your practice. It offers some insights thanks! I love how you are able to locate a “grounding energy” on the land. But in terms of natura-connection taking everything into consideration, discounting nothing that the natural world is telling you about your parts can be very deep and clarifying as you mention the natural world being a “beautiful setting.” I agree and can’t wait to wander with my own parts as this is much needed.
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Reply # 1
@Jen
I agree with your point on Gestalt complimenting partswork. The use of the mandala is like this really creative urge in me that can’t wait to see mandalas represented in nature. For now the jamboard works. I wonder Jen which mandala you used with your client? I appreciate your insight about how clients can feel things in the future but that partswork can ground them into what is present. I like your use of words when you wrote introjects holding parts hostage. Yeah they kind of do! It got me thinking of brain stuff. When we collaborate to extract introjects there is neural rewiring happening. The needs of parts are key as you mention. Acknowledging them is very clarifying for clients as you point out. I wonder if by now you have made it out to the land with this client and the nature mandala was created?