The Super Coaches are Coming: don't get left behind...

The next Diploma workshop will be focusing on the Human Givens approach to wellbeing. We've already looked at the Person Centred model and CBT.?After that, we’ll start to work our way through the Fusion framework for integrated coach-counselling.

The Fusion Therapeutic Coaching model is a unique integrated system that produces fast results, whether you are a counsellor, a coach or indeed anyone whose role has emotional wellbeing at its core.

Working on the continuum of wellbeing

Whether you have a coaching or a counselling client in front of you, depending on their current life circumstances, they will be at a certain point on the continuum of wellbeing. They will either be in the ‘ok’ zone (traditional coaching territory) or closer to the ‘not ok’ zone (traditional counselling territory) and, because life circumstances change, your client’s position on the continuum may move from one week to the next.

The Fusion model works systematically to shift an inward, downward, backward-looking mind set??to a more psychologically robust outward, upward, forward-looking orientation?Every part of the format is there for a very specific reason.?When?interventions are made, and even?how?words are spoken, will have an effect on client momentum and outcomes.

I know why the system works so well but have never really written it down before. I’m addressing that now in the Diploma programme with word-for-word explanations designed to help practitioners implement the model most effectively. Research shows the confidence of the practitioner has a real effect on client expectation, helping to build a working alliance that creates the ‘sweet spot’ for change.

Super Coaches

The word ‘super’ means over and above. When coaching and counselling combine, turns out the whole is dramatically over and above the sum of its parts. This is why?I believe therapeutic coaching is creating a new breed of Super Coaches; those who can work both from the outside in (tactical coaching) and from the inside out (mindset coaching) depending what their client needs at that time.

Information emerging from neuroscience has helped us understand the importance of learning mind management skills. Even?Prince William , when he launched his?Heads Together ?campaign in 2016, emphasised the importance of acquiring mental skills now to deal with whatever clouds may appear on our horizon in the future.

I agree. Why wait for an emotional crisis before taking action??Regular mental health maintenance has to be a better way. We take our car for an annual MOT to make sure it is running smoothly and efficiently, so why not include regular wellbeing checks as part of a holistic coaching package? Executives are human beings just like the rest of us, after all. It’s no good focusing on work goals and motivation if their home life is falling apart!

As Voltaire said?'we must cultivate our garden'. Don’t leave the weeds to grow unchecked.?Every gardener knows the importance of pulling up weeds to sow new seeds, so why leave the impact of negative events and emotions to spread unchecked and allow them to impact our relationships, work and lives going forward?

An integrated whole-person approach?has to be the future for all professions that embrace wellbeing work as part of their skill set, whether that is in coaching, teaching, policing, nursing, HR, physiotherapy or therapy of any?kind.

Coaching and counselling connected?

There have always been counsellors. There have always been coaches.

From philosophers to sages, there were always elders in the community who had simply lived long enough to be able to offer support and wise counsel to those younger or less experienced.??

In recent times, however, we came to believe that counsellors counsel and coaches coach. We’ve treated them as separate disciplines. Yet our new understanding of the mind is now taking us full circle and pointing towards the logical conclusion that counselling and coaching should not really be separate professions at all and we should be taking?a more holistic approach to our clients.?

In reality, most counsellors will end up straying into coaching territory anyway as they work towards a goal and a planned ending and most coaches will drift into counselling territory even without any intention to do so. Fortunately, the Fusion integrated?model includes both reflective counselling skills and some very advanced coaching tools, underpinned by a sound theoretical framework which keeps the work safe, ethical and grounded in good science.?

Bad science

Since the 1980s, we were led to believe it is imbalanced brain chemistry that makes us feel stressed and depressed. This is simply not based on fact and, currently, there is little evidence the antidepressants work any better than sugar pills.

Simply put science has, to date, underestimated the impact of experience and environment on human well-being. Fortunately this is now changing fast. Our?emotions, even the uncomfortable or distressing ones, are in fact our very best friends.?

So, if your coaching client wakes up in the morning feeling anxious, angry, down or depressed, their brain is actually sending them some useful signals that something in their life needs to change. Late night drinking sessions, taking pills or overworking will not be the long term answer and they will likely look to you as their coach to help them unpick what is going on.

And it’s the new Super Coaches that will make sure they have the skills to really help, wherever their client is on the continuum of wellbeing…

Fusion training?

If you want to be part of the new wave of integrated practitioners you can apply to be on the waiting list for the Integrated Coaching Academy Therapeutic Coaching Diploma.

The good news is there is no waiting list at all for the NCFE distance learning Therapeutic Coaching Skills Certificate and you can follow this?link ?for immediate?purchase of your Skills Workbook for just ￡455.?

You can also still access the Fusion?Mindfulness Based Mind Management programme here ?for ￡395 for a limited time. ?