What Does It Mean to Coach on Behalf of Earth? – Part 3: The NatureProcess as the Root

In the first part of this series, we explored the emerging approach to leadership and business that prioritizes our relationship with Earth and how coaches play a pivotal role in fostering this connection. In the second part, we deepened this exploration by considering a whole-systems approach to EarthConnected behavioral change, from individuals to families, communities, teams, and organizations.

Now, we focus on the Nature Process—a powerful, sensory-based approach that provides the foundation for coaching on behalf of Earth. This process enables coaches to cultivate a direct, embodied relationship with nature, supporting meaningful, lasting change in their clients.

At the heart of coaching on behalf of Earth is the understanding that humans are not separate from nature; we are deeply interconnected with it. The NatureProcess provides a practical framework for coaches to guide their clients in re-establishing this connection. It consists of five key steps:

1. Natural Presence: Stepping into a deeper experience of the natural world by becoming aware of our 54 senses, this step fosters mindfulness and a greater connection to the Earth.
2. Natural Body: By connecting to the wisdom of the body, clients learn to trust their instincts and bodily sensations as part of their engagement with the natural world.
3. Natural Attractions: This step encourages letting go of limiting beliefs and learning to think like nature, integrating natural patterns into decision-making.
4. Natural Communication: By experiencing the non-verbal language of nature, clients deepen their ability to “listen” to Earth, honing a form of communication that transcends words.
5. Natural Release: Finally, clients experience themselves as part of a greater whole, using sensory connections with nature to restore balance and well-being.

In my research on Earth Connection, published in Journal of Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology, I interviewed individuals who regularly practiced the NatureProcess. These interviews revealed several key benefits that participants experienced, highlighting how this approach transformed both their relationship with nature and their own inner states:

• Regulated: Processing Difficult Emotions and Experiencing More Positive Ones: Participants reported that engaging with The Nature Process helped them work through challenging emotions, leading to greater emotional regulation and a sense of peace.
• Responsive: Staying Present and Dealing with Life More Effectively: Through the practice of Natural Presence, individuals found themselves more grounded in the present moment, which enhanced their ability to respond to life’s challenges with clarity and calm.
• Resilient: Feeling in Control of Changes in Life: By tapping into nature’s cycles and rhythms, participants developed resilience, feeling more empowered to handle life’s uncertainties and changes.
• Reciprocal: Realizing the Need to Give Back to the Earth: Many participants expressed a growing sense of responsibility to reciprocate for what Earth provides, leading to actions that support sustainability and environmental stewardship.
• Reverential: Expanding Sense of Self to Include a Divine Cycle of Life: Engaging with The Nature Process deepened participants' reverence for the interconnectedness of life, helping them expand their sense of self to include the broader cycles of nature.
• Realised: Developing a Clearer Sense of Identity: Finally, many individuals reported a newfound clarity about who they are, recognizing their unique place and role within the larger ecosystem of Earth.

These findings demonstrate that the NatureProcess goes beyond fostering a superficial connection to nature; it leads to profound personal transformation. Participants experienced both psychological growth and a deeper, more reverential relationship with Earth, creating sustainable, Earth-centred behaviour change.

Building EarthConnected Leadership Through the Nature Process

Coaching on behalf of Earth is particularly transformative for leaders, who often face complex challenges requiring clarity and resilience. The NatureProcess aids in developing these qualities:

• Natural Presence in Leadership: Cultivating presence through nature helps leaders approach challenges with calm and clarity, enhancing decision-making aligned with the long-term health of their organizations.
• Natural Communication and Organizational Change: This step teaches leaders to “listen” to non-verbal cues from both nature and their organizational environments, fostering authentic communication.

By embedding Earth-connected thinking into leadership styles, the Nature Process transforms individual leaders and the cultures they influence, especially when combined with the EarthConnected Framework. More about this in part 5 ??

Practical Applications for the NatureProcess

Coaches can integrate the NatureProcess into their sessions in several ways:

• Guided Nature Experiences: Encourage clients to practice Natural Presence using houseplants or observing natural elements outside. This can create a mindful, EarthConnected state regardless of location.
• Body-Based Exercises: Help clients develop trust in their Natural Body, particularly useful for leaders accustomed to data-driven decisions. This aspect of the NatureProcess can be challenging, as trauma often affects our ability to connect with our bodies.
• Reframing Limiting Beliefs through Nature: During Natural Attractions, coaches can encourage clients to embrace nature’s cycles as metaphors for personal growth. Understanding that setbacks are part of a larger evolutionary process fosters resilience and allows for letting go of rigid thinking patterns.

These components of the NatureProcess are commonly utilized in coaching sessions and require time to master. It’s essential for clients to build their capacity for these skills before progressing to Natural Communication and Natural Release.

Looking Ahead: Integrating The EarthConnected Framework and The Nature Process with the ICF Core Competencies

As we move into part four, we will explore how the EarthConnected Framework and the Nature Process can be integrated with the ICF Core Competencies to evolve coaching and adapt it to today’s climate. Some ICF coaches find the competencies hinder creativity and intuition, but when combined with these frameworks, they provide the opportunity to optimize clients’ personal and professional potential in ways that are fully relevant for a future where all Earth thrives.

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Earthself’s L1 NatureProcess Coach Training Programme is an ICF accredited training programme that’s designed to help you master the art of coaching with and as nature outdoors, indoors and online in a way that’s neuro inclusive while your investment helps develop a Scottish community food forest.

Next cohort starts Autumn, October 30th with further intakes every season. Get in touch if you like to explore if the programme is right for you…