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Foundations 4 Forum Cohort 19
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33 Replies
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In the past when I’ve done work to consider my ideal client, it tended to be from the perspective of a specific demographic. When I started coaching as an LLC when I first got back from Japan, I actually worked with a branding coach through an extensive program to identify and appeal to, and brand for a specific kind of client. Every time I considered it from that angle, I always seemed to come up with a client profile of someone just like me. 35y/o female, professional who needs help managing stress, etc. And that does make sense, I think we do tend to end up coaching what we know. But I don’t want everyone I coach to be like that. Diversity is something incredibly important to me, and working with a bunch of people who are just like me is not exciting. Even though she did a great job of helping me to refine a lot of what I’m passionate about, the ideal client profile just didn’t resonate.
After talking about it more with Daniel, I’ve realized that the population that most excites me is essentially anyone who has a need in terms of developing resilience. I really want to work with people who need help reframing their mindset, particularly in the context of an ever changing world heavily influenced by greater disruptions and shifts- globalization, changes in technology, pandemics, etc. I envision my experience with Positive Psychology playing a large role in this.
Just through a quick Google search, I found an organization called The Resilience Institute. In coaching, an assessment is used to determine resilience (using evidence based factors) and then recommendations about how to build resilience are made based on the results of the assessment. It’s not just purely coaching and includes some education/consulting principles as well. It looks like a fantastic resource for evidence based practices to use in developing resilience, but it’s certainly not “pure” coaching in the guiding sense.
In further searching, I’ve found a couple of individual coaches who focus heavily on resilience coaching. A commonality I see is in the emphasis on the building of skills and a repertoire of tools to cope with stress. This mirrors what I see with the Resilience Institute, and definitely brings to light the understanding that many people are not explicitly taught how to be resilient. Some people never learn. Considering this from an NCC perspective, I think it would be helpful to consult the Coyote’s Guide and potentially use the Cycle of Learning it suggests in Chapter 10, to an advantage here. The question is, do I want/need to explicitly teach resilience, or build it implicitly through the use of guiding? I think both are are probably necessary depending on the client’s individual needs.
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When I think about guiding, I lean toward the population that has little to no outdoor experience or connection to nature. Throughout my life there has been a common synchronicity for me and that is that I have been fortunate to be influential in many individuals’ first time connecting outdoors. This part of my life has been very influential in my own path and why I am in this course. I’ve always been involved in many outdoor activities and spent a good deal of my life doing that on my own. Often, friends would get curious about it for themselves, even though they had never kayaked, hiked, camped in the wild, ect., and I would invite them along with me. The reaction was always the same. “Wow, I can’t believe how peaceful it is out here”. “I haven’t thought about work or home life once while we’ve been out here!” “I feel like a different person after this weekend!” I always take so much joy in hearing this and, even more so, getting to witness it! Something clicks for them and they get hooked on it. I believe these experiences open so many doors for people and can very likely lead to a lifestyle change toward a more nature centered life. I think of it as being a mid-wife. I invite them along and then I step out of the way and let nature and the individual do the rest. There’s an opinion that “some people just aren’t ‘outdoorsy’, they don’t have it in them.” I have never agreed with that because I’ve witnessed the least likely people to strap on a life jacket and start paddling a kayak that you could ever imagine! I like to say “they’re not “outdoorsy YET”. Young, Haas and McGown say,
“The big idea behind Indicators of Awareness admittedly rests upon an assumption on our part – the assumption that connecting with nature is a natural thing for human beings to do. If this is true, then certain outcomes and qualities will emerge within the nature of the people themselves.” (Coyote’s Guide to Connecting With Nature, Chapter 12).While I am on the fence about having my own practice after this course is finished, I have still imagined working with this type of demographic and see myself doing so with a combination of outdoor adventure activities, nature connection activities (such as meditations, sensory awareness exercises, encouraging connection routines in their personal life, etc), basic environmental conservation education, and coaching. I see it being a diverse offering that opens up more opportunity for longer term clients. It also allows for creativity to flourish in tying all of these pieces together. There may be clients who never want the coaching piece but can still be clients in other aspects of the offering. There may be some who I can create a program for to include all of it. There’s so much opportunity to incorporate coaching without even calling it that or with the client necessarily knowing it is coaching (the Coyote way!), just by getting them to agree to go outside with me. There is a big part of this that will be reliant on the EBI teachings of nature connection as this is my first formal training in the subject. Coyote’s guide uses the analogy of musicians/bands who get their start playing and mastering cover songs. “First we get really good at playing the creations of other people, then as we internalize the principles behind the songs or the Activities – we begin to write our own”.
I don’t know that there will be common categories of goals in these clients once their first real connection to nature has been established. It kind of opens the floodgates as they start to see the bigger picture and realize they don’t have to struggle through the things they have struggled with for so long. The thought here would be to start small with them and then, as confidence builds, start working on the bigger goals they have.
My google search yielded a program that First Descents is partnering with REI on to introduce the outdoors to folks who have limited to no experience. The program seems like it relies completely on the experiences themselves in its claim that they will lead to personal growth and development within its participants and, while I don’t disagree that that is possible, I feel like there is an element missing that could forge that even stronger. Teaching even the most basic awareness skills and opening up a client’s mind to really SEEING nature is key to their success. I could float down a river all day long and not really see what is being reflected to me if I’m socializing with other participants or caught up in taking pictures of beautiful scenery (all of which I have been guilty of myself many many times). At the end of the day I’ve had a nice day outside and got a sunburn. So, in some cases, the activity itself may not have a big impact or any impact at all. Activity with a specific intention to learn from and connect to nature is needed.
Another program targeted for my ideal client is a program called I Can. Theirs and many other programs that try to lure newbies outdoors are built solely around teaching “outdoor skills” or teaching basics of specific outdoor activities. Again, this obviously can be very beneficial and powerful if you’re teaching primitive skills, but if we’re just doing the activities, how are we connecting with nature? Think of the experience one could have if you discovered they resonated with the natural element of fire and then you taught them how to build a primitive fire and have conversation with it.
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When I think about coaching and guiding others I am immediately pulled to working with a variety of populations in the outdoor setting. In my twenties. I spent a large chunk of time guiding youth-at-risk in the wilderness (facilitating personal growth through rock climbing, white water rafting, backpacking, etc.) I worked in North Carolina seasonally and then spent six months traveling out west with a group of teenage boys, educating them and also helping to build their self esteem and self reliance. Later, I decided I was ready to settle down a bit versus always sleeping in my bivy sac or tent, and left the outdoor education setting and moved into the classroom setting. One of my ideas was always to design a program for middle school aged girls. The program’s goal would be to help empower young women and to teach them wilderness skills and to also have a travel portion of our studies built in (such as a three month wilderness adventure in the southwestern United States.) One of my good friends is also a coach and works with youth as a rite of passage guide. We have spoken of working together in the future and I find myself excited for the many possibilities that exist. We have shared vision and it’s super exciting to think about combining our passion and love of sharing nature together with designing a new program or workshop! Another population I am drawn to working with are mothers. I know there are many needs that Moms have. I am a mom and know what it’s like to be ‘in the trenches’ of motherhood- it is the hardest and the most rewarding job I have ever experienced in my life. Some of the biggest needs of mothers are; self-care, feeling a part of a community, connection, feeling heard, inspiration, quiet time, etc. I imagine leading women’s circles, weekend retreats, and multiple rite of passage ceremonies- all with the intention of helping to identify the deeper needs of participants and to help empower them to ‘thrive’ versus survive.
When I think about all I’ve learned during these Foundation Modules, I have come to realize that I most enjoy working with clients in-person versus on the phone or video. Though it’s absolutely possible to work with clients in all settings, for me I would love to work on the land with people. I want to see, hear, feel, and observe energy shifts, while also sharing the same physical environment with others. I also know that I want to work with people over a few hours and also over a few intentional days.
When I think about the common categories of goals I foresee clients working towards, I immediately imagine helping people fully step into their lives by claiming their voice, communicating their needs, and expressing their true selves. I also envision collaborating with nature through multi-day wilderness vision fasts, outdoor councils, workshops at a local retreat center near my home, and also in various wilderness areas as I travel with clients (youth). There are so many incredible wilderness areas across the country that I know would be powerful settings for working with clients. There are a variety of environments that can help facilitate awareness, growth, and success in those I work with. It’s exciting to think about how even the type of setting we take clients into can have a profound impact on their experience (desert, mountain, river valley, etc.) Bottom line is- that no matter where we are or take our clients, Nature is the co-guide and will show the way.
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For some reason I cannot get my post to fully show up here. Thinking it’s too long?
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Some of the organizations that I find myself working with are both Cascadia Quest (located in Eugene, Oregon) and also School of Lost Borders (located in Big Pine, California).
Cascadia Quest is dedicated to rite of passage work and to initiating the youth of our planet. It is the belief of the organization that if youth do not have proper initiations that support them entering into adulthood, that the youth will find ways to initiate themselves. Their website states, “At Cascadia Quest we place high value on the sacredness of Nature, involvement of Community, recognition of Spirit, and engagement of all generations particularly youth and elders. Our programs are modern yet speak to a deep, ancient knowing in our bones. Cascadia Quest offers wilderness rites of passage, and other nature immersed personal growth and educational experiences.”
I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a weeklong communication training through C.Q. and have been invited to help work with their staff to support work they do with youth and adult vision fast programs. When I think about Nature-Connected Coaching and the mission and work of C.Q., I can see how their work with ‘mirroring’ is much like we do when we reflect our client’s words back to them. The container is set for council meetings and rite of passage work and many of their staff have completed School of Lost Borders trainings as well.
School of Lost Borders is also an organization dedicated to rite of passage work and is often seen as the mother-ship for this line of work. Those who work with ‘the school’ are passionate about helping others to reach deeper within and to find connection to truth, awareness, and connection. This organization also works with youth ages 17-28 on ceremonial marking of the passage from youth to adulthood. The school and its Elders and Guides see this passage into adulthood as an “integral part of human development… Culturally-specific rituals are now re-emerging and evolving so that adolescents may be appropriately met, challenged, inspired, and mentored into adulthood. The intentional marking of these transitions is not only significant for the young initiate, but equally so for the family and for the entire community or school.”
When I think of all I have personally experienced and have witnessed within C.Q. and S.O.L.B., I know how powerful ceremony/intentional rite of passage work is. What excites me now is how I can tie in all my training with both organizations to my work with EBI. There are so many connections, common threads, and goals that all organizations share… and I am excited to continue to build connections, relationships, and vision with those I meet as my clients and as colleagues. Thank you all for inspiring me!
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When I think about the populations that most excite me, I am reminded of my own experience and what excites me in my life. In responding to this post, I have found that I want to work with people who are like me, and who are going through challenges that I have faced or am faced with currently. My ideal clients and their goals include:
1. Teen & Adult Women: I want to empower women of all ages to be themselves, to be confident in themselves, to share and express through their voice, body, or art, to be clear on their yes and no’s, to not be afraid to say no, to listen to the earth and spirit, and share the wisdom of the earth and spirit with the world through physical form. I want to guide women in knowing and realizing that they belong to Earth, that they have important powers/gifts, and help them in applying their powers/gifts. I also want to connect women (especially teens) with community.
2. Driven people who have already put work into a spiritual or nature-based practice (or who are ready to do so), and want to dive deeper into relationship with earth, spirit, soul, vision, and purpose. I want to work with people who are awakening to their soul and purpose, living a life that is in focused connection with spirit, earth, and soul (or wanting to), and ready to make big impact in the world. Also, I want to work with people who hold a earth and soul connected vision, and need coaching to create and build their vision into the physical 3-D world.
3. Teens, young adults, and adults who are ready and wanting a major shift in life, like a rites of passage. People ready to be their own person, to change in big ways, and ready to discover their vision and their purpose.
4. Teen and adult leaders who are beyond their years in ways or special in ways, who feel that they do not fit in to the system/status quo, who feel more connected with earth than academia, who are driven for pursuing their purpose and developing a deep relationship with themselves, the land, and spirit.
5. Earth Warriors/Leaders/Tenders/Mothers: People who want to live a life of connection, empowerment, inspiration, leadership, balance, and resiliency, even in challenging times.
6. Dancers and Body-Oriented People: People who have a strong body-based practice (or want one) such as dance, yoga, and acrobatics, and want to use their connection with their body to deepen their relationship with their vision, purpose, soul, spirit, intuition, and Earth.
Words/phrases that stand out to me: femininity, feminine-masculine balance, empowerment, belonging, expression, embodiment, sexuality, spirit weavers, earth tenders, purpose and soul explorers, rites of passage, authenticity, mother, tending, grounding
The following organizations and individuals work with the above populations:
Trackers Earth:
Trackers Earth is a very popular and large-scale outdoor education school based in the Portland, Oregon region and Bay Area. I worked as an overnight Outdoor Educator for them last Summer in Oregon. They work with people of all ages in groups/community (not 1-on-1), and focus on teaching wilderness survival skills and nature-connecting living. They work with all ages in year-round programs, including teens who are driven and motivated to connect with the Earth and community (the types of teens I would like to work with!). I notice that teens and youth are drawn to this school because it is social and they get to learn technical skills. Similar to Trackers Earth, I would like to offer group courses and gatherings focused on teaching nature-based skills, and hopefully find coaching clients through the group work.Gaia Girls:
Bay area nature-based program and rites of passage program for groups of pre-teen and teen girls. They involve mothers and elders through community gatherings and summer camps. I appreciate the community aspect of this program. They do not offer coaching or 1-on-1 guidance.Stepping Stones Project:
Bay area rites of passage program for all gender teens. Similar to Gaia Girls, they involve the whole community (parents, adults, elders) in frequent community gatherings, fire circles, and council. Again, they do not offer 1-on-1 coaching.Samantha Sweetwater:
Awakening Coach, Founder of “Dancing Freedom” (organization offering dance ceremonies, gatherings, and teacher trainings), Vision Quest Guide, Executive Coach, Speaker, Writer, Group Facilitator, and Teacher. She guides/coaches people in connecting with their soul and purpose, and how to bring those gifts forward into the world. She doesn’t advertise incorporation of nature-based practices, but I see that she leads vision quests and ceremony. Her work is similar to what I want to do, and I am drawn to her online presentation, though I want to incorporate more nature-based courses/gatherings/events.Amanda Biccum:
Evolutionary Coach, Embodiment Coach, Speaker, Teacher, and Group Facilitator. Connects people with their purpose, and initiates women into connection with Goddess and the divine feminine. She incorporates practices/tools in mindfulness, yoga, embodiment, holistic sexuality, tantra, and nutrition. Based on her presentation and marketing, I imagine that her main audience is young adults. Her work is similar to what I want to do, except I would offer a more gentle and feminine presentation, and incorporate nature-based practices in my work.Spirit Weavers Gathering:
Empowering women in connection with Earth, Spirit, Ancestors, and Community. Happens once per year. May be a great place to connect with other women in the field, offer workshops, and find clients.Women’s Herbal Symposium:
Very similar to Spirit Weaver’s Gathering, but twice per year and has a more casual website presentation. -
Hi Deanna! As I read your post (specifically the statement “I have found that I want to work with people who are like me, and who are going through challenges that I have faced or am faced with currently.”, I think that many of us are in this same frame of thinking, whether consciously or subconsciously. Our strengths lay in our past experiences, our life lessons, what we’ve come to know we’re good at……and who we want to reach will likely be a reflection of those things. There’s huge benefit in being able to share your personal stories, when appropriate, that might give some comfort to a client that they are working with someone who understands what they are going through. While I type this, I also consider the pitfalls of having this type of clientele where we’ve been through what they’re going through. The challenge will be to keep our own experience and our resolution to the experience out of the picture, leaving space for them to come to their own realizations. When I think about my past encounters with what I would now call my ideal clients, that was centered around advice giving or “here’s what I did” in an effort to be helpful. As humans, this is almost a natural tendency that we as coaches will need to disconnect from our brains. Additionally, we need to be prepared for any emotional relapses we may have in hearing someone going through a similar issue and keep those emotions at bay.
On a completely personal note, I absolutely love your inclination toward working with young women as I see that as such an important group to focus on, especially these days. You’re a perfect fit and a prime example of how powerful a woman is and should be in this world!
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@david.fontaine
Hey David, thank you so much for responding to my post, and thank you so much for your sweet compliment!!!! I aspire to be a powerful woman, so it’s really helpful to hear that from you!I agree that it only makes sense that we, as coaches, would be inclined to want to work with people who are similar to us. I also agree that keeping our emotions and advice-giving out of the coaching work will be important with clients who remind us of ourselves. I often run into this issue with the teens I work with. They sometimes ask me for advice, and I sometimes give advice, but with caution of not imposing my beliefs and ideas on their own experience. I like what you said about being prepared for “emotional relapses.” Reflecting on that, I think I have definitely experienced “emotional relapses” as well as picking up on either people’s anger, tension, grief, sadness, etc. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain strict boundaries and not take-on those feelings. In a session like that, I have to make sure to attend to my own self care post-session. Dance, movement, making sounds, and body shakes (like that one experience I did with you on letting go of anger) is really helpful for me.
In response to your post, I really appreciate that you want to work with people who have little-to-no outdoor experience. It sounds like this population of people naturally seeks you out for outdoor guidance and experience, so they must be the people you are meant to work with.
I agree with you about the REI offering. There are a lot of outdoor programs that are missing the connection piece. I am excited that you want to incorporate the nature-connection skills into outdoor activities.
I LOVE what you said here, “Think of the experience one could have if you discovered they resonated with the natural element of fire and then you taught them how to build a primitive fire and have conversation with it.” So spot on! In the past, I taught primitive skills to kids and teens often because I was hired to do so. I didn’t get excited about teaching the skills until I began to deeply connect with the plant or element that I was working with. Once that personal and emotional connection was made, the skills became exciting! Plus, the skills are really hard to learn, so there needs to be a deep connection! Fire is a great example. So, going forward, I am very inspired by your comment to connect people emotionally and spiritually with the actual elements before teaching the physical skill. -
@lesliewier
Hey Leslie, thanks so much for your insight. As a new coach in the field, it’s helpful to hear your input. I have found myself wanting to work with people who are like me in a way, but diversity is important to me too. So, it is helpful for me to hear your insight on that. I love that you want to focus on developing resilience with clients. That is so essential right now. I feel that the work we offer as nature-connected coaches is generally “resilience building” for our clients, but I also see how beneficial it would be to make this topic the main focus. I imagine the demand for resilience coaching/guiding will only rise, and continue to rise, in the near future. You asked, “ do I want/need to explicitly teach resilience, or build it implicitly through the use of guiding? I think both are are probably necessary depending on the client’s individual needs.” I agree both are important! How would you teach resilience? -
@susanfronckowiak
Susan! Our ideal clients and visions are very similar!!! In addition to working with youth and teen girls, I would also love to work with mothers one day (after I have some personal experience being a mom). I would also like to hold women’s circles, retreats, and rites of passage ceremonies! Have you heard of Gaia Girls? Look them up! I may be working with them in the Summer and Fall.
I agree that I really enjoy working with people in-person vs. over the phone or internet. I am curious how you would design a few-hour coaching session. Like you, the thought of combining coaching with a rites of passage really excites me! I am curious to hear more about your experience with Cascadia Quest!
“ I immediately imagine helping people fully step into their lives by claiming their voice, communicating their needs, and expressing their true selves” YES!!!!!!! -
Sorry for showing up late to the discussion.
As many of you have already spoken to, I want to serve those who have a similar struggle and experience as I have had. People who have been beat up by the modern world/culture and are looking for guidance on how to do/be/live differently.
The population that most excites me is younger adults, and perhaps older teens who are deep thinkers/feelers and already have a bent towards alternative ways of being. I am excited about spending extended periods (24hrs, 72hrs,5-7 days) of time in the forest or other natural environments and doing some real deep dives into healing and embracing the gifts that our shadow hold.
I am excited to merge the “hard” skills of earth-based living like Shelter, Fire, Water, Food with the relational “soft” skills we are practicing.
The goals I would like to work on most with clients are: Becoming Whole, Clarifying Vision, Engaging the World in their Purpose and Power, Living a Soul Directed Life, Becoming a Jedi 😉
I see having a camp where folks can come and eat wild and cultivated foods, move their bodies in natural environments (climb trees, swim in rivers, throw stones, jump over logs…), meditate and connect with Nature and potentially Tribe.Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School:
This school is open to everyone who can afford it’s classes. I’m not sure how many students pass through in any given year, but I believe it is a few hundred. This is a skills dominant school, but it is based on a strong philosophical foundation. Many students are new to the skills world and come here for a introduction, as Tom Brown’s books have given him some fame.
Though there is an opportunity for personal connection and deeper learning, most of the students don’t have that desire or opportunity. Most, if not all of the classes have a curriculum that they follow as opposed to being student led. (Rollin, feel free to correct me if you have a different experience. I’ve tried to be stricktly objective here.)Anake program @ W.A.S.:
This is a pretty cool program, and I feel the need to tread lightly as this is Michaels lineage. One of the problems I see with this program is the expense. I continually wonder how we can find ways to fund our endeavors and have a reciprocal relationship with clients/students that is a bit more organic or less conventional. It seems like graduates of this program remain in a loose community, which I have found doesn’t exist in many other programs I’ve seen. I’m also not sure how much of the curriculum is hard skill based.Lynx Vilden’s Living Wild:
Hard skill based deep immersions. They seem to be based on a nature connected philosophy, but I’m not sure how deep that goes. Really intense and legit courses.Possibility Alliance:
Here is a petroleum free homestead that allows folks to volunteer and live for very organic lengths of time on a by donation basis. I understand the opinions of the founders to be quite dogmatic, but they do share what they know freely. -
Hey y’all! I want to apologize for not being very present in the discussion this week. Since I haven’t been feeling well, it’s been a bit of a struggle to focus. I’m going to do my best to go through and read as I’m able, and will endeavor to be more connected this coming week!
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James, if you need a chef for this camp to prepare the wild and cultivated foods, I’m your man! 🙂 Reading your post makes me smile because it makes me think back to every time someone asked me what I would do if I could do anything. You’ve just described my exact answer! This also reminds me of what we spoke about earlier today and wishing I had experiences like this and/or a mentor when I was younger. I feel that these very immersive and lengthy experiences can forge lasting impressions and changes in people. Think of the experiences and take-aways we had at our first intensive in Boulder as a perfect example of that! A client can half ass show up in a one hour session but he/she can’t run from a 5-7 day experience, nor do I think they’d want to. Lengthier offerings ensure that the more serious clients will attend. Serving younger clientele can have such a huge impact on the future of the world and may even encourage them to do this work when they’re older, creating a lineage of your teachings, which is fucking awesome to think about!
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David,
When you talked about how you’ve been “fortunate to be influential in many individuals’ first time connecting outdoors”, I think of the pictures you have shared with me of you and Gabby being outside. Whether it’s roller skating down your street, hiking, or exploring decaying leaves found on the ground, it’s clear that your professional work with EBI and your passion for nature is directly impacting Gabby’s life. You are living it and walking the talk. What a gift that she is experiencing time in nature with intention at her young age and that she’s learning from you that she IS nature!James,
Loved reading, “I want to serve those who have a similar struggle and experience as I have had. People who have been beat up by the modern world/culture and are looking for guidance on how to do/be/live differently.” This makes me think about the major shifts and changes occuring in the world and how many people today ARE looking for guidance. There is such a deep need for groundedness, centeredness, and connection during this pandemic- and honestly, we as a society have needed it for a long time! There are young adults right NOW who are isolated from their peers and from their social circles. I can totally see you working with this population to mentor, guide, and lead young people into lives of wholeness and empowerment. And, those you work with will see your genuine compassion and desire to help them. So excited to see your work evolve!Deanna,
I’m inspired by the deep connections you make and can absolutely see you leading the retreats you envision. Your videos on facebook and seeing you ‘move’ in the world as you dance are proof of your connectedness to yourself and to others. Anyone who crosses paths with you will definitely feel your compassion, authenticity, and inspiring energy. You asked me about what my few hour coaching sessions may look like… I personally would like to build in creative art workshops with my clients and would like to work with multiple people in council. When I participated in Cascadia Quest’s ‘Art of Mirroring’ training and the SOLB training- I witnessed the power of reflecting stories. The transformations of people before and after their wilderness experiences… wow! I also love helping bring people together and love to help build community where people are invited to explore topics of personal growth together over a certain period of time (i.e. meet in a group each week for a series of months). The possibilities are endless and it excites me to brainstorm ideas. Perhaps someday you and I will work together!
