Adriana McManus
Forum Replies Created
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*Summary Post*
Everyone is so different that I think none of us will have the same exact client type which is the beauty of it. We all have some of our own special gifts and experiences to offer. We really owe it to ourselves, to set up OURSELVES for success. Creating specific goals so that we can become the guides that we were meant to be. It is really helpful to see everyone’s discriptions so I be inspired. -
*Initial Post*
When I was thinking about guiding, the first thing that came to mind was that I wanted to help everyone! I realized that this wasn’t very practical though. I don’t speak the same language or have the same experience as every single person on this planet. I will connect to some better than others.When I was honest with myself, I realized that what I really wanted was to guide people into remote areas, preferably the Sierras, to find their true selves. What I mean by that is that I want to work with people who have had trauma and would benefit with an immersion experience with nature, and include grounding and somatic work to ease hypervigilance, sympathetic overdrive, sleep disorders and other symptoms of PTSD. I stongly believe that getting away from our technology riddled man made society will help people to come back down to a calmer baseline and have opportunity to heal. I would like to work with women 20-50’s who are capable enough to cover long mile days in the mountains. The closest thing I have seen to this type of business is outword bound, but they usually work with kids. I also feel like NCC is unique because of the coyote guiding aspect, not just coaching and leadership.
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Hey MJ,
You are using what you like as a basis for what kind of client you want and that is really smart. You will be able to speak their language and meet them where they are at this way. -
Ben Marchaman,
I too, have tried to fit everybody into my ideal client, but the truth is that not everyone will resonate with what you are offering, I found. I am amazed that you are able to include so much into your program! You must have great focus! -
*Summary Post*
It’s not that I don’t connect with Partswork, I have felt the effects of my specific parts coming out and letting go some of the emotional energy that they were holding. Maybe after working with it, I’ll feel more comfortable with it. I think perhaps I have some very charged parts and doing this work really gets my sympathetic nervous system going. I could be projecting my disconnection with it on others.
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*Summary Post*
This part of the course was like the open-ended questions of the toolbox. There is so many places to take these tools, especially out in nature which inspires imagination. Where you take it depends on the deeper need and the deeper need can develop further with Gestalt. I also like hearing how others use Gestalt because all of you think of creative things that I have not.*Initial post*
• What steps did you take to establish the Coaching Relationship and focus the session?
• How did or could PartsWork fit into your nature-connected coaching session?
• How did or could you collaborate with Nature and combine PartsWork and Coaching principles?
• What challenges did you face? How did you adapt?
• What flowed and how did you build off it?
• What did you learn about yourself and nature-connected coaching?
• How do the readings relate and interact with the face to face material and your work with your practice clients?
• What ideas do you have for how you might use PartsWork and nature-connected coaching in the future with your client?
• How does PartsWork effect or enhance your Coaching Presence and approach?
• How does Nature-Connected Practices, and PartsWork interface?I haven’t had the opportunity to use trees and nature to practice with parts work much. I think because I mostly work in an office. I have used the concept to a in integrative manual therapy client organize her thoughts and feelings about a particular issue.
I was first alerted to the possibility of using this tool when my client said. “A part of me wants to pursue my writing.” I noticed opposing forces creating difficulty for my client understanding what she wanted. We were working indoors but I explained a parts work homework she could start with. First looking at herself as dynamic and having many facets. I invited her to list her parts so that we might discover who was opposing her with her writing project.
I learned that I could grab opportunities to use parts work instead of trying to force parts work. Listening for those key words helped me to see if parts work fit in this situation.
The next time I saw this client, she seemed more comfortable with the concept of different parts.
To enhance my use of parts work, I am going to practice more on myself. I think that I need a stronger connection to this tool so I can inspire people to explore it. -
Hi Josh,
Sounds like using parts work on yourself has helped you personally as well as helping you understand how it works better. I suspect if I use it on myself on a regular basis, I will be more comfortable with it as well. -
Hi Ben Marchman,
That is really cool that you were able to try a different angle with parts work to get it to connect with your client. I have had a similar trouble getting my client to connect with parts work so I will try to be more creative. You are certainly the coyote guide when it comes to getting your client to speak at more of a soul connected level. I hope to do as well as you some day! -
*Summary Post*
This part of the course was like the open-ended questions of the toolbox. There is so many places to take these tools, especially out in nature which inspires imagination. Where you take it depends on the deeper need and the deeper need can develop further with Gestalt. I also like hearing how others use Gestalt because all of you think of creative things that I have not. -
*Initial post*
• What steps did you take to establish the Coaching Relationship and focus the session?
• How did or could Gestalt fit into your nature-connected coaching session?
• How did or could you collaborate with Nature and combine Gestalt and Coaching principles?
• What challenges did you face? How did you adapt?
• What flowed and how did you build off it?
• What did you learn about yourself and nature-connected coaching?
• How do the readings relate and interact with the face to face material and your work with your practice clients?
• What ideas do you have for how you might use Gestalt and nature-connected coaching in the future with your client?
• How does Gestalt Therapy effect or enhance your Coaching Presence and approach?
• How does Nature-Connected Practices, and Gestalt Therapy interface?My very first practice client turned out to be the perfect Gestalt client although my intention for this client was to practice my parts work. This client was an intern psychotherapist working in a hospital. He was a massage client who was finding my reflections during therapy to be extremely enlightening to him. I could multitask! Who knew?
His initial goal was to increase his focus on accomplishing life tasks. He has a history of diagnosed ADD and has been a life struggle. It became immediate however, that he was very uncomfortable in nature and after more questioning, he realized that he doesn’t feel comfortable and at ease in daylight among other people. The new need became to feel at ease amongst other people. Feeling on edge didn’t help his focus. He had this story that he was a freak and would not be accepted by others. I was going to go into parts work but at that moment, a man walked by walking in a strange way to strengthen his legs. I asked my client how he felt, and he said that the thought of walking that way would make him uncomfortable.
Gestalt exercise- I suggested to my client to walk funny, like the man that walked by and I would do it with him. He soon started feeling ok and less self-conscious. Nature provides a good play ground to use Gestalt creatively. -
Hi Morgana,
What I see you doing is nature connected spiritual coaching and I think, wow, what cool niche! You have great knowledge and life experience but what is important is how you see yourself and how you want to walk through life professionally and personally. I know that you will make a difference for someone and or many. -
Hi Ben,
I can understand how boundaries get blurry if you know your client in a friendly way. I would have a hard time keeping the professional hat on but at the same time, we are trying to be on the same level that our client is. I value you, I value me is what comes to mind.However, it seemed like good instinct to use a chart to help your client explore his wants and needs. Answering “I don’t know” is a good indicator. How did you keep “in connection” with your client’s feeling?
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*Summary post*
I found the coaching skills book to be essential to understanding effective questioning, goal setting and challenges. This book will be something I will be re reading periodically to remember the basics and to get through threshold which can seem messy and confusing. The one piece of advice that I will always remember is that this is hard to mess up. We as coaching can’t do too much damage. The hardest thing will be to remember not to go into advice giving and list making. -
*Initial Question*
Kick-off Question: Reflect on your experience as a client in the “threshold”. How does that experience inform your coaching and why? How did Nature participate in your process and what does that tell you about coaching others? What ICF core competencies are essential for you to practice and build on to feel confident in that “place” as a coach? This is not a feedback session to your coach, but a self – reflective response.
Looking back on my threshold experience as a coach, there was a lot of fear and nervousness to do the right thing. But the thing that I realized was that nature and the client were really doing the work together. I was there to provide a safe space to create reflection. It was much harder to mess up than I thought and it required a lot of trust in the 50 50 rule as well as a coaching presence that inspired trust and safety to do this. -
Cory,
Presence makes all the difference, doesn’t it? You can really feel how easy it is to open up and share an experience with another person when the energy is open, non judgemental and supportive.