Cecile—How wonderful that you made the connection that your client was laughing in uncomfortable situations; I think it shows how in tune and observant you are. Sounds like you had a valuable experience recording and transcribing the session too—thanks for the motivation for my future assignment.

Lindsay—This is such a wonderful example of nature-connected coaching and the Gestalt-like experiment. I love how your client envisioned this practice being part of her “busy work” business tasks moving forward. I also appreciated the example of you (coach) suggesting a high-level idea and letting the client customize it; I’m always explori…

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John—I love how you matched the three sacred questions with the different levels (mind, heart, and soul). I don’t know if it was presented to us that way and I forgot (highly likely, ;-)!) or if that is something that you created, but/and that really resonated with me. I also really appreciated the reminder about how coach+client are really jus…

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Joy—I really appreciated your reflective questions related to your own presence as a coach and how you were holding space! I also liked the reminder to stay present ourselves and really listen, rather than focus on the question we are going to ask next (<–raises hand: guilty!).

Discussion Question (it looks like this is going to post under Joy’s posting, but it’s really my initial post! ;-))

Client is in her 50s and has been contemplating leaving her current part-time job to do something that is a better fit for her desires and passions.

In a recent session with my client I focused on Gestalt principles. For example, I…

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Summary Post

It has been really fun and inspiring to reflect on this and to see everyone’s else’s reflections and thought process. I can really feel everyone’s passions coming through, which is why I love this program and this creative process. It has also confirmed in me that I want to support others because I know how much being—and feeling…

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I totally agree with Cecile, Toni—what a wonderful support you would be for women going through this transition. I have been listening to a variety of podcasts on menopause and what women should know (how is it that information has been so scarce?).

My sweetie found some inspiration from this book too (The Women’s Wheel of Life: https://elizabethda&hellip;

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John—So many of the things you touched upon resonated with me. Re: ability to pay, I’ve been thinking about reserving a certain number of discount sessions each month that I can offer to those with financial need (e.g., maybe 2-3 per month). I might not advertise them per se but offer if it comes up.

I love that you are getting clients via word of…

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Sara—I really appreciated how in the “Planning” section you brought this back to the “why” for your clients—why is this important to them, and that question of what would happen if they didn’t do this—very powerful! I recently experienced this as a client in a nutrition session with a coach (not EBI but definitely ICF-like!). He asked me why ea…

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Summary Post

The threshold experience can be so powerful: it is actually practicing what you want to take with you, sampling how it feels to be the person you want to be. While it can be empowering to step into the creativity to figure out what you want; it may also be a scary proposition for a client (I am reminded of feeling overwhelmed by a…

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I feel like my life’s work/purpose is to support others with their life’s work/purpose, so I envision ideal clients as people who are working on their dreams. I feel drawn to start a business with the purpose of offering support to “soulpreneurs” in a variety of ways (strategic/action-oriented, nature-connected coaching, and cranios…

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I appreciate your reflections, Toni—particularly the notion of creating a safe space for the client to surrender to the experience, which will make it that much more transformational. Also, there is empowerment that comes with the creative process and also potentially fear and overwhelm, so creating a safe space and being a gentle guide in the p…

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Josh—Your post really resonated with me. I appreciate how you identified that the threshold experience supports effective incorporation and client growth. I also really loved the description of conscious experimentation and that we as coaches don’t have to have all the answers but can be curious and exploratory with our clients. It reminds me to…

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John—Your writing is so evocative! I loved your example of learning from nature: “I am, like the spruce, strong and steadfast in my commitment to inner growth,” as well as your use of the word “whimsies” ;-).

I also appreciated how you tapped in to all the fears our clients may experience and the importance of creating a safe space and of staying p…

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Initial Post

Q: 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?

I love…

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Summary Post

Ecopsychology is the research foundation for our work as NCCs. Part of the magic of being a Nature-Connected Coach is modeling awe and reverence for nature and helping to awaken and nurture that in our clients in a way that helps them be the best version of themselves.

What comes up for me is Thich Nhat Hanh’s beautiful poem:

***Kiss…

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Sara—Thanks for this; I really liked how you defined the severance process as the “literal severing from the old, disconnected way of being.” This stressed to me the importance of the threshold experience as bringing our clients to the new way of being—allowing someone to experience this new way of being (even for just a moment) connected with an…

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Joy—Thank you for this amazingly comprehensive summary post for F2! I also felt gratitude for Chapter 5 with the example questions and love your reminder that it’s OK to pause and allow space for response in sessions. Also, that is such a powerful question (for both us and our clients): “What do you need to start believing about yourself now?”…

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Sara–I so love how you touched upon learning from and honoring indigenous people and their relationship with Mother Earth; that stuck out to me in the reading. I remember visiting Peru over 10 years ago and being struck by the awe and reverence with which they treated Pachamama. It felt so different to me, and quite honestly I don’t think I truly…

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Thanks for your post, Toni–I, too, was pleased to hear about the research foundation of ecopsychology. We know we’ve experienced the healing nature of nature (teehee) and the power of connecting with nature to tap into ourselves and to learn, but/and it was nice to actually know there is “proof.” I think that will resonate with some clients too.…

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Q: Where does Ecopsychology and Coaching come together? How does this blend add foundation to your interests as a Nature-Connected Coach. How might it fall short? What skills are needed?

Discussion Question

Ecopsychology is the synthesis of ecology and psychology with an emphasis on a sustainable lifestyle that supports and nurtures our nature…

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Sara–Love your description of your coaching. I’ve been struggling to come up with language that I think adequately describes what we are aiming to offer. Appreciate this as a launching point!

Sara–Really enjoyed the idea of slowing down to tune into your center and come into full sensory awareness (literally coming to our senses!). I also appreciated the reference to Pachamama. I first learned that term while on a trip to Peru 12 years, and I remember the people’s appreciation for and reverence for nature so vividly, because it was so…

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SUMMARY POST

Truth be told, I find this stuff kinda challenging to talk about, because I feel it is beyond wurdzz. . .*and* I am so inspired by all of your posts (you know, with wurdzzz and stuff)!

A few ideas that particularly inspired me are below with their respective stream of consciousness flows (you have been warned!):

Marveling at the vast…

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Bonjourrrr, Cecile–I, too, and drawn to trees and loved your reference to them, which reminded me of the beginning of a Ram Dass quote I’ve always liked:

“When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some o…

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Toni–I really connected with your post and the desire to shift to more being instead of doing. A teacher of mine recently said something like: “Humans were not designed to just be productive. . .” and that stuck with me.

I particularly resonated with your statement that “Nature gets everything done but doesn’t require a frenetic schedule, a long…

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Pausing to celebrate that I actually completed this one step. Can’t wait to look at everyone else’s posts and comment and reflect. Woot! 🙂

What does it mean to be connected to Nature, and how can that relationship support your coaching?

I see being connected to nature both as connecting to the outer nature and our inner nature. We can learn so much from our connection to the outer nature (what we traditionally call “Nature”)—resilience, adaptation, synergy, symbiosis. I love the idea…

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Hi, Soul–my preferred pronouns are she/her/hers; thanks for asking! And feel free to get in touch via my cell number above :-).

Hiya! My (brand new) name is Liv, and I live (ha!) in Boulder. I’m a member of cohort 23 and am finally catching up on all things quest. Excited to do this journey with you!

@calvin-chu : I can give you a ride to/from Boulder. Feel free to ping me at (720) 841-4139, and we can figure out deets :-).

Just started listening to the Soulcraft audiobook…

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Hi, Hannah–thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately my car is full–so wish we could fit you too!

Hello, C23! Anyone else out there who might be able to help Hannah out?

(You may also want to ask Ivy directly, in case not everyone is actively using this forum.)

Good luck, and I look forward to meeting you!

–Amy

Hi there, Cecile–thanks for your message and for sharing your phone number. I’ll switch to a text convo now. My number is (720) 841-4139. @lindsayforsythe and @sara-brells — feel free to send me a text, and we can converse through that channel re: deets. Hope everyone is doing well!

Hi there! Looks like most hotels in town will be more than $200/night. One exception is the Millennium Harvest House, which I found for a mere (and slightly suspicious) $105 for the night of June 25. My parents did stay there several years ago, and it was nice. There are a fair number of Air Bnbs in town too. It would be ideal to stay on the south…

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Thanks for asking, Lindsay! We would not be driving through Denver on the way to Gunnison, so if you all could get to Boulder that would be great. I can pick you up from wherever you stay (let me know if you’d like recommendations :-)).

Hi, Lindsay! I think it’s a good 4-hour drive from Boulder to Gunnison, and it looks like we’re aiming to meet at the market at 12:30p. I like having some spaciousness with travel, so I was thinking of a 7:45a/8a departure from Boulder. How does that sound to you all?

Hi there! My name is Amy, and I’m excited to join this cohort from Boulder. I am a life-long learner (Sag rising) and nature-lover, and after being introduced to EBI earlier this year, I impulsively signed up for the Nature-Connected Living course (just finished), this coaching program, and the Quest in August(!). Because EBI is *that* good ;-).

My…

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