[Deanna]

Summary:

I see Partswork as a powerful tool, and I also realize that it must be practiced by us guides in order for us to use it properly. In other words, as guides, we must have practice of doing Partswork on ourselves before doing it on others. I really appreciate the embodiment aspect to the Partswork that we learn at EBI. I love to incorporate Partswork into my dance practice. As a guide for others, I realize that there is a lot more to learn about Partswork, and I look forward to exploring it more!

[Deanna]

Initial Post:

I love Partswork, and the Partswork 2 module was inspiring and challenging. I feel like I have learned most about how to facilitate Partswork by being guided by my coach (Mandy, our previous mentor at EBI). In having been guided through Partswork so many times, I feel confident in guiding others.

I utilize Partswork in my sessions all the time, especially when client’s speak about an inner conflict. To me, that is an indicator that two parts are not integrated. Recently, I worked with a practice client in a Partswork session on two parts that were in conflict. We started in soul, then moved to one part, back to soul, then the second part, then back to soul. The second time we came back to soul, she expressed that she was confused by what “soul” meant. I realized that our Partswork session was not going to be effective or helpful unless she clearly embodied and understood what it meant to be in soul. I helped her connect with soul, then continued with the Partswork practice, but I still don’t think she fully understood what it meant to be in soul. If I were to go back to the session, I probably wouldn’t continue the Partswork exercise. Instead, I would have focused on Soul. This session showed me the importance of helping clients establish a strong connection with soul before going into Partswork. This may even take several sessions.

[Deanna]

Summary:

I really appreciate everything that we covered in Long-Term Coaching. I feel much more confident in starting my coaching relationship with clients, and describing the process of a coaching relationship to potential clients. I also really appreciate the Cocentric Circle Transformation Model. I think this is a powerful tool to use in sessions. I am also taking away a knowing that I can create my own models and practices based on the foundation of what has been taught to us at EBI. I am inspired to record and keep an inventory of the practices and models that I come up with over time with various clients.

[Deanna]

Initial Post:

The Long-term Coaching module felt like the glue for our entire coaching program. In this intensive, I felt like I had many “ah-hah” moments on working with clients. I really appreciate the maps that were provided, and I also appreciate that we are encouraged to create our own maps. I am inspired to personalize a map for each of my clients.

After the intensive, I was inspired to create a 3-month coaching map for one of my clients. She is an 18 year old high school senior, graduating this June. We will only be working together until June, so I wanted to create a clear map of her goals and milestones before the end of our coaching relationship. Although we have been working together since last Summer, we took a month break, and during that time, I created a map. I utilized the four directions model as well as the stages of change and transformation. I came up with my ideas for her milestones and goals, and practices/exercises for moving forward. I also created a loose plan for honoring her transition out of high school. When I presented the map to her, I made sure to let her know that it was a rough draft and that we could use it or throw it out. She liked the map, and added her own goals. Since creating this map together, I feel that we have more of a solid foundation and sense of purpose for our work together until June.

[Deanna]

Summary:

I look forward to integrating Brain & Change 2 information into my sessions on a more regular basis. I am still grasping the concept for my own life. I think the biggest challenge is identifying when I am operating in an old, unserving pattern, or when I am operating in a closed, limbic state, and having the confidence, trust, and willingness to pause and drop-into soul. Reviewing this information reminds me of the power of taking a pause, connecting with soul, and activating the PFC. Otherwise, there is no way to see all the possibilities in life. This module is not only helpful for me in my personal life, but also as a guide. I am constantly working on staying grounded and centered with clients. The Brain & Change module reminds me of the importance of that.

[Deanna]

Initial Post:

Incorporating the brain science information into my sessions has been extremely valuable for my clients and my confidence as a guide. I have utilized this information in several sessions with clients. One part of the module that really inspired me was the information on the Reticular Activating System. Knowing that there is a scientific explanation to the power of intention setting has been life changing for me.

I utilized the brain information from this module in a session with a 17-year old male client who is very logical and analytical. I explained to him the process of change in the brain, neuroplasticity, and power of ritual for lasting change. He was very inspired by these concepts. He had been struggling with lack of motivation in school. He was sometimes motivated when he would think about doing school work, but unmotivated when it came to actually doing the work. I explained to him that he is creating a new neural pathway (the motivated pathway), and that the old pathways of un-motivation can change/die with effort and time. He was much more hopeful once he heard this information.

Overall, I feel that the information from this module can help anyone in a coaching session, especially clients who are more logic/science oriented.

[Deanna]

Summary:

This module is so applicable to all of our lives right now. We have experienced a lot of loss over the last year of the pandemic, and we are continuing to experience loss (especially with the climate crisis). I think grief is a lot more prevalent in our society than we realize, and I think a big part of our societal healing is to recognize our grief and develop a better relationship with death. I am very inspired by how important this topic is for our societal healing. I look forward to learning more, and incorporating grief work into my practice and personal life.

[Deanna]

Summary:

I love Partswork and I think it is a powerful tool to use in sessions and In my own life. My biggest challenge is actually practicing Partswork on myself. Michael consistently says that the only way to use Partswork in our coaching practice is to use Partswork on ourselves regularly. I have not yet committed to a regular Partswork practice on myself. However, when I have done Partswork sessions on myself, it has mostly proven to be helpful. I have also struggled with Partswork by trying to practice it at random moments throughout my day (e.g. asking myself, “what part of me is speaking/feeling right now?”), but sometimes this creates too much mind chatter and I become overwhelmed or dissociated from my body. I realize Partswork is most useful when we consistently return and ground back into Soul. Otherwise, it can become chaotic. I really appreciate that EBI offers an embodied version of Partswork. I have tried other forms of Partswork, such as IFS, and it doesn’t work for me as well. I have taken the embodiment piece a step further and practiced dancing as different parts of myself (I have a daily dance practice). This has proven to be really fun and interesting!

[Deanna]

Summary Post:

I am inspired to learn more about trauma and body-centered coaching. I feel that I learned a lot from this module, and I also see that there is A LOT to learn before I can feel confident in working with major traumas.

My main takeaways from the Trauma module is the level of somatic awareness and resourcing that I can maintain throughout my day, as well as during sessions with clients. I realize the importance of maintaining somatic and self-awareness during sessions, in addition to tracking my clients. I don’t find this easy, so it’s something I need to continue practicing, and I realize I can practice it in all my relationships. My world is opened up to a greater awareness of the traumas in my body, and a greater understanding and confidence in being able to move and sequence the trauma. I am very grateful for this module!

[Deanna]

Hey James, I’m curious how your less directive approach to Partswork has worked for you. I find Partswork to be extremely confusing for clients unless they are clearly guided and/or very familiar with the practice already.

[Deanna]

Hey Gina, I have a friend and practice client (dual relationship) who is a list maker as well. She is also very analytically oriented, and doesn’t fully understand what it means to be in “soul”. I’ve done Partswork with her once, but it was challenging because she was unclear about what it felt like to be in “soul”. I wonder if your client is like this as well? I watched the Partswork 2 webinar, and I recall you talking about a client who is very logic-oriented and trouble connecting with soul. Curious if this is the list-maker client.

Your post reminds me of the importance of grounding our clients, especially those who have trouble connecting with soul. I also think that Partswork will not be effective (rather potentially confusing and overwhelming) if our clients don’t have a strong connection with soul.

[Deanna]

Hey Gina, I’m reading your post just now, so I realize it has been a while since you posted. But I just want to let you know that reading your post has been really helpful for me. I really appreciate what you wrote about the importance of establishing a map for a client before diving into consistent coaching sessions. I am really grateful that you have reminded me of the importance of establishing a map, a foundation. I feel that the NCC course offered us several maps, so it’s now up to us on what map we want to use, or to create our own. I would be curious to see what kind of map you use, as well as others in our cohort!

[Deanna]

Hi David, I am so incredibly impressed with your tracking of your client, as well as your ability to utilize the four shields model to provide a structure to her challenges and needs. I imagine that you offered a very comprehensive coaching plan to this client. What a gift! She is very lucky to be working with you!

[Deanna]

Hi lovely James, I agree with you on the importance of integration after a powerful peak or threshold experience. I feel really passionate about this. I have experienced many peak experiences in my life, but in the end, none of them really matter that much unless I put the work into incorporating them into my life. I don’t think our highly stimulating and easy-access society stresses the importance of that. I’m curious to talk with you about your ways for guiding clients (and yourself) through the integration and incorporation process of peak experiences. What works and what doesn’t. I know we went over this in our NCC course, but I’m interested to continue learning and exploring how to better guide incorporation.

[Deanna]

“Finally, I had her pick a third place to represent any potential options or routes she hadn’t considered yet. She had chosen a spot by the water, which she immediately identified as a space of flexibility that needed to lie between the two narratives. That was a light bulb moment for her, and a big part of it was realizing that she needed to be more aware of how these narratives were coming up in her life and affecting her in the day to day.”

Leslie, I absolutely LOVE how you related her external environment with her two different narratives, then a third environment with a new possibility. While reading about your client, I too felt stickiness in my body. But when you invited the third environment for new possibilities, I felt myself open. Brilliant idea!!!

“I decided to not have her wander but instead to do a sort of guided wander. I felt that at that point, her negative emotions had hijacked her and as a result she was not in a space to effectively wander on her own.” I think your decision to hold-off on the wander and instead guide her through exploring her narrative on the land was an excellent idea. I can tell that you were deeply listening to your client in this moment. I am also impressed with your flexibility to change the idea of the wander to a guided walk through the different narratives. Nice job at staying open and in the unknown as the guide!!!