Kevin Nichols
Forum Replies Created
-
When thinking about guiding through grief, the first thing that comes to mind is coaching presence. When seeing someone suffer in grief, my instinct probably like many people, is to fix or relieve their suffering somehow. I have had to learn to deal with my own response to a client’s grief and show up from a soul directed deep listening place. Creating a safe space and listening to my client vs directing or fixing has been the most important piece I’ve learned. Also I’ve found finding the balance between letting a client grieve and process and bringing them back to the present moment and intention can be tricky. When is the right time to change direction of the session to focusing on staying true to vision and how to move forward? How long does each client need to process and experience before they are ready to bring focus back to their vision or goals? This comes back to deep listening, every client is different and processes differently. I often find myself having to focus on keeping my heart open and repressing my instinct to fix, simply to create the right environment for my client to experience and process. I still have a lot to learn in regards to working with grief and am accepting that each client and session will be different, and bring my focus to being present for my client.
I had an experience a few years ago where someone close to me had lost their mother in a very traumatic way. I so desperately wanted to take their pain away but through experience learned that the best thing I could do is simply show up and keep an open heart for them. This was reiterated after going through the guiding through grief intensive. This is a very important aspect I bring into my coaching practice and personal life when showing up for others. -
Brain and Change 2. When a client is trying the change their brain and establish a new story for themselves, I’ve come to understand how important it is finding the true deeper need and creating a goal from that place of understanding. If the goal is not coming from a genuine place it seems to dissolve quickly. Changing the brain is hard and takes lots of perseverance and dedication. This makes it very easy to slip into old pathways when faced with the challenging part a client is trying to change. Having a clear and concrete goal, from a soul directed place, is proving to be extremely important. I kind of view it as a life line for their vision or direction of transformation. It’s something I as the coach and the client can routinely shift back to, use it as an anchor source. Without this direction to latch on to, changing the brain can seem aimless and difficult to stay consistent and connected with. After learning about the biology and psychology when faced with brain change, I’ve learned how to use this information as a tracking tool. For example when a client is faced with a challenging decision associated with their vision, it has helped me track whether a client is shifting into old story and behavior vs thinking from a soul directed place or thinking from the prefrontal cortex. I have also been contemplating when or if it is viable to teach clients about the biology behind brain change. A client could take this information and run with it, knowing that there will be set back because of pathways in the brain and learn to accept this and continue getting back on the horse. I also fear certain clients knowing they are changing their biology may be a daunting task and have an opposite effect. Either way this tool box module is one I have learned a lot from, for my own personal transformation as well as incorporating it into my coaching practice.
-
When working with trauma I have found that coaching presence and creating a safe space is one of the most important pieces. Working with a client that feels safe can really allow them to process without the worry of judgement. I find there are certain parts of me that want to “fix” the situation or change it because of my own internal process when faced with a client in trauma. I constantly need to check in with myself and make sure I’m not bringing my own process into my clients experience. Allowing a client to move through and experience trauma, while holding a space for it has proven to be fairly challenging for me as a coach. Practicing deep listening and staying focused on holding space for my client are two of the important tools I use in these types of sessions. I find that I need to take breathes sit back and let my client guide the direction of the session while keeping a watchful eye on whether the trauma being experienced is productive or detrimental.
-
Partswork has been one of my favorite sections. Jumping right in I found that using nature blends very well when working with the parts of a client. We had the opportunity to go out on the land and use the environment to help symbolize my clients parts. Using physical objects in nature allowed for my client to really step into each of his parts and speak from that place. At first this seemed to be a bit of a struggle, having never done partswork before I could tell speaking from each individual part was a little uncomfortable and cumbersome. After using nature to guide the experience it made it easier for my client to embody each part and speak truly without other parts interrupting. This whole process seem to bring a clarity to my client that may not have been accessible before the exercise. Going back to the interview process. Even getting to know each part during the interview seemed to bring more understanding and direction with the decision my client was facing. I plan to use parts work in my practice on a regular basis, especially when it comes to internal conflict or facing big decisions. It continually surprises me how powerful partsowrk can be at unraveling the mind and making things simple, clear and direct. I find with in myself that when thoughts seem conflicting or confusing partswork is the best method to create clear thoughts and understanding regarding decisions or confusion.
-
During the long term coaching intensive, I had the chance to work with someone facing a big career and life changing decision. This allowed for a very beneficial learning experience for me as a coach. When focusing on the long term plan for my practice client, we took time to articulate long term goals along with the vision behind them. After establishing this in a “repeatable” way, my client was able to use it as an anchor for there long term process. One of the exercises I appreciated in regards to milestones and goal, was where we each made a list of these then came back together. We expanded on these and made them a concrete list of goals. Next we used the process of ceremony and the wheel (North, South, East, West). Looking at my practice clients long term plan we determined the specific actions that involve each transition from one direction to the next. Then determined sign of each transition happening as small steps or milestone, as well as any roadblocks that might come up and how to manage those. After determining where my client was in the vision and process, we determined what sort of rituals could be held in place to solidify these transitions into happening. We also focused on the internal shifts that might happen for my client as there goals are met and what that meant for them.
I definitely learned a lot about my own coaching skills when it comes to long term coaching. I tend to be good at helping my client discover vision and direction when it came to planning. I noticed that I started creating my own plan for my client and felt slight resistance when they didn’t agree with that path. This experience taught me that no matter what I offer for my client listening to their direction and letting them lead the direction of their process. It also made me understand how important establishing this long term plan with a client really is, staying grounded in vision and direction, as well as reference point to really solidify my client progress and achievements in their process.
-
Using the stages of change can be very beneficial in tracking clients. When meeting with a client especially a new client, analyzing where the client is in the process of change can be a helpful in how to approach the session and moving towards the clients goals in future sessions. When working with clients I have witnessed total body language change, choice of words and apparent intention whether the client is in pre-contemplation, contemplation planning, action, or maintenance.
The next valuable piece of change theory for me is neuroplasticity. I think this can be both beneficial for me as a coach to know when working on brain change with a client as well as the client knowing themselves. Having the knowledge around this piece can really help show where a client is in the physical process of changing the brain. I believe it is valuable information to relay to the client when they are struggling with change or just going through it. Simply knowing what is happening inside the brain may help clients stay committed to the process as well as understand that it is normal to have resistance to change due to the way our brains work. Also along that same train of thought the “high road” comes up. Helping client continuously take the high road and keep them strengthening the new pathways in the brain seems like a very significant part in clients solidifying the changes they intend to make. Using some of the tracking skills and knowledge can help me determine when a client is slipping in to a limbic response/experience or if they are conscious and aware of where they are within the brain. With this awareness you can determine what direction a session may need to go and if the client is still connected to their process of change.
Our brains are nature, they shift with the experience and the environment just like any part of nature does. Bringing in nature can help bring awareness and understanding for clients during their process with change. Nature can also create powerful threshold experiences that may provoke change or understanding to move towards. I intend to incorporate these aspects and theories of change into my coaching practice with every client. Most every client wants to change something about themselves if they are seeking coaching. Using this fairly cut and dry understanding of how this process works may be beneficial for a client to understand and grasp the process they are going through. On the other hand it may just be something I hold internally to track clients in there process of change. Either way it will create awareness around where any client may be in their process of change and potentially the next steps to take. -
While working with my client parts work came into the session when analyzing a big decision/step in my clients life. Working parts with my client really showed my how valuable parts work can be, especially when looking at big decisions or any internal conflict. During the session we incorporated nature with the “empty seat” exercise. Using trees rocks and whatever else the client felt was necessary. Using physical things in nature seemed to really break down the scenario, pulled it out of the clients head and became more clear. At first I was having slight difficulty in facilitating this exercise. I didn’t know how directive or passive in the process I should be. I found that once in the exercise taking more of a directive role in helping the experiment play out had more effective results. I learn that I have some hesitation in letting go and letting nature do its thing. I believe I need to open up space for my clients to explore and mirror with nature more. When thinking about coaching in the future, I will be using parts work fairly often. I think it is a very beneficial tool when clients are facing internal conflict or confusion, as well as facing big decisions. I think parts work could enhance coaching presence simply by knowing my clients better after working with them/their mandala, as well as using this tool to help create awareness for clients.
-
Finding my Ideal client. Coming into this EBI program I had a general idea of who I wanted to be working with. On the video call it was said that your ideal client can be a “version of yourself” This is really where that stemmed from for me. I have a past with addiction and other situations that I’ve had to overcome. When picturing my ideal client I knew I knew I wanted to work with addicts as well as the younger generation, specifically those that may be lost or having difficulty over coming certain tasks in life related to their vision. I think we all pull aspects from ourselves and past to help us find where our gifts will be best utilized. The material we have covered can benefit almost anyone, but after this module and the video call I really am centering in more on the specific client I think I can service the best. With that in mind I still push myself to keep a wide scope on the possibilities of who I can service and help. I don’t want to close the door on anyone that can benefit for nature connected coaching.To summarize keeping an open mind on potential clients is important to me as well as drawing from my personal past to understand who I can service the most. This module has been great for laying out the basics in the direction and the marketing I plan on doing as a coach.
-
Hi everyone,
Im from littleton colorado. I loved learning about parts work, Im excited to get to know you all and learn more!
Kevin -
When contemplating coaching and guiding clients my mind turn to helping teenagers and young adults. I also think of people with addictions. I have a desire to influence young men and women’s live at a relatively young age with the intention of really allowing for personal growth and change at an earlier stage in life. This excites me because of the potential outcome and possibilities to work with those trying to grow and understand the world around them, I think its one of the most important times in our lives when we need guidance. I also get excited about working with addicts simply because I personally have experienced how painful and life altering addiction can be. To think I could help shift or change that in another’s life would be fulfilling.
I often think about working in a wilderness therapy program. It seems to be a place I can find my target clients as well as the ability to readily incorporate nature. Having gone through one of these programs my self a decade ago, I really started to experience the power of just being in nature and working on my self. It is a large part of why I started with EBI in the first place and plan to return with my career in mind. -
Being in threshold really showed me its importance and power of this part in the process of ceremony. It showed me it can open up opportunity for doing something differently/stepping out of my story. Threshold it a necessary part to go through and experience, it can create new path ways of thinking and experiencing.
Using nature in my threshold process taught me about the unlimited possibilities the nature has to offer. I can incorporate nature into threshold during my coaching by using all the different experiments and experiences that we have learned to guide a client into new awareness or any threshold experience they need that nature offers.
To reach that “place” as a coach I often find myself having to slowdown and focus on the experience my client is having. This allows the session to be client directed and centered around the miles stones and experience.
-
Gestalt seems to be a skill/understanding that will be incorporated into my coaching on a situational basis. I don’t intend to use it during every session. When something that needs further processing comes up gestalt may be incorporated/injected into the session. I think it could be used for anything that comes up from the client that halts or interrupts the session.
Gestalt can be a very powerful and emotion experience for anyone during a session. I intend to use nature to help guide the processing through gestalt. Using nature as a tool or even a grounding technique can be very safe and important when going through an experience that requires gestalt work.
I find when things tend to move in an intense direction while working with gestalt, there is a part of me that wants to jump ship. Staying present and client focused was at times challenging for me. I had to adapt and be present with my own process but put it on the back burner and hold it for later so I could be completely present and engage in active listening and guiding for my client.
I learned how to work with this type of session and how it affects me and my process during a session. Being aware of what comes up for me whether it be related to my client process or just my own process of being uncomfortable during a session, is very important to me. It shows me how grounded and centered I need to be before and during sessions for my clients, anything can come up and affect me as a coach in many different ways. I need to not only be prepared but understand how to handle these situations when they come up. Focusing on active listening and referring back to/relying on the sacred questions are two valuable assets I have and can use in these situations. Past my own process I’ve learned to trust the process and ceremony of coaching and keep that in mind when my client is processing something, knowing its not my process but theirs.
After practicing gestalt, I believe it does enhance my coaching presence. Not only am I better equipped to handle situations and help my clients process during any session, but just knowing I have these skills creates more confidence and safety for my client. Situations that may seem hairy or scary to approach with a client now feel more secure and approachable, this expands my ability to better serve any situation a client may bring.
Nature connected coaching may bring intense and powerful experiences to clients, some of these may need processing and attention. This is where I will have an opportunity to bring gestalt in and help guide my client through an experience while holding the larger presence and goal in mind. -
One of the Concepts I really appreciated about this intensive is becoming aware of baseline. To really achieve this awareness, I needed to be tapped into not only the nature around me but also tapped into the nature within me. Really allowing space and connecting to my heart in turn allowed me to become more aware of the subtleties in the environment outside myself. Through this place of openness and awareness nature seemed to seep deeper into my body and mind, and allowed for a more visceral experience. Whether that be enjoyable or challenging, it showed me the power of simply finding my internal and external baseline and letting nature do its work. This wonderful experience directly transitions into coaching. In the same manner of tapping into my own baseline to understand what I’m bringing to the table for my client, as well as simply being aware of what is happening in regards to my baseline so I can fully show up for each and every client. Just as important, if not more important, using the same awareness as tapping into natures baseline, reading and following my client’s baseline. Through practice I’ve seen the baseline shifts can really determine the path each session takes. Staying aware of this has allowed for sessions to be client led, allowing their experience/baseline to guide the sessions instead of being too focused on individual words being spoken.
-
Eco psychology and coaching seem to be deeply intertwined. Being a nature connected coach is really about marrying the two concepts, allowing the client to experience and benefit from the healing qualities of being connected with nature. Coaching on its own can be powerful and healing, when in collaboration with nature, the natural rhythms of nature can impact someone on a deeper level. My personal connection with nature as drastically increased over the foundation 2 intensive, allowing me to peer deeper into the value of combining nature with coaching. Nature on its own it a powerful healer. Simply spending 20-30 minutes at a “sit spot” creates a space that nature can guide in many ways. Whether that be calming, create more awareness, invite love, or be challenging etc. It seems to create this space and allow for whatever is needed by me or anyone choosing to spend time in nature. Thinking about Using this powerful experience/tool during my coaching practice brings about excitement, knowing nature is something I can always depend on. I have wonderful internal shifts by simply “being” in nature without any other intervention. In combination with coaching, the possibilities for future clients and myself creates this excitement for me.
-
Hello Cohort,
When thinking about nature connection it really brings up my relationship to my surroundings. Wether that be to the Earth, inside a building, or the people around me. We are all constantly interacting with nature, consciously or unconsciously. Many of the exercises and experiences with nature during foundation one really showed my how my awareness and relationship with nature can change my experience and outcome entirely. Contemplating on working with clients with this connection with nature brings up a few things.
First, my own connection to nature and the baseline I bring to any session. Keeping a consistent relationship with nature allows me to be aware of the presence I bring to a session with a client and how it may or may not influence the client. It feels that it is at the base and start for preparing for any session or situation in life in general.
In regards to the client, nature is proving to be instrumental in the healing and transformation process. Its shown me that it can set the “tone” for the session and allow the client to enter into a space that promotes openness, awareness and a deeper connection into one’s self/soul.
I know for myself, my connection with nature needs to be present before I can guide a client into theirs. after that Let nature do the work.
