Joshua Maze
Forum Replies Created
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Summary:
As I write this summary post, it is, in fact, my final summary and my final post for NCC certification, albeit 2 years after we first met each other. This has been a long time coming. Many tears were cried along the way and my emotional resolve was put to the test.So, what am I taking away? So much gratitude for each and every mentor, cohort member and guest instructor who came into my life throughout this journey. I am holding on to a deeper admiration for Mother Nature and all of her gifts.
I will honor the knowledge of wide-angle vision, deep listening, sit spots, parts work and all of the other lessons learned throughout our time together.What’s next for me? Only time will tell. My current pursuit will have me serving new families as they transition to parenthood. Though it is not specifically nature related, I will continue to use the skills learned as a coach, to be able to be present for my clients.
Lastly, this program has taught me the importance of maintaining your mental health. I will continue to fight for my emotional wellbeing and take with me the lessons learned through EBI as I better myself.
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Initial:
I am embarrassed and saddened to admit that I do not remember much of my first threshold experience. That is the consequence of writing this post 2 years after the initial coaching.If memory serves, my need was to be heard and understood. My mental health was at such a low point then. I remember being depressed and anxious and scared of the implications of not getting healthy. Why would anyone want to be coached by me when I am so clearly broken? I remember trudging through the Boulder snow, my first time seeing the mountains. There was something safe and sacred about the land. My coach allowed me to express myself and was there to listen to me. I was, however, feeling a little guilty for bringing such a weighted subject to a foundational session.
Though the memory of the words said have faded, the impact they had on me remains. No matter how I use my coaching skills, I want to be the person my coach was to me. I want to listen when needed, ask impactful questions when appropriate, and hold silent space when requested.
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SUMMARY:
As I read through everyone’s posts, (including my own), I wonder if I was too quick to draw a line in the sand and cast off ecopsychology. While I maintain that a coach and an eco-psychologist would serve different purposes, I can see the overlap in terms of shared ideals.
As Nature Connected Coaches, we understand the connection to the planet and the healing properties of being surrounded by the wind and the trees. We encourage our clients to establish a sit spot and practice wide angle vision. We invite others to listen to the language of the birds and find their animal tracks in the snow. We mourn the forest fires that ravage the land and grieve the effects global warming is having on our planet. These are all ideals held by both Nature Connected Coaches and Eco-psychologists.
For me, the difference is still the population that we serve. It seems to me that the coach serves the individual with the eco-psychologist strives to serve the world at large. I wonder how these worlds can truly become one.
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Initial Post:
After reading through the material, recalling the intensives, and examining my personal beliefs and philosophies, I am left with the conclusion that ecopsychology and coaching are two separate fields that must remain separate practices.
I found the readings to be highly academic and unrelatable to the lay person. I fear that the practice of ecopsychology as a therapeutic model would exclude many of the clients we as coaches are hoping to serve. And, to me, that is what coaching should be—service to others. We must meet our clients where they are and serve their present needs. The theory and practice of ecopsychology seems to be more of an academic discussion than a therapy.
Throughout the readings, the various authors seemed to suggest that traditional psychotherapies, medication therapies and other interpersonal approaches were less than ecotherapy, because they didn’t address some of the existential threats that befall humanity. We all have a love for nature—that’s why we are in the program. However, considering only the really big problems—global warming, deforestation, sea level rise—we will miss out on the opportunity to serve our clients who need guidance in setting goals and establishing healthy routines.
So, how does ecopsychology inform the type of coach I want to be? Truthfully, it doesn’t. I want to serve new families transitioning into parenthood. This academic model of seeing yourself as a member of the Earth is much larger an idea than my families will likely be ready to face. My clients, no matter how nature aware they are, will want to ensure their newborn’s health and happiness above all else.
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**Summary
As I was considering what to write for my summary, I was reminded of a client experience I had that I wanted to share.
While I do not have NCC clients, I am a volunteer with Postpartum Support International and recently had a dad that I spoke with at length, whose experience I think fits this module.
He is a recent father, experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, and intrusive thoughts. First, I simply held space for him to tell his story, without an agenda and without interruption. It was a story he needed to tell. After telling his story, his fears, and concerns about the thoughts he was having, I explained the neurology of his intrusive thoughts. His mind is essentially in overdrive, trying to protect him and his family by showing him every possible danger. I helped bring him to a place of calm and understanding and reminded him that these thoughts are not based in reality. By the end of the conversation, we were joking about 2020, telling stories about our kids and generally just chatting. After our conversation, I emailed him resources on services provided by PSI and articles reminding him that these thoughts are common and he’s not “crazy”.
I share this because to me, it shows the importance of simply holding space for your client. I had very little background on his story going into the conversation and no idea if he posed a legitimate risk to himself or his family. If I had gone into the conversation with assumptions, I wouldn’t have been able to serve him fully.
That’s the importance of these modules. We must hold that space for our clients and those we support.
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**David
I love that this session was unplanned. It’s so important to hold space for our clients and be able to attune to their needs. Well done for recognizing when the conversation shifted, and you were able to move into the coaching role.
I think it was good that you reminded he that you aren’t there to work on her husband and helped her refocus on herself and her process. It sounds like you were successful in shifting her focus, by asking her what role her partner plays in her vision. What a powerful and thought-provoking question!
It sounds like providing her with the stages of change helped to bring things into perspective for her. It’s good that you were able to share that with her to help her define her purpose and intention.
It’s amazing the impact being in nature can have on helping us to refocus on what is most important. It sounds like that experience brought a sense of clarity to her life and her intention. It’s good that you were able to plan the hike in such detail. You were able to help guide her experience without being there beside her.
It sounds like you were able to provide good insight and resources for her as she moves through threshold. Good work!
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**Gina
I love the observations made by you and your client. Tackling a topic as big as God and spirituality is quite an undertaking, but it seems that you navigated it well. I like that despite the potential enormity of the subject, it was able to be parsed down to something more manageable, feelings of judgement from her husband.
Having your client reflect on what emotions she was feeling and where in her body she is feeling them helps to ground the experience. It allows the client to really feel their feelings.
It’s encouraging that her husband found the video and recognized some negative aspects of himself—and was able to apologize to his wife. What a big step in their relationship! I wonder, were you able to help facilitate any communication between them? If not, I wonder if the husband would also benefit from your coaching presence.
I love that nature was able to be incorporated into your client’s experience. The metaphor of the old branch with new growth on it speaks volumes to her experience.
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**Initial
I will admit that Brain and Change 1 and 2 have been hard for me to comprehend. I struggle to connect the parts of the brain and the chemical reactions to genuine personal interconnectedness. That being said, some of the metaphors used helped me to understand it a little better.
I do not have a client, so I will reflect on my personal experiences.
While meeting with my practice coach, I reflected a lot on a common narrative that I have had on a loop for quite some time. A decision that was made that cannot be undone. Though all parties involved have come to a place of resolve and understanding, it still deeply affects me.
I am reminded of the analogy of the canyon, with water rushing to carve out the walls. The negative loop that I am in is water forming a path in my mind—activating those neural pathways. I need to figure out a way to create a new narrative, a new canyon.
I am beginning to incorporate ritual into my daily routine, to solidify those new pathways, but I wonder if it is enough. Because, I notice the water still flowing toward the old canyon, even if at a slower rate.
As I read through everyone’s posts, watch the video and reread the handouts, hopefully I will gain insight and further develop healthy habits.
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**Summary
As I read through everyone’s posts and am reminded of the various paths grief can take, I am experiencing some grief myself. Grief for an end to an experience. Grief for friendships that will surely fade and grief for a loss of a respite from the daily grind. You see, I am finishing up my last posts for my NCC certificate. This has been a long time coming. And it’s a chapter closed in my life.
It is appropriate that grief is the last intensive because the tools learned help me to process the feelings I have.
How grateful I am to have finished the program with a cohort that welcomed me as one of their own. I appreciate you.
My message to you all, keep coaching and keep reaching people. Keep having important conversations with family, keep holding space for strangers, and keep exploring deep feeling within yourself.
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**Gina
First, I want to commend you for taking the time to talk to the man at the dog park. For myself, I know that I would not have engaged him the way that you did. Between it being a stranger, and his frustrations with the government and institutions, I would find it uncomfortable to carry on any lengthy conversation. It’s interesting that that is my gut reaction, when coaching is such an act of service. Perhaps something to explore within myself.
As so many of us have recognized, grief comes in many forms. Through his frustrations and pandemic fatigue, this gentleman seems to be experiencing grief for what used to be—grief for his friend’s restaurant, grief for his son, grief for the population at large whose lives are being affected by the virus. The question is, how do we properly address a grief that seems so big and out of our hands. And a grief that affects us as coaches, as well as the client?
You are correct, sometimes simply holding space is what the client needs. Sometimes the client just needs to be heard and validated. It sounds like you provided this to this man. Even though this was just a chance meeting, you provided that caring ear. That shows your true character. Well done!
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**David
Such great insights here! While you are correct that it would be difficult to coach a family member, I commend you for being able to momentarily detach yourself from that role and even be able to recognize what your mom needs and is experiencing. Sometimes, it is difficult to take a step back and fully listen and feel what a loved one is expressing. Well done!
As I read this, I can tell the level of love and care your mom had for her former client. What a sacrifice to be able to care for her the way she did, tirelessly and without question. It is rare to see such service, unfortunately. And the toll it must have taken, having a dear friend not remember you.
This is a very good reminder that not all grief is mourning a death, but also mourning a loss of a relationship and a loss of one’s identity. Grief takes on so many different faces and can affect us in so many different ways.
I think recommending a minimum of 3 sessions with the client is a good idea. When dealing with grief, I think a long-term coaching relationship is best. There are so many avenues to take and so much that might come up has the client navigates the stages of grief.
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Ben:
Though I admittedly cannot remember my experience as a coach for the first threshold experience. I can, however, relate to you wanting to ensure that you asked the right questions. Frequently, I would need to pause and collect myself as I tried to have the session be impactful for the client.
I love how you mention that the sessions are co-guided. Both the coach and the client play an integral role in the coaching relationship. It is not the coach’s responsibility to do the work or give advice. And it is not the client’s role to hold back for fear of being too difficult for the coach. But, when you each work together in the session and are equal participants, the session will be more successful.
You are right, when we are able to slow down and allow the experience of being out in nature to help guide us and the client, the session seems to flow more smoothly. Trusting your gut and trusting nature can go a long way.
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Sandy:
I always love the opportunity to read your posts. You bring such insight and wisdom to the group and I am glad to have been able to experience EBI with you.What an experience it must have been to be able to fully sink into the threshold and allow yourself to hear nature speak to you.
I am reminded how privileged we were to be able to experience our thresholds in the mountains. This was an entirely new environment for me and being there and being able to watch the seasons change was awe inspiring. How fortunate you are to live in such an area where you can interact with Mother Nature and learn from her in such an intimate way.
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Ben,
I totally feel this. For me, Ecopsychology seems so vast, trying to tackle such big issues, it is almost unattainable. Although, yes, the issues our clients hope to work through may also feel insurmountable, even if they are “small” problems.I wonder how we as nature connected coaches can fully embrace the concept of ecopsychology when our clients are typically looking for guidance on more personal concerns—goal setting, confidence building, establishing routines. Or, to the opposite of that, how would we serve a client who feels lost and is grieving the destruction of the planet. This seems like such a meta concept that we might not be able to provide what the client is seeking.
For me, my focus will be on the interpersonal conflicts and concerns that arise in new parents. It will be interesting to see how ecopsychology and nature connectedness fall into this goal.
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Kevin,
Contrary to my initial post, I do agree with you that the two concepts are intertwined (sort of). My experience through EBI, going up to the Starhouse and exploring the land did bring me closer to nature. Establishing my sit spot was therapeutic. And, I’ll never forget trudging through the snow, looking for my deer. All of those experiences brought me closer to nature. However, where we diverge is that it brought me closer to my own journey. Those experiences helped clarify what is important to me. I felt a part of a community within the cohort, but not necessarily closer to Mother Earth. This is where I think NCC and ecotherapy separate. For me, coaching is about joining of inter- and intrapersonal goals, while ecopsychology seems to be about one’s relationship to the Earth as a whole and the ramifications of our relationship with this planet. These issues, while broadly important, are much larger issues than can be addressed in a coaching relationship.