I find it ironic that I procrastinated returning to the Gestalt toolbox until my very last assignment, and yet, in reviewing the content I recognize the myriad of ways not only that many of my instincts as a coach could be described in gestalt terms, but also how its interwoven with all the rest of our toolboxes. It seems I, myself, needed more…

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Hi Josh! You and me both, when it comes to wrapping my mind around Gestalt…the thought that kept popping into my head during that intensive when we were sent off to practice was, “But what are we practicing?!” In hindsight, I can see how that was my own reaction to a recurring introject that presents when I’m not understanding something.

Anyway,…

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Cece~ thank you for the reminder of all the ways that Gestalt is present in what we’ve learned this year….it’s ok if I don’t yet fully understand what the “Gestalt process” means or am not able to clearly and quickly identify the cycle of experience and where a client is in it. I’m in my own process of learning, and there is much about guiding a…

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Wow, John – thank you for this thorough and thoughtful post. I literally took notes on what you wrote! I stepped away from Gestalt study for many months, as I didn’t understand it during the intensive, and my Learner part avoids topics that she is anxious she wont understand. Your post not only helped ease me back into Gestalt, it also highlighted…

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F2 Summary Post

In reflecting on the rich discussion in this module and how it connects with the ceremony and severance focus of the in-person portion of Fondation 2, I notice something that is very important to me: I believe deeply in the criticality of regenerating human’s relationship with the natural world. And I see nature-connected coaching a…

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Summary Post

In reviewing my notes from Foundations 4 in Gunnison, I’m recognizing this portion of the Coaching Ceremony is an area I would like to grow stronger in. Sure, I can guide a client through the SMART goals process at the end of the session. But the art and science of facilitating an experience with high threshold energy that fuels c…

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Ah, Lindsay! This sounds so you. I see how you are weaving your unique passions, experiences and skillsets into the ceremony of nature-connected coaching. It is so exciting and inspiring to hear how this is unfolding for each individual, as I get to know each of you better, and see the ways it aligns with who you are at your core. What a…

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Hi Hannah,

I appreciate how you’re imagining the ways you could weave together the various skillsets you have to offer. I foresee some powerful offerings in the way of packages that support youth holistically in their transition to adulthood! In reading your post, it also made me think of this organization you might be curious…

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Thanks for sharing your journey and thought process here, Joy! I love that you’re leaning into this pull toward the freedom & travel coaching niche – particularly because I could see clients coming to you because you’ve experienced and created this for yourself. You have a unique set of offerings and experiences to guide your work, and this will…

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Thank you, Hannah! I definitely feel some parallels in our interests with coaching 🙂 And I’d love to hear more about your experience and noticings with co-housing sometime!

Thank you, Lindsay! It is affirming to hear that you notice the throughlines, as I still feel a bit all over the place with this…I’m trying to just trust the feeling of vision and that how it all fits together will reveal itself along the way. I’m excited to learn more about your journey with this too!

Joy – thanks for pointing that out! Challenging my competing commitments/mindset, how coach-y of you. 😉 I’ll reflect on this more, thank you…

Foundations 3 Summary Post

I read back through what everyone wrote on here, as well as my notes from Foundations and the succession of webinars following our in-person Foundations, and wrote down all the nuggets that stood out to me. I’m going to try to incorporate them all here, so you may “hear” some of your own words and wisdom here – thank…

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Its been a struggle for me so far to really drop into a dreamy imagining of ideal client. I pop back up into my practical, analytical mind often, where that part of me (parts are truly everywhere now!) is quick to analyze what is “feasible,” which potential clients actually have money for coaching, and what is the most impactful.

This is me exp…

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I totally agree, John – it feels as if the most important part of our role in this collaborative journey is building a relationship with the client and facilitating a space in which they can drop out of their head, into their heart, and move through nature with a mindset open to her wisdom. And while I’m getting more comfortable doing this with…

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Hi Hannah ~

Thank you for sharing. 🙂 Something that stood out to me about your post, and then kept coming up for me as I was writing and reflecting on this prompt, is the importance of each of our own continued development. Striving to re-attune to our intuition so as to be able to guide a client closer to their own. Deepening comfort with the…

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This prompt is encouraging me to think of Threshold in an expansive way: not just the threshold experience we create for clients within the container of the coaching ceremony, but rather the layers of experiences that gift us the opportunity to taste how we want to be in the world. In this way, Foundations and the recent Toolbox Intensive are both…

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The Ecopsychology articles touched upon they very key reasons I am drawn to nature-connected coaching: A deep respect for the animist worldviews of traditional cultures that know how to live in right relationship with the earth, and a desire to learn from those cultures; A belief in the interconnected nature of human and earth wellbeing; A craving…

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Hi Lindsay,

While I was reading the last article tonight (the Ecopsychology Principles one), I found myself trying to imagine in my mind’s eye that I was a “traditional” therapist sneakily trying to weave in nature connected practices that would awake the “eco conscious” in a client otherwise disconnected and unaware of their disconnect. And then I…

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Hi John,

Thank you for your accountability in getting this discussion post started on time! Many of the quotes you highlighted are the lines that struck me as well. I’ve particularly been reflecting on the commentary in the article regarding environmentalists who “seek to rescue the planet…” Does she really need rescued? I often think that if…

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I’ve been putting off writing a “Summary” for Foundations 1 because my logical brain was grappling with which content falls under the category of Foundations 1. It was trying to filter by chapter and by day and by pages of notes in the Handbook.

Excuses. I’m avoiding something.

As Toni pointed out so eloquently, “nothing stands alone.” Part of my…

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Hi Toni,

Thank you for sharing vulnerably about your father. I hope that he is healing well.

I appreciate your connection between your family and the interconnected weave of roots below. This past week or so in my sit spot, I’ve been struck numerous times by the notion of trees rising up out of the earth as a messenger and the ways they intertwine…

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I found myself saying YES at the end of each of your paragraphs! 😉 What you described regarding the “busy & tired” culture and the repercussions of a society that operate from a place of Doing instead of Being are exactly why I am taking steps to change my way of living. Being back in the US just three years, this past year helped me recognize…

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Hi John,

What a beautiful memory, thank you for sharing. It sounds like in its own way, that moment with the rising sun was a threshold experience. How powerful to think that a threshold type experience of a young boy can persist into adulthood! I find this really inspiring when I envision working with youth. What you wrote regarding the “lost it…

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Hi Hannah!

Thank you for sharing your beautiful connections. I appreciate you pointing out the “being” vs. “doing” state – this is huge for me, as someone who has learned to operate from a very mental state of doing, nature is what helps me drop back in to…me. “We are made of earth, from the elements. Earth is like a mother.” I completely agree…

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Nature connection is what led me back to my Sit Spot the second time. First I had to pee, I wanted to get there fast, and my brain tried to analyze where it was located based on that Aspen or this fallen branch. It was not until I slowed down and tuned in to my center and to the forest around me, that I walked straight there.

Nature connection is…

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Thanks so much, Amy! So happy to see you joined the NCC course! I would love a ride as well, thank you. I’ll coordinate @lindsayforsythe and @cecilebonnet on arriving in Boulder on the 25th so that we can meet you early the morning of the 26th. Woo hoo! It is almost here! SO looking forward to this journey with all of you.

Hi Joy! You’re vision is really inspiring – I look forward to learning more. 🙂

Thank you for the potential ride offer! There are three of us who have been communicating about renting a car together in Denver on the 25th, so please do just let us know once your plans are established! Thanks so much.

Hi again everyone!

Also wanted to throw a wondering out there to the whole group ~ wondering if anyone who is more local and will be driving to Gunnison might have room in their car for those of us flying in? It would be great to be able to avoid paying for a rental car all the days that we are camping. 😉 Just thought I’d put the idea out into…

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Yes! Gunnison! Thanks 🙂 I was originally thinking just as far as Boulder on the 25th with the caravan planned, but it sounds like now were meeting up in Gunnison so we might as well head there! I will e-mail you and @cecilebonnet this weekend, and anyone else who wants to join the flying-into-Denver crew!

@lindsayforsythe Hi Lindsay! I’ll send you a private message and let’s start to coordinate! If anyone else would like to join a rideshare type situation from Denver to Boulder on the 25th, please reach out 🙂 Thanks!

Hello everyone! My name is Sara. I live in the beautiful PNW and am eager to kick off this journey with all of you in June. I’ve had my eye on this program for a number of years, and after engaging with a couple of shorter EBI courses as well as working with a coach currently in the NCC program, I cultivated the courage to make it happen. I…

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