This week’s blog has been written by Pam Lidford, one of our expert trainers, and a specialist in the field of Holistic Coaching. If you’re interested in adding a new tool to your coaching toolkit that will help you to support your clients even further, read on!
When people ask me, “What is Holistic Coaching?”
I like to ask them what it means to them, and often the reply is: “Working with the whole person.”
Which is a great answer, and how I work. Holistic coaching is a mind, body and energy approach whereby we pay attention to all the parts a client presents in a session.
In both personal and professional coaching, you’ll often be working with a client’s conscious mind dealing with 'tangible’ goals. However, your clients bring all of themselves to every session; their emotions, their past, their unconscious assumptions, decisions, opinions and their ‘stories’ - all of which impact their goals. Because of this, it is helpful to be aware of different approaches that can be used in a coaching session and have a varied toolbox so you can work with who your client is and the change they are looking for.
At its essence, holistic coaching is a transformative journey that respects and integrates every aspect of a person's being. It understands that our conscious desires can often clash with subconscious fears, creating internal conflicts that hinder personal and professional growth.
As a holistic coach, you hold the key to unravelling these complexities, guiding your clients toward profound self-discovery, empowerment, and lasting change.
Holistic coaching can be applicable in various situations, offering invaluable insights and support in various scenarios:
Personal Growth: Holistic coaching empowers individuals to overcome limiting beliefs, embrace their true potential, and achieve personal goals that align with their authentic selves.
Career Advancement: For professionals seeking career transitions or personal development within their current roles, holistic coaching provides a pathway to align their passions and skills, fostering a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
Relationships: By understanding their own emotions and fears, individuals can navigate relationships with clarity and empathy. Holistic coaching helps in building stronger, more meaningful connections with others.
Health and Wellness: Holistic coaching aids in creating a harmonious balance between physical, mental, and emotional well-being, fostering healthier lifestyle choices and overall vitality.
Now that we understand the impact of holistic coaching, here’s my top tips for holistic coaching that will elevate your coaching sessions:
Ensure you work with your client respecting all parts (hidden and visible) that they bring to the session.
Gain an understanding that what the head says it wants the heart might not agree with and there is potential for the client to sabotage themselves.
Be aware that the goal the client consciously sets, may have inner and outer parts that don't want them to achieve it because of an unconscious fear that it's not safe have it.
Be aware of your emotions and energy states prior to and during a session, notice how they intertwine with your clients and the impact they can have on their outcome.
Incorporating these strategies into your coaching practice will not only enhance your skills but also enrich the lives of those you coach. Holistic coaching is not just a methodology; it's a profound philosophy that recognises the infinite potential within every individual.
Embrace this transformative approach, and together, let's unlock the doors to self-discovery, empowerment, and enduring change.
If you’d like to explore holistic coaching for yourself, join our expert trainer, Pam Lidford, for our upcoming Niche Coaching Workshop: Holistic Coaching. In this workshop, Pam will show you how to work holistically, you will gain first-hand awareness of the impact your emotions and energy states have on the outcome of your goals and why you sometimes fail to achieve them. But hurry, there’s only a few spaces left for our next workshop on 28 October!
Pam Lidford is a Coaching Academy Trainer, Coach and Communication Facilitator. She loves working with people who want to change the way they see their life and inner world. She particularly enjoys working with belief systems and values, both of which are the driving force behind choices, motivation and taking action. She has extensive experience in both private and public sectors in-house as well as freelance in the role of coach/trainer/consultant and tutor. She has trained thousands of people in personal development and many go on to becoming professional coaches. Additionally, Pam coaches, mentors, and supervises coaches on a regular basis.
The Coaching Academy was established in 1999, and is now the world's largest coaching school.
In that time we have trained over 14,000 people to become life coaches.
We are accredited by the International Coach Federation and the Association for Coaching, and we're rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
