172: The Wonder of Whole Person Coaching

Ashley Howard, CEO and founder of Forever Young People, joins our host Maisie Barlow, to share his passion for youth work. Ashley recounts his challenging youth, including time in a family refuge, and how mentorship helped him find his passion for working with young people which led to the founding of Forever Young People in 2019, and its evolution and growth since.

Ashley discusses the importance of emotional intelligence, personal growth, and community support. He shares his initiatives for alternative education, youth work, and community groups, including a mum-and-baby group. Discover the importance of authenticity and sensitivity and other practical tips for working with young people. This conversation highlights Ashley's dedication to empowering young people and his inspiring journey of personal and professional development.

You will learn:

·       The challenges and rewards of mentoring and supporting young people

·       The significance of equipping young people with practical life skills

·       The importance of consistency and understanding the individual needs of young people

"People need money to live, 100%, but people need support to live. You need those things put in place for you to feel and have that desire to kind of want to push yourself, want to live that life, chase your purpose."

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_coaching-future-generations-podcast-series-support-young-people

Simone Ujah, youth worker, coach and podcaster, joins our host Maisie Barlow, for the first powerful episode of this series. Simone shares her coaching journey that helped her develop a core sense of self and allows her to work with young people with deep authenticity and honesty.

Simone reflects on the challenges of addressing cultural differences and racism, drawing from personal stories, including her children's experiences with racial incidents at school and the gaslighting she subsequently received. Simone talks about the need for conversations and education around unconscious bias and equality, sharing how world events led her to start her Re-education podcast during lockdown. Simone discusses how culturally, respecting each person as an individual experience is key and we need to empower young people rather than support a victim mindset.

You will learn:

·       The importance of authenticity and honesty when working with young people

·       The importance of putting young people at the centre of conversations and providing space for exploration and troubleshooting

·       The challenges of guiding (not preaching!) young people, with the need to respect their space and earn their respect

“How and when do we tell our children that they're going to experience some form of racism, whether it's in the workplace, in school? How do I equip my children with the awareness that not all people are like this from any background? But some people have this perception that you are beneath them, and they will do whatever's in their power to continue to make you feel like you are beneath them… And that is not the truth. You’re not.”

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_coaching-future-generations-podcast-series-youth-culture-racism

Anthony Eldridge-Rogers, coach, supervisor, trainer and organizational consultant in human wellbeing and coaching, joins our host, Maxine Bell, for a deep dive into a coach’s practice of self-care. Anthony shares practical tips for integrating self-care into daily routines and the importance of community support.

This episode emphasizes the need for coaches to prioritize their mental well-being and find internal worth, challenging societal norms and fostering a supportive community for sustainable self-care practices. Learn of the impact of societal pressures and the importance of self-awareness and self-reflection. A beautiful conversation that will stretch your perspectives on what self-care really is.

You will learn:

·       An overview of the components of holistic self-care

·       How self-care is integral to mental health

·       How self-care is not something we only do alone

"Self-care can actually take you forward into a deepening and an expansion of your experience of well-being and thriving, so it's not just a problem-solving tool; it's also a potential building tool."  

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_mental-health-coaching-podcast-series-coaches-selfcare

Jo Birch, therapist and supervisor, and Professor Andrew Reeves, researcher, therapist and coach, join host Maxine Bell, to explore the sensitive topic of suicide and suicide ideation in relation to coaching and supervision. They discuss the importance of coaches being prepared to support clients having suicidal thoughts, emphasizing the need for clear contracting, professional boundaries and direct communication.

The conversation highlights the emotional impact of suicide, the complexity of addressing it, and the significance of transparency and understanding. Jo and Andrew encourage bravery and honesty in conversations about suicide and recommend seeking training and support to navigate these challenges effectively. A highly practical and helpful conversation.

You will learn:

·       How coaches can work effectively with suicidal clients

·       How supervision can be helpful to support coaching with suicidal clients

·       The importance of self-awareness/reflexivity in supporting ourselves in our work

 "People who consider ending their life are ordinary people; they look like you and me and Andrew. You can't tell when you enter a coaching agreement with someone."

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_mental-health-coaching-podcast-series-suicide-ideation

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:

·       WhatsApp Global Resources for Suicide Prevention

·       Samaritans UK: Tel: 116 113 – Emergency helpline and suicide support

·       Samaritans Ireland  Tel: 116 123

·       SHOUT       Text SHOUT TO 85258  - A UK-based emergency mental health text helpline

·       UK Helplines

·       Find a Helpline Worldwide – just type in your country and topic

Kate Brassington, trauma-informed coach, joins host Maxine Bell, to challenge the misconception that clients with trauma would not be present in a coaching session. Kate shares what coaches can do to become more trauma-aware and trauma-informed, to better serve clients and create a safe coaching environment. Learn the difference between PTSD and complex PTSD, the importance of staying present and curious in coaching, and the implications for ethical and safe practice. Kate tackles the fears and anxiety surrounding this topic and encourages coaches to seek supervision, and to continue educating themselves on trauma-informed practices.

You will learn:

·       What trauma is and what trauma isn’t

·       The need for coaches to be trauma-informed and the value of mental health first aid training

·       Tips and ideas on how to look after yourself and your client

“A trauma-informed world is good for everyone. It’s a kinder, better place for everyone.”

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_mental-health-coaching-podcast-series-understanding-trauma

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:

·       WhatsApp Global Resources for Suicide Prevention

·       Samaritans UK: Tel: 116 113 – Emergency helpline and suicide support

·       Samaritans Ireland  Tel: 116 123

·       SHOUT       Text SHOUT TO 85258  - A UK-based emergency mental health text helpline

·       UK Helplines

·       Find a Helpline Worldwide – just type in your country and topic

Frances Masters, founder of Fusion Therapeutic Coaching, joins host Maxine Bell to discuss how coaches can work safely and effectively with clients who have stress, anxiety or depression. Frances defines the three conditions, their signs and symptoms, and their impact on health and well-being. Learn about the Safe Space Model and the 4D worry technique. Frances’ pragmatic approach will enable your coaching practice and empower your clients.

You will learn:

·       The power of listening and a holistic coaching approach

·       Practical tips and tools for assessing and supporting clients' wellbeing

·       The significance of addressing innate human needs for emotional wellbeing

“Just acknowledge that you're with a human being and a human being is going to have human needs. And if those needs are not met, they're going to be stressed or distressed in some way.”

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_mental-health-coaching-podcast-series-stress-anxiety-depression

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:

·       WhatsApp Global Resources for Suicide Prevention

·       Samaritans UK: Tel: 116 113 – Emergency helpline and suicide support

·       Samaritans Ireland  Tel: 116 123

·       SHOUT       Text SHOUT TO 85258  - A UK-based emergency mental health text helpline

·       UK Helplines

·       Find a Helpline Worldwide – just type in your country and topic

David Britten, dual-trained therapist and coach, joins our host, Maxine Bell, for a deeper dive into what mental health and illness are, and what coaches and supervisors need to know and be able to do. David explains the difference between functional suffering, dysfunctional suffering and mental illness, and the importance of language and perspectives in shaping a holistic understanding of mental health. Emphasising the need for self-awareness and the role of supervision and supervisors, David also debunks the argument that therapy and coaching should be kept very separate. An insightful and necessary conversation that will benefit any coach or supervisor.

You will learn:

·       The three functions of supervision for coaches supporting clients' mental health: normative, formative and restorative

·       What supervisors need to know to support coaches around mental health

·       The transformative potential of integrating coaching with therapeutic elements, especially for those grappling with mental health challenges

“Supervisors need to have a theoretical understanding and an awareness of the fact that there are different ways of framing mental illness, psychological distress, different languages for it that have different connotations for, for how we practice and what we see.”

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_mental-health-coaching-podcast-series-support-coaching-clients

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:

·       WhatsApp Global Resources for Suicide Prevention

·       Samaritans UK: Tel: 116 113 – Emergency helpline and suicide support

·       Samaritans Ireland  Tel: 116 123

·       SHOUT       Text SHOUT TO 85258  - A UK-based emergency mental health text helpline

·       UK Helplines

·       Find a Helpline Worldwide – just type in your country and topic

Anne Calleja, Carol Whitaker, and Dearbhalla Baveira join host, Maxine Bell, in the first episode of our Exploring Mental Health in Coaching series. Our three guests are all part of the AC Mental Health special interest group, focused on creating educational content and best practice resources for coaches and supervisors.

In this episode, Anne, Carol, and Dearbhalla introduce what mental health means, what mental illness is, and the role of coaches or supervisors, along with some practical tips for yourself and your clients in supporting mental health wellbeing. They discuss the fears, challenges and issues faced by coaches and supervisors and encourage the coaching profession to be curious, brave and informed when dealing with mental health. 

You will learn:

·       How basic coaching skills can be used to recognise, identify and support clients having mental health issues

·       The importance of reflective practice and supervision in understanding your own competency, capability and capacity as a coach.

·       The ethical dilemmas a coach may face when dealing with mental health issues

“It’s inevitable that mental health is going to come into the coaching and supervision space.”

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_mental-health-coaching-podcast-series-concerns-coaching-supervision

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:

·       WhatsApp Global Resources for Suicide Prevention

·       Samaritans UK: Tel: 116 113 – Emergency helpline and suicide support

·       Samaritans Ireland  Tel: 116 123

·       SHOUT       Text SHOUT TO 85258  - A UK-based emergency mental health text helpline

·       UK Helplines

·       Find a Helpline Worldwide – just type in your country and topic

Join our 2023 podcast hosts, Claudia Day, Mark Crossfield, Dr Julie Scanlon, Simone Sweeney, and Felicity Dwyer, as they reflect on their experiences hosting a podcast series for the Association for Coaching in this heart-warming conversation. They share their experiences meeting incredible guests to share coaching topics they both love, and the feedback from listeners. Be inspired by their passion and celebration of the world of coaching.

You will learn:

·       The challenges and highlights of being a host

·       The personal and professional benefits that ripple out from being a host

·       What it’s like to work with the AC podcast team

“The process of hosting the podcast, having these beautiful conversations with real experts in their field and the way the AC provide support and guidance, and yet I felt I had complete creative control of the series.” 

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_special-episodes-reflections-2023-podcasts

Aubyn Howard, Krista Powell Edwards and Rachel Blackman return to join host, Felicity Dwyer, for a wonderful panel chat in the final episode of our Coaching the Whole Person series. Taking a deeper dive into what coaching the whole person means, they discuss the importance of presence over intervention, working with effluent and affluent parts of the nervous system, being aligned with your purpose, and understanding that the ecosystem of a human being sits within other systems. A warm and thoughtful conversation worth listening to.

You will learn:

·       Who the whole person is and why it matters

·       Ethical and contracting issues

·       The importance of continuing development for coaches who want to work in depth with clients

For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: 

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_coaching-the-whole-person-podcast-series-panel-chat 

“The being (human) is creative, resourceful and whole and the coach’s job is attunement with that creative, resourceful and whole being, in however they turn up.”