A recent example of applying the Intrinsic Coaching™ methodology with a group involved a federal guideline that has gone into effect and to which we have to adjust. I was with a group that was complaining about how terrible it was going to be. They kept asking, “How are we going to handle this and how are we going to tell the employees?” Because of my Intrinsic Coach™ training, I knew how to work toward shifting the group from being problem-focused to being goal-focused. Just that one shift in thinking lifted the energy and created the possibility of thinking forward, together, in a situation that, really, was a tough situation. With the shift, members of the group started saying, “Oh, all right, if this is what we are going to do, then how about we do this, or what about we do that?” By shifting from being problem-focused to being goal-focused they shifted from complaining to moving forward.
We have all kinds of issues to address in our City and, of course, we address them on a daily basis. Integrating the Intrinsic Coaching™ approach, including as a part of everyday conversation, makes such a difference. So I just imagine expanding Intrinsic Coaching™ little by little until this wonderful methodology gets more and more momentum and becomes the skill that everybody knows about and wants – because everybody wants to have those more powerful kinds of conversations. - Veronica (Ronnie) Costa, Employee Assistance and Wellness Coordinator, City of Phoenix, AZ
My early experiences utilizing an Intrinsic Coaching™ approach was while working in an Adult Primary Care clinic in a community health center setting. The health center was committed to integrating behavioral health into the Adult Primary Care clinic. Our primary care patients were predominately low income, non-insured adults with limited resources.
When I first began using an Intrinsic Coaching™ approach with a few patients I was delighted at how quickly they appeared to grasp and respond to a coaching approach. I recall one specific male patient whom I had been working with who was despondent, lacking in motivation and had not been responding well to behavioral health counseling. After shifting to an Intrinsic Coaching™ approach with this patient I noticed an immediate shift in his energy and my energy as well. Rather than focusing on the “problem symptoms and problem list” we began to discuss what he wanted in one area of his life. His eyes lit up, his energy shifted and he became enthusiastically engaged in the session.
The time passed by very quickly during our session and by the end he had detailed specific action steps for himself that he wanted to address before our next session. I left the session energized and excited about the Intrinsic Coaching™ approach. A few days later I received a telephone call from this same patient informing me that he had taken action on his plan and added that he was feeling much better and he was looking forward to our next session.
As our sessions continued our focus was no longer on what wasn’t working in his life because instead he began to discuss what was working. I have found similar progress and successes with other patients. It was no longer about me trying to get them to do something I had determined was important for their health. It became about the patient taking responsibility for what they wanted for their health and happiness.- Rudy Rodriguez, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 21 years in private clinical practice. His practice has focused on clinical services for children, adolescents and adults with a full range of emotional and mental health concerns. Rudy has also worked in an Integrated Behavioral Health clinic in an adult primary care medical setting.
An Intrinsic Coaching™ conversation is really rewarding because I’m now able to find out when a person’s stated goal isn’t what he or she really wants. It’s something that happens a lot in my field and, with the Intrinsic Coaching™ approach, I can now bring people’s real goals forward and then help them think better about their choices toward that goal. For instance, I had a coachee who said her goal was to have a cleaner house. In the past, I would have offered suggestions such as hiring a housekeeper, thinking my suggestions could help her. However, now that I have the Intrinsic Coaching™ skill, I was able to listen like a coach as she talked about what she wanted. She started out saying her goal was about her house, but when I engaged her to think intrinsically, she realized it really was another pressure she was focusing on and she thought that having a clean house would relieve that pressure. This was a very significant realization for her and, as a result of our Intrinsic Coaching™ conversation, she began to take steps directly toward what, really, was the outcome she really wanted to work toward. So the goal she presented was a small window to what she truly wanted and, as an Intrinsic Coach™, I was able to help her see through it. It was really neat how she got that insight and it changed everything for her in terms of what she was going to do. I didn’t expect the conversation to go where it went and neither did she, but that’s the beauty of an Intrinsic Coaching™ conversation -- the coachee leads the way and the conversation becomes filled with unlimited resources! - (Shared during week 6 of coach training.)- Shirley Johnson, Licensed Psychologist, Employee Assistance Program Coordinator, Fairview Range Regional Health Services in Hibbing, Minnesota
In therapy, sometimes a coaching question is more powerful than an interpretation (even when your interpretation is correct).
I had an experience with a long-term therapy client who has been very pleased that his life is going much, much better. He has been feeling exhilarated about a sought-for job promotion; he has been delighted by a recent 30-pound weight loss and by having gotten several health problems under good control; and, he is newly enjoying a cycling club and a healthy gourmet-cooking and dining group.
However, in a recent treatment hour he complained forcefully about practically everything -- from his dirty, messy apartment to his busy schedule to his critical mother. After listening to a long list of laments, I wanted to reconnect him with his constructive motives. So, in an attempt to accomplish this, I offered him a reflection on what I was hearing. In my therapist role, I said, "I wonder if the part of you that is so out-of-sorts is reacting to all the good feelings you have been having by dwelling on the imperfect aspects of your life so you can experience those old, familiar bad feelings again." He said, "Well…it could be, but these things really are bugging me."
I could see that my interpretation wasn't what my client needed to move ahead, so I switched to a coaching role and said, "OK, let's go with that. I wonder, what would be your goal in having these problems resolved?" He immediately answered, "Contentment and peace of mind."
With his attention centered on this goal, he immediately shifted his focus from his complaints to constructive thinking about concerns that were meaningful to him. In the process, he made important observations and pondered possibilities. He noted that he might want to reduce his time-intensive administrative leadership responsibilities in the cycling club; he might use some of his recent pay increase to hire a cleaning service; and, he would think twice before talking to his mother about anything that was really important to him.
As a result of my coaching question, we were able to talk about what he wanted to create next for his life. At the end of the hour, he said, "I think that is the ball I need to keep my eye on…that I am looking for contentment and piece of mind."
It was magical to see how a single powerful coaching question can generate such an effectual connection with a person's constructive motives. It was also so very, very gratifying.
As I reflect on this clinical situation, I realize that the therapist in me thought, "Oh, I understand this." But my interpretation of what was going on with him wasn't interesting to him. When I switched to an Intrinsic Coaching™ approach, he shifted quickly to his constructive internal motives, to what he was looking for, and I was struck by how productive his response was.
It was wonderful to see him keep that constructive thinking in the forefront of his mind and to think productively about what he wanted to do about his problems.
Through this experience, I learned the following: In therapy, sometimes a coaching question is much more powerful than an interpretation, even when your interpretation is correct.
Susan F. Walsh, Ph.D., Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work, has 30 years practice as a psychotherapist. Serving adults with a wide range of physical and mental health concerns, Dr. Walsh helps them reach their maximum health potential. Dr. Walsh also has over 15 years of experience as a teacher, supervisor, and consultant to physicians and other health professionals. She practices in Chicago, IL.
