The Four Pillars of

Holistic Health Coaching

Karen Lawson, MD, Director of Health Coaching,University of MN Center for Spirituality and Healing

Past-President, American Holistic Medical Association

Learning Objectives• Describe the four core principles of Holistic Health

Coaching—Mindful Presence, Authentic Communication, Self-Awareness, and Safe/Sacred Space.

• Distinguish between the operational framework you currently use in your practice and the framework of Holistic Health Coaching.

• Identify one practice or perspective from this model that you could apply right away in your own professional practice.

Introductions: Who’s Listening?What is your primary profession currently?

A. Coach

B. Physician

C. Nurse

D. Mental Health practitioner of some kind

E. Fitness or wellness practitioner

F. Nutritionist

G. Allied Health (PT, OT, ST, other)

H. Other

Introductions: Who’s Listening?

If your current profession is in coaching, what primary area?

A. Life

B. Executive

C. Health

D. Wellness

E. Sports

F. Other

Introductions: Who’s Listening?

If your current profession is Health or Wellness coaching, do you use/recommend integrative therapeutic options?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Unfamiliar with

Coaching is a discovery process and a perspective

http://flavor8.com/index.php/2007/06/26/spinning-woman-optical-illusion/

Reflective Questions

• How would you like your work to be different?

• What’s missing for you that would make your work more effective and satisfying?

• Is there something you don’t feel is happening or is optimal in your current practice?

Breathing and Grounding: establishing new habits

A Holistic Perspective

• The process of Health Coaching, which--by seeing a person as intrinsically healthy, whole, and wise-- empowers the client to become the ultimate expert in their own healing journey, allowing the health of the person to emerge.

• Lens of pathology versus lens of health

Health Coaching helps with change• Humans tend to resist change, despite extensive information that it

would be a good thing to do.

• Disease management is just that—it manages the disease, but it is

not specifically designed to help the individual uniquely manage their

own health.

• Humans most successfully make changes when they

Know why the change is needed

Want to make the change

Have values that are reinforced by the change

Have necessary support and resources

Have a plan

Understand and work with their own motivations, fears, and

resistance

Behavioral scientists have shown that one-on-one coaching is among the most effective approaches to helping people make and sustain improvements in their lives.

So, what is Professional Health Coaching?

• Uses the process of coaching

• Understands human health and disease, the health care system, and integrative approaches

• Sees the individual as the source of their own solutions and healing potential

• Works with individuals in health crisis or dealing with chronic disease, or with those desiring improved health/prevention

Transformation

• Transformational work is for coach and client both

• The difference between change and transformation—the challenges, possibilities, and limitations of each…

Q: What does transformation mean to you?

The Four-Pillars of Health Coaching™

Mindful Presence

Sacred Space

Authentic Communication

Self-Awareness

MINDFUL PRESENCE

Mindful Presence

Sacred Space

Authentic Communication

Self-Awareness

• The process of focused, non-judgmental awareness in the present moment

• Mindfulness in Relationship to the Other

• Requires intentional consciousness at multiple levels

Mindful Presence

Mindful Presence

• Hears beyond what’s spoken

• Engages Empathy and compassion

– A level few experience

• Respects client’s internal wisdom

• Primes the pump

• Includes it all – non-judgmentally, without discounting

Mindful Presence Reflective Questions

• What does you being present look and feel like to you?

• How do you know when you’re present?

Blocks to PresenceBlocks can be intentional or unintentional

based on some of the following:• Busyness/task- focused

• Stress

• Fear

• Concern over what others will think

• Feeling inadequate

• Lack of desire/intent to be present

• Distractions

• Need to be in control

• Overemphasis on being goal directed “responsibilities”

• Lack of patience

• Lack of openness

• Personal limitations

• Fatigue, low blood sugar

• Inadequate communication skills

Presencethe

Bridge to

Authentic Communication

AUTHENTIC COMMUNICATION

Mindful Presence

Sacred Space

Authentic Communication

Self-Awareness

Authentic Communication means:

• Deep Listening –

Between words, body language, emotions. Multiple ways of knowing for both coach and client

• Curious Inquiry

• Perceptive Reflections

• Silence

Deep Listening

Authentic Communication means:

• Deep Listening

• Curious Inquiry –

Non-judgmental practice of open-hearted exploration without goals or expectations. AI and MI Skills possibly.

• Perceptive Reflections

• Silence

Authentic Communication means:

• Deep Listening

• Curious Inquiry

• Perceptive Reflections –

Mirror what you hear or perceive. Check truth with yourself. Offer observations, insights – with empathy

• Silence

Thoughtful Speech

• Aligned with their – comments

– energy

– theme

– language

• Engages all the senses/intelligences –Presence

• Congruency – The How, The What, The When, The Why

Authentic Communication means:

• Deep Listening

• Curious Inquiry

• Perceptive Reflections

• Silence:

What is your comfort level with silence?

Is it a friend or a scary visitor?

Some Tools which buildAuthentic Communication

• Non-Violent communication

• Appreciative Inquiry

• Motivational Interviewing

Authentic Communication Reflective Questions

• In your experience how does it feel and/or look when you are hearing the full depth and breadth of what is being intended in yourself and others?

• List the different ways that you can listen

• How do you know you are listening to your ‘highest self’ internally?

SELF-AWARENESS

Mindful Presence

Sacred Space

Authentic Communication

Self-Awareness

Awareness of emotion≠

Expression of emotion

Self-Awareness

Mindfulness about self—physically, mentally, and emotionally. In order to be clear with another, a coach is required to be aware of what feelings and reactions they are having.

This means a good health coach commits to a regular practice of self-awareness, using whatever tools, skills and resources are necessary over time.

Self-Awareness ChecksAllenbaugh, E. Wake Up Calls. Bard Productions.

• Criticizing other’s comments.• Becoming defensive, reacting emotionally?• Waiting to talk rather than listening?• Being “too busy”?• Preparing my rebuttal: “yes, but…”• Keeping score - looking to get even?• Interrupting, talking?• Finding flaws in other’s ideas and perceptions?

More Self-Awareness Checks

• Switching to my own agenda?• Explaining, intellectualizing?• Focusing on personalities, missing issues?• Initiating premature closure?• Locking onto my position?• Rolling eyes, sighing, tapping fingers?• Checking out - glazed eyes?• Placing conditions on my availability to talk?• Leaving when things get sensitive?

Self-Awareness Reflective Questions

• What is your current average level of self-awareness?– How do you cultivate it?

– How does it impact, positively or negatively, your client work?

• In what aspects would you like to heighten your self-awareness?

• What support/instruction/resources do you need to achieve this?

Safe/Sacred Space

Mindful Presence

Sacred Space

Authentic Communication

Self-Awareness

Defining Safe Space

• Physically

• Emotionally

• Intentionally

• Boundaries

The Power of Intention

• Shared purpose

• Focus

• Client’s intention

Boundaries Reflective Questions

• Are they intentional or ignored?

• Where are they too weak? Too strong?

• What challenges arise from boundary issues in your practice?

– For you

– For the client

– For your work

How could such health coaching skills support you in your current work?

Reflective Questions:

University of Minnesota--Certificate In Complementary Therapies and Healing

Practices: Health Coaching• 18 credit post-baccalaureate area of emphasis

• Targeted for Health Care Professionals and health care professional students

• Coursework began in Fall 2005. Currently 6th cohort of students in year 1, and 5th cohort of students in year 2.

• Applications accepted with March 15 deadline for fall admission.

Certificate In Complementary Therapies & Healing Practices: Health Coaching

Health Coaches are trained to be able to:

• Design personalized healthcare plans which address physical, mental, emotional & spiritual issues

• Recognize & help shift behaviors that block success or readiness to change

• Facilitate communication between conventional & complementary providers & the client

• Teach about tools & practices for self-care, reflection, balance & growth

University of Minnesota—Continuing Ed. Option for Health Coaching

• 60 hours over 4 months or 120 hours web-supported CEU’s over 8 months; package priced

• Meets for 2 or 4, 4-day weekends in MN; on-line and phone work in between

• Targeted for Health Care Professionals who wish to expand their clinical skills set

• Next session begins Sept 2011

• Applications and registration accepted in spring and summer, and coursework begins each fall.

Free Guided Imagery at www.csh.umn.edu

http://www.csh.umn.edu/healthcoaching/guidedimagery/

Be You!

To paraphrase ancient Chinese wisdom: live simply, do what you enjoy, and be completely present.

Recommended Books

• Arloski, M. (2007) Wellness Coaching for Lasting Lifestyle Change, Whole Person Associates.

• Belf, T. (2002) Coaching with Spirit, Pfeiffer.

• Dacher, E. (2006) Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing, Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publications.

• Goleman, D. (2005) Emotional Intelligence, Bantam.

Recommended Books

• Kabat Zinn J. (2000) Full Catastrophe Living, Surrey, England. Delta Publishing.

• Prochaska, J., etal. (1995) Changing for Good,Collins.

• Rollnick S. (2008) Motivational Interviewing in Health Care, NY, NY. The Guilford Press.

Recommended Books

• Rosenberg, M. and Gandhi, A. (2003) Non-violent Communication: A Language of Life, Puddledancer Press.

• Shapiro, D. (2006) Your Body Speaks Your Mind, Sounds True.

• Silsbee, D., (2008) Presence-Based Coaching: Cultivating Self-Generative Leaders Through Mind, Body, and Heart, Jossey-Bass.

Questions from the Audience

Karen Lawson, MDlawsonk@umn.edu