Excerpts from a Ten-Hour Coaching Session - Essay Example

Shandy Roque Maryrose Roque Academia Research Order# 167505 05 May 2007 Coaching Log Coaching is a means of unlocking a person's potential by instilling in him a sense of awareness and responsibility that would motivate him to maximize his performance. It always begins with the intake stage wherein a relationship with the client is established and the parameters of the sessions are set. During this stage, the coach is expected to draw out the client's personality as well as the elements that this person would like to see in his life by asking different questions. In this essay, excerpts from a ten-hour coaching session would be discussed. The coaching session began with motivational interviewing that would allow the coach to assess the client's needs as well as make the client aware of what her problem is. Motivational interviewing was again used to help the client realize the solution to the problem. Activity scheduling was then used to help the client create an action plan. In order to remove emotional obstacles like fear of failure or fear of rejection, the client was given problem-solving skills training before the session ended. The subject is a woman named Anne, who has graduated from college and has been working for a consulting company for almost two years now. She has been undergoing a lot of mood changes as well as sleeping disorders. At the beginning of the interview, motivational interviewing (MI) was used to draw out the client's problems and needs. Below, the coach asked some open questions and leading questions in order to help the client verbalize her problems and needs. What do you want I need some changes in my life. It's so mundane. I want something new. I know that there is something more to do this. And, I'd like to find out what it is. What changes would you like to see in your life I don't know. I just know that I'm not content. I feel empty. And, I'm still looking for this something that would fill the emptiness and make me feel content. Try to look back to a time in your life when you felt complete and content. Can you describe it to me When I was in college, I tried out a lot of sports. And, there was this one time when I got really hooked with judo. I loved the struggle and the challenge. I loved the way I set myself up for success by doing the right technique at the right time. And, I love the way I can find ways of turning things around when I am about to lose. And, I remember the first time I won a tournament. It was something that I worked hard on and succeeded in. What do you think would make you feel that way again I don't know. That is what I'm trying to look for. It's frustrating. I want to have some changes in my life but I don't know where to start. When do you usually feel this "emptiness" I don't really know. It just happens. It just hits me. Sometimes, it gets to me at work. It's like my days are always the same. And, I feel that there should be more to my life than this. And, when I get home, I come to an empty place. And, I feel afraid that this is what it's going to be like forever. And, I can't stand it. I want to have something more. Let's start with your workplace. Have you always felt this way about your work Of course not! I was excited. I couldn't wait to interact with the clients. And, I liked the fact that every single client was different. And, the projects I worked on were never the same. But then, after some time, I started feeling that I was saying the same lines and working on the same things. And, somehow, I felt that every day was the same. Why did you suddenly feel that way I don't really know. But, I guess, it's because I have the same approach for each client. The accounts that I'm assigned to are very different but my means of evaluating them and presenting my ideas to them are always the same. Somehow, I found myself doing the saying the same lines everyday. And, it has become very tiring. How can you change the way you see your job I don't know. Do you think you should quit your job No. I do love my job. It has just become less challenging and unfulfilling lately. But, it does have its moments. Do you think having new responsibilities would change the way you view your job I guess so. I need a change in my work life. I need to feel that I'm not doing the same thing everyday. Do you think adding some new activities outside your work life would change the way you view your job Yes. It would add a little excitement in my life. And, it can help me appreciate my job. During the conversation, the client's feedback was very spontaneous and natural. There wasn't any form of reluctance in Anne's answers. And, because of that, she was able to specify her needs during the interview. After applying motivational interviewing to assess Anne's needs, activity scheduling is used to make the action plan. It is "a useful strategy to teach patients who have both lost interest in doing things they enjoy and who find it difficult to do basic daily tasks."1 Again, the coach must ask a lot of open and leading questions in order to cause Anne to make her own realizations. What activities are you interested in trying out I like dancing. I've always wanted to attend a dance class. What's stopping you I don't really have a lot of time for it. And, it's a bit too expensive for me. The coach then asked about the client's daily activities. He then lead her to make an action plan that would help her manage her time. During this part of the exercise, the client was a bit hesitant when she answered the questions. It was difficult for her to adjust her schedule in order to give more time for herself. She does have the tendency to push herself too hard. Her behavior may eventually be the cause of her breakdown. Works Cited Evidence-based Focussed Psychological Interventions. 2003. CRUfAD. 05 May 2007 . Read More