How Somatic Coaching Can Help You Set Goals

Coaching of any kind can be a highly valuable tool for both personal and professional development in various aspects of life.

It offers you the unique opportunity to gain insightful perspectives into your strengths and areas of challenge, set clear and actionable goals, and set a pathway for achieving those goals.

Read on to find out more about coaching, and what makes somatic coaching different and special.

What is Coaching?

Coaching comes in various forms, each tailored to meet your unique needs in different contexts. Coaching can sometimes have a bad reputation as it isn’t a regulated industry and there are, unfortunately, lots of untrained people operating as coaches. It is seen as something easy to do and make money at.

However, a good coach has a solid qualification, is therefore insured, and usually belongs to an organisation or advertises their services in places where proof of a qualification must be provided.

Someone who is good at coaching will guide you through the process while offering you insights and reflections on your journey. And give you space to gain valuable knowledge about yourself, too. Coaching is very much a client-led experience, more of a facilitation of your experience rather than directive.

Here are some common types of coaching:

1. Life Coaching

Life coaching focuses on personal development and achieving individual goals. Coaches work with clients to identify their values, set objectives, and create actionable plans to enhance overall wellbeing and satisfaction in life.

2. Career Coaching

Career coaches help clients navigate their professional journeys. This type of coaching can involve exploring career options, improving job search strategies, enhancing interview skills, and developing plans for career advancement.

3. Executive Coaching

Executives and leaders often engage in executive coaching to refine their leadership skills, improve decision-making abilities, and enhance organisational performance. Coaches provide support in managing stress, communication, and team dynamics.

4. Health and Wellness Coaching

Health and wellness coaching empowers clients to make sustainable lifestyle changes. Coaches guide clients in areas such as nutrition, exercise, and stress management to foster overall health and longevity.

5. Relationship Coaching

Relationship coaching helps individuals or couples improve their interpersonal connections. Coaches explore communication styles, conflict resolution, and emotional intimacy, aiming to strengthen relationships and develop mutual understanding.

6. Performance Coaching

This type of coaching is geared towards individuals seeking to enhance their performance in specific areas, such as sports, arts, or public speaking. Coaches work on developing skills, setting goals, and overcoming mental barriers.

7. Financial Coaching

Financial coaches assist clients in managing their finances effectively. They provide guidance in budgeting, saving, investing, and navigating debts, focusing on long-term financial wellbeing.

8. Somatic Coaching

Somatic coaching integrates body awareness into the coaching process. By understanding how physical sensations relate to emotional experiences, clients are supported in addressing trauma and developing a deeper connection with their bodies for holistic healing. We sometimes also call this therapeutic coaching.

9. Spiritual Coaching

Spiritual coaching helps individuals explore their spiritual beliefs and practices. Coaches guide clients in seeking purpose, understanding their values, and developing a deeper connection with their inner selves.

Each type of coaching serves distinct purposes and is aimed at facilitating personal and professional development tailored to your specific life context and desired outcomes.

A deep dive into Somatic Coaching

Somatic coaching is unique in its integration of the mind and body, recognising that physical sensations can provide valuable insights into emotional and psychological states.

Unlike traditional coaching, which often focuses solely on cognitive (thinking) processes, somatic coaching encourages you to develop awareness of your bodily experiences. This approach allows you to uncover deeper layers of your trauma, anxiety, and beliefs that may be stored in the body.

By engaging in somatic practices, such as breathwork, movement, and mindfulness, you can access and release stored emotions, facilitating a more profound healing process. This body-centred focus not only promotes emotional regulation but also empowers individuals to reconnect with their innate wisdom and intuition. It’s very closely linked to somatic therapy in that way.

A good somatic coach will be trauma informed, ensuring a safe environment where you can explore your experiences without judgement. This nurturing space encourages vulnerability, enabling participants to move beyond fear and limiting beliefs. The emphasis on body awareness and somatic techniques allows for lasting change, as clients learn to listen to their bodies and respond to their needs in real-time.

Ultimately, somatic coaching stands out as a holistic method, bridging the gap between the mind and body, and supporting individuals in their journey towards healing and self-discovery.

The Somatic Coaching Approach

The somatic coaching process typically involves establishing a safe and confidential relationship in which a coach assists you in exploring your thoughts, emotions, body sensations, behaviours, and underlying values and life experiences. These all shape your self-view and understanding of the world around you.

Research suggests that somatic coaching can lead to significant improvements in various areas, including performance, self-awareness, and overall wellbeing. Many people who participate in somatic coaching report experiencing enhanced confidence and greater clarity.

As with other forms of coaching, somatic coaching provides a structured framework for accountability, encouraging you to remain committed to your objectives and goals.

The effectiveness of somatic coaching, however, can depend on several important factors, including the quality and safety of the coaching relationship, the expertise and experience of the coach, as well as the your willingness to actively engage in the process.

As with any kind of work like this, a certain amount of active participation in between sessions is needed to gain the full benefits of the practice. And because it works through and with the body, there is a certain amount of letting go of pre-conceived ideas and notions required that may hold you back if you’re not comfortable with that kind of focus.

While some people find that coaching aligns exceptionally well with their specific needs and aspirations, others might not experience the same level of benefit or satisfaction. It really is a very individual experience.

Somatic coaching can be an extremely helpful resource for many people who are seeking meaningful growth and improvement. Its inherent value lies in developing a deep connection to your body and its signals, leading to a profound level of personal insight.

If you are interested in somatic coaching with me, drop me an email at claire@harmonyhealingservices.co.uk

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