In this brilliantly insightful conversation, Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson explores mentor coaching with coach, mentor, supervisor and author of ‘Mentor Coaching: A Practical Guide, Clare Norman, PCC. Clare shares the differences between mentor coaching and supervision for coaches and touches on some of the many benefits of mentor coaching to both coaches and their coaches. Clare explains the process of mentor coaching, what it is, and how it plays into the ICF core competencies. She also offers some examples of how a mentor coaching session might look and feel and shares some of the benefits that come from observed coaching and data-driven feedback against a benchmark set of competencies, including highlighting areas where we need to ‘unlearn’ in order to become better at what we do. Clare also touches on how, as coaches, we will often create much more value by not actively trying to add value, or find that ‘aha’ moment. She highlights that if we trust the process, trust ourselves as coaches, trust the client and that they’re creative resourceful and whole, and if we as coaches can create that psychological safety, hold the space for them to do the thinking, and stay out of their way, something beautiful will emerge into the space.  You can find out more about Clare and her work here: https://www.clarenormancoachingassociates.com/ You can find her book ‘Mentor Coaching: A Practical Guide’ at a discounted price here: https://www.mheducation.co.uk/mentor-coaching-a-practical-guide-9780335248797-emea-group We hope that you enjoyed this episode! What are your key takeaways? And as always, subscribe to Coaching Uncaged for a new episode every Tuesday!

This is a conversation that actually took place before the relaunch of Coaching Uncaged earlier this year, but it has so much valuable information around mindfulness and what it can bring to our practice as coaches that we thought with our Mindfulness CPD coming up this weekend (28-29 November), it’s a great time for it to debut on the podcast! In this engaging conversation Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson explores the concept of mindfulness with Animas Trainer and Wellbeing Practitioner Emily Johnston . Emily shares what mindfulness is, her own mindfulness practice, and how practicing mindfulness can enable us to be more self-aware and in turn give us more choice in the present moment. Emily also touches on some of the takeaways from the upcoming Accredited Certificate in Mindfulness for Coaching that's taking place this weekend. We are facing difficult times right now, but at times like this, we can bring mindfulness into our own practice enabling us all to better manage the stress brought on by the present challenges. We hope you enjoy this webinar conversation! You can book your spot on the upcoming Accredited Certificate in Mindfulness for Coaching taking place this weekend here: https://www.animascoaching.com/blog/events/accredited-certificate-in-mindfulness-for-coaching-3-2/

In this conversation Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson is joined by Positive Psychologist, Existential Coach, Trainer, Supervisor Yannick Jacob to dive into the world of positive psychology, and its relationship to coaching. Yannick shares how he works with positive psychology, some of the benefits of bringing positive psychology approaches into the coaching space, and how you can begin to think about integrating it into your own coaching. Yannick also touches on flow state, and explores some of the positive psychology informed approaches that coaches can work with to create conditions for people to be more in flow. Finally Yannick shares some details around the upcoming Certificate in Positive Psychology including what he brings to the space, what’s covered in a nutshell, and some of the key takeaways from the weekend. You can find out more about Yannick and his work here: http://www.coachingandmediation.net/ https://rocketsupervision.com/ We hope that you’ll enjoy this conversation! If you want to find out more about bringing positive psychology into your coaching, you can book a spot on our upcoming Accredited Certificate in Positive Psychology that takes place this weekend (14-15 November) with Yannick here: https://www.animascoaching.com/blog/events/accredited-certificate-in-positive-psychology-2/

In this fascinating episode of Coaching Uncaged, Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson is joined by coach, creative, author and trainer Andréa Watts as they explore the use of collage and creative imagery in the coaching space. Andréa shares her background around this creative approach to coaching, and where her own interest around working with collage stems from as well as the benefits it can bring to clients that are feeling stuck - hence the name of her business: Unglue You. Andréa talks us through her three-part process around this creative approach and how she created it, moving from an unearthing of the client’s unconscious to creating a narrative around the images before moving into the actual coaching conversation, also highlighting some of the key benefits of working in this way. Andréa also touches on the importance of creating the right environment for this approach to coaching, the curiosity of coaches as being key to the work, her current book project which delves into coaching with collage in greater depth, as well as sharing what’s next for her and her work. You can find out more Andréa and UnglueYou here: https://unglueyou.co.uk/ We hope that you enjoy this episode! 

In this fascinating episode of Coaching Uncaged, Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson is joined by Culture and Relationship Coach Lou Chiu, and counsellor, therapeutic coach and supervisor Myira Khan for a roundtable discussion exploring the concept of intersectionality and its relation to coaching and beyond.  Myira and Lou share their backgrounds around this interesting framework, highlighting where their interest stems from, before sharing what we mean when we talk about intersectionality, how it shows up in the coaching space for those that aren’t familiar with it and why bringing this framework into your work can be greatly beneficial both in the coaching relationship, as well as in our relationship with our own sense of self.  They also explore the different elements that create an individual’s identity, both internal and external, how the varying levels of power and powerlessness attached to these elements intersect, and how important this is for coachees when considering “who am I? And what’s my narrative or journey?” Lou and Myira also touch on their work around allyship, organisational culture as well as bringing in some interesting concepts such as ‘code switching’, the notion of their being two truths in the coaching space, and the idea of ‘social location’ - how we are placed in the world and how we show up as a result.  You can find out more about their work here 👇 Lou: https://louchiu.com/ Myira: https://www.myirakhancounselling.co.uk/ We hope that you enjoy this episode, what are your key takeaways?

In this episode, Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson is joined by coach, Animas trainer, author and mindfulness and wellbeing practitioner Emily Johnston as they explore Youth & Education Coaching. Emily shares the work she does in this area, some of the things she brings to the space that makes her work so tangible and relatable for the young people she works with and her background working with young people.  Emily also touches on why working with young people in education sector is hugely needed at this time, the differences in coaching young people both inside and outside the education system, who she works with currently, and the issues that she works with in the coaching space. Robert and Emily dive into the mental health element that comes into the work that Emily does, the importance of building rapport and the relationship that’s fundamental to working with teenagers, as well as suggestions around managing the self and self-awareness for those that are new to working with young people, or have a desire to do so. Finally, Emily shares more information around the upcoming Certificate in Youth & Education Coaching that’s taking place in November including what people can expect to get from it and some of the key takeaways around the neuroscience of teenagers, working with growth mindset and some aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  We hope that you enjoy this conversation! You can find out more about Emily and her work here: http://www.emilywellbeing.co.uk/ If you’re interested in working with young people both inside or outside of the education system you can find out more information and book a spot on the upcoming CPD course here: https://www.animascoaching.com/blog/events/accredited-certificate-youth-and-education-coaching/

In this brilliantly engaging episode of Coaching Uncaged, Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson is joined by coach, author, speaker, leadership trainer, and the founder of the first executive coaching directory shining a light on Coaches from Black, Asian and Minority backgrounds, Jenny Garrett. Jenny shares her journey to coaching, and the multitude of things that she is doing now as a result of this transformational journey, from coaching, to writing books, to leadership training as well her creation of the first executive coaching directory for Coaches from Black, Asian and Minority backgrounds.  Jenny touches on how and why she set up the directory, as well as offering her thoughts and perspectives around the issues surrounding diversity and inclusion that mean that coaches and leaders of Black, Asian and Minority backgrounds aren’t proportionally represented in many organisations. She also offers some of the benefits to changing this dynamic for both the individuals and the organisations. Jenny also touches on the importance of following the thing you’re really passionate about, and the ‘why’ that sits behind the work you do, the critical importance of taking time for ourselves, and the benefits of saying yes to opportunities and open doors and how this approach has really shaped her journey as a coach and thought-leader.  You can find out more about Jenny and her work here: https://www.jennygarrett.global/ We hope that you enjoy this episode and don’t forget to tune in for a new episode every Tuesday!

In this captivating conversation Robert Stephenson is joined by trauma psychotherapy practitioner, supervisor, executive coach and author Julia Vaughan Smith to explore how trauma shows up in the coaching space and how coaches might better work with clients around it. Julia shares how she has seen trauma emerge into the coaching space amid the challenges presented by Covid-19, her thoughts around the role of coaching in trauma work, and how in understanding trauma as coaches, we can better determine whether therapy might be more appropriate for a coachee. Julia also touches on the significance of receiving supervision as a coach working with trauma, as well as the importance of self-awareness and self-reflection to a trauma-informed coaching approach. You can find out more about Julia and her work here: https://www.juliavaughansmith.co.uk/ We hope that you enjoy this conversation and don't forget to subscribe for a new episode every Tuesday!

In this episode, Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson is joined by transformational coach, community builder, engagement strategist and founder of global fitness brand ‘Too Fat to Run’, Julie Creffield. Julie shares her background from rebellious student with a passion for drama to her time spent working as a project manager at the olympics before becoming a coach and turning her plus-size running blog into a global fitness brand which has now seen her help more than 15,000 women from all around the world. Touching on her passion for building communities and tribes Julie shares how she came to create the global fitness brand ‘Too Fat to Run’, the impact it has had, what she loves about this work, and her vision to help a million people through her coaching. Julie also shares a little around how she came to study with Animas, her take on the topic of whether to niche as a coach as well as the importance of identity and how we show up in various spaces, not just as coaches, but as people.  We hope you enjoy this episode! Find out more about Julie and her work here: https://juliecreffield.com/ Don't forget to subscribe for a new episode every Tuesday!

This week’s episode of Coaching Uncaged is here! 🙌💥 Back in early February, before the challenges presented by the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, we recorded a new series of in-person podcast episodes with a handful of our brilliant alumni! It hadn’t felt like quite the right time to share them, but having shared the first two episodes in the last fortnight, here’s the third episode of our bonus series titled “Alumni Conversations”. In this episode, Animas Centre Director Robert Stephenson is joined by coach and co-founder of the campaigning network Survivors Speak OUT Kolbassia Haoussou MBE. Kolbassia shares his incredibly challenging, but deeply inspirational journey of fleeing persecution and torture in central Africa and the challenges of being a refugee in Britain, including his time spent in immigration detention and its subsequent effects on his mental health. He also shares the support that he received from the charity organisation Freedom From Torture during this time, the impact that it had, as well as his own deep-rooted desire to help others that has allowed him to be where he is today - training as a coach, giving back to other torture survivors in his role now working at Freedom From Torture and being awarded an MBE as a result of his work helping support those that have suffered torture and sexual violence. Kolbassia also touches on his experience of training as a coach, what it has added to his current role with Freedom From Torture, as well as his ultimate goal of taking his coaching full-time and where he sees himself making an impact on the world. Find out more about Kolbassia and his inspirational work here: https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/what-we-do/how-were-run/structure-and-people And find him on Twitter here:  https://twitter.com/haoussou We hope that you find this episode inspiring and don’t forget next week’s episode will be back to it’s usual Tuesday evening schedule!