The AC Podcast

David Britten, dual-trained therapist and coach, joins our host, Maxine Bell, for a deeper dive into what mental health and illness are, and what coaches and supervisors need to know and be able to do. David explains the difference between functional suffering, dysfunctional suffering and mental illness, and the importance of language and perspectives in shaping a holistic understanding of mental health. Emphasising the need for self-awareness and the role of supervision and supervisors, David also debunks the argument that therapy and coaching should be kept very separate. An insightful and necessary conversation that will benefit any coach or supervisor.   You will learn:   ·       The three functions of supervision for coaches supporting clients' mental health: normative, formative and restorative ·       What supervisors need to know to support coaches around mental health ·       The transformative potential of integrating coaching with therapeutic elements, especially for those grappling with mental health challenges      “Supervisors need to have a theoretical understanding and an awareness of the fact that there are different ways of framing mental illness, psychological distress, different languages for it that have different connotations for, for how we practice and what we see.”   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_mental-health-coaching-podcast-series-support-coaching-clients   EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS: ·       WhatsApp Global Resources for Suicide Prevention ·       Samaritans UK: Tel: 116 113 – Emergency helpline and suicide support ·       Samaritans Ireland  Tel: 116 123 ·       SHOUT       Text SHOUT TO 85258  - A UK-based emergency mental health text helpline ·       UK Helplines ·       Find a Helpline Worldwide – just type in your country and topic

Anne Calleja, Carol Whitaker, and Dearbhalla Baveira join host, Maxine Bell, in the first episode of our Exploring Mental Health in Coaching series. Our three guests are all part of the AC Mental Health special interest group, focused on creating educational content and best practice resources for coaches and supervisors.   In this episode, Anne, Carol, and Dearbhalla introduce what mental health means, what mental illness is, and the role of coaches or supervisors, along with some practical tips for yourself and your clients in supporting mental health wellbeing. They discuss the fears, challenges and issues faced by coaches and supervisors and encourage the coaching profession to be curious, brave and informed when dealing with mental health.    You will learn:   ·       How basic coaching skills can be used to recognise, identify and support clients having mental health issues ·       The importance of reflective practice and supervision in understanding your own competency, capability and capacity as a coach. ·       The ethical dilemmas a coach may face when dealing with mental health issues     “It’s inevitable that mental health is going to come into the coaching and supervision space.”   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_mental-health-coaching-podcast-series-concerns-coaching-supervision     EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS: ·       WhatsApp Global Resources for Suicide Prevention ·       Samaritans UK: Tel: 116 113 – Emergency helpline and suicide support ·       Samaritans Ireland  Tel: 116 123 ·       SHOUT       Text SHOUT TO 85258  - A UK-based emergency mental health text helpline ·       UK Helplines ·       Find a Helpline Worldwide – just type in your country and topic

Join our 2023 podcast hosts, Claudia Day, Mark Crossfield, Dr Julie Scanlon, Simone Sweeney, and Felicity Dwyer, as they reflect on their experiences hosting a podcast series for the Association for Coaching in this heart-warming conversation. They share their experiences meeting incredible guests to share coaching topics they both love, and the feedback from listeners. Be inspired by their passion and celebration of the world of coaching.   You will learn:   ·       The challenges and highlights of being a host ·       The personal and professional benefits that ripple out from being a host ·       What it’s like to work with the AC podcast team     “The process of hosting the podcast, having these beautiful conversations with real experts in their field and the way the AC provide support and guidance, and yet I felt I had complete creative control of the series.”    For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_special-episodes-reflections-2023-podcasts  

Aubyn Howard, Krista Powell Edwards and Rachel Blackman return to join host, Felicity Dwyer, for a wonderful panel chat in the final episode of our Coaching the Whole Person series. Taking a deeper dive into what coaching the whole person means, they discuss the importance of presence over intervention, working with effluent and affluent parts of the nervous system, being aligned with your purpose, and understanding that the ecosystem of a human being sits within other systems. A warm and thoughtful conversation worth listening to.   You will learn:   ·       Who the whole person is and why it matters ·       Ethical and contracting issues ·       The importance of continuing development for coaches who want to work in depth with clients   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_coaching-the-whole-person-podcast-series-panel-chat    “The being (human) is creative, resourceful and whole and the coach’s job is attunement with that creative, resourceful and whole being, in however they turn up.”

Beena Sharma, President of the Vertical Development Academy, joins our host Felicity Dwyer for an in-depth and fascinating discussion on Polarity Thinking in Vertical Development. Beena explains that polarity thinking exists unconsciously in all of us and is an incredible agent for change when it becomes explicit. She shares the wisdom contained in resistance, which is part of polarity thinking, defining it as a coaching tool that applies across all coaching frameworks. Beena describes how to integrate it with vertical development to help people develop greater maturity and ability to operate in a complex world. You will learn: ·       What polarity thinking and vertical development is ·       It’s impact on individuals, organizations and society as a whole ·       Six powerful examples of polarities within coaches themselves   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_coaching-the-whole-person-podcast-series-polarity-thinking-vertical-development   “The dance between two poles that are both positive, both are needed and our capacity to masterfully dance and integrate them is what polarity thinking is about.”

Krista Powell Edwards, coach, facilitator and trainer, joins our host, Felicity Dwyer, to discuss a simple, but effective coaching model: logical levels. As an HR expert, Krista has many years of experience using this model with individuals and organizations, and she shares how logical levels can be used to resolve simple to complex issues with performance. She provides very clear and practical examples, the 4 P’s of time management, and discusses how this model can resolve issues of misalignment in organizations.   You will learn:   ·       What logical levels are and how to use them with clients ·       How logical levels can also be used in a coach's own personal development ·       How observing the intonations used in a client’s language can provide information on which level they are stuck in.   For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:   https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_coaching-the-whole-person-podcast-series-logical-levels    “The six levels working together help us understand performance and what makes us perform and what doesn’t make us perform.”

Jennifer Garvey-Berger, a leadership program designer and coach, joins our host, Felicity Dwyer to delve into the concept of adult development theory. They discuss how it aids in understanding the evolution of adults’ perspectives, and its role in leadership development. Jennifer explains why this theory is a game-changer in how we see ourselves, our clients, and the world – helping us to challenge our assumptions and take different perspectives. She highlights the need for coaches' own self-awareness and the necessity of intentional evolution to cope with the demands of modern life. A fascinating and invaluable conversation.   You will learn:   ·       What adult development theory is and why it is significant in coaching ·       The interconnectedness of body, emotions and cognition in personal development and leadership ·       The role of empathy   “The world is so complex. It's pushing us so much harder than humans have been pushed before, that we need to grow to keep up with it.”    For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:  https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_coaching-the-whole-person-podcast-series-adult-development-theory     

Marian Way, director of Clean Learning, joins our host, Felicity Dwyer in a conversation about the principles of clean language and how to apply them to your coaching. They discuss how clean language coaching creates transformative changes for clients, extending their thinking and perspectives through a metaphorical landscape that is long-lasting. Marian gives real-life examples and a short live demo to demonstrate how clean language coaching works and how to incorporate it into coaching without exceeding your skill level or client contract.   You will learn:   ·       Clean language questions and processes ·       Symbolic modelling and the use of spaces ·       The importance of metaphors in clean language   “Clean Language helps you to access things that are often difficult to describe.”     For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:    https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_coaching-the-whole-person-podcast-series-clean-language-coaching     

Join the podcast as Hannah Turner, a Gestalt coach, shares insights on wholeness and change. Explore the role of self-awareness, experimentation, and dialogue in coaching. Learn about field theory and interconnectedness, and practical exercises for somatic awareness. Navigate the boundaries between counseling and coaching, and discover ways to connect with the guest for further learning.

Rachel Blackman discusses somatic coaching and the power of embodied intelligence. They explore the value of physical sensations, good contracting, and re-contracting in coaching. Discover how somatic coaching offers new perspectives and insights for clients, and how incorporating embodied intelligence can benefit both the coach and the client.