CLIENT
The client was feeling stuck or uncertain about their job and future and was deliberating whether to return to their home country and the pros and cons and life choices that might go with staying or returning.
SESSIONS
In the first session after some initial discussion which seemed somewhat circular and repetitive the coach asked the client if they had a pen and paper. The client accepted the invitation to privately draw on the paper how they felt now. This was unseen by the coach, and allowed the client to draw anything at all in the full knowledge that nobody except them would see what presented itself on the paper as a representation of how they felt.
The coach, not knowing what has been drawn or why, simply asked, "Moving forward what is the next drawing?" The client the drew on the paper whilst the coach remained silent and supportive, giving them all the time that the client needed. Finally, the coach said, "And what's next?". The third drawing, still unseen by the coach provoked a surprised response in the client. They acknowledged their surprise, saying that they were unaware of those thoughts.
REFLECTIONS
The session certainly provoked awareness in the client. On the one hand the session might be regarded as very directive by the coach since they did suggest the idea of drawing and prompt the client three times to draw something, ostensibly in a sequence. However the session was content free and agnostic in-so-far-as the client was at liberty to draw anything at all and the coach would never see. Any interpretation or meaning would be that of the client not the coach.
The use of three drawings was based on the observation of the client by the coach, seeing if the drawing had evoked anything and watching their mannerisms as they were drawing. Like the 5 Whys (see below) this approach was calibrated to deepen and explore the clients thinking and not 'let them off the hook' meaning that the coach and client did not stop at the presenting problem or initial drawing, but did roll through a sequence.
Whether the sequence was forward (projecting into the future) or backward (reflecting into the past) or indeed pursuing one path as opposed to another is known only to the client. However this seems entirely appropriate for client-centred coaching where the coach is there only to create the supprtive environment for the client to explore and resolve their thoughts and feelings.
THE 5 WHYS
Five whys (or 5 whys) is an iterative interrogative technique used to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. The primary goal of the technique is to determine the root cause of a defect or problem by repeating the question "Why?". Each answer forms the basis of the next question.
IMPORTANT NOTES
The Coach engages in training and continuing education pursuing and/or maintaining ICF (International Coach Federation) credentials. All coaching conversations are confidential and the abbreviated case above has been amended so as to protect the anonymity for the client whilst providing evidence of coaching practice, reflection and learning, for the purposes of ICF education, supervision, or oversight.
All coaching engagements follow ICF Policies and Principles Resources, Terms and Conditions https://www.adaptconsultingcompany.com/coachingtoolkit/client.php
The article below provides some context to the coaching style adopted.
FINDING YOUR OWN COACHING STYLE
https://adaptcoaching.blogspot.com/2021/03/finding-your-own-coaching-style.html
