Somatic Cognitive: The Power of Bodywork in Coaching

At its simplest, Somatic Cognitive Coaching, a development of ‘Bodywork’, is paying attention to and acting on, the vast amount of information from our own and others’ bodies, as well as our thoughts and perceptions and how one informs and dynamically interacts with the other.

We can use this to significantly enrich the coaching experience, to enhance our effectiveness in facilitating group processes, and in some cases it may be the only way to help create powerful, sustainable changes for our client.

We are increasingly trained in our society, to emphasise verbal representation, abstracting all too easily from our reality and 'felt' experience.

Because of this, we often overlook the wealth of visual and ‘felt’ information right in front of us, presented, perhaps unconsciously, by our client…and also experienced within ourselves.

Nick’s work in this area is influenced by a diverse range of sources including the work of Lowen, Keleman and Goleman and the philosophies of Chi Kung and Ayurveda.

Core curriculum / Structure

On Day 1 of this popular 2 day experiential workshop we will explore:

• The basic morphic types and their day-to-day effect on our well-being and effectiveness.
• How our body (or our clients’ body) often holds onto old, unresourceful patterning, frequently outside of conscious awareness and how to begin to change this.
• Reading our clients 'real' communication and body language.
• How to create deeper, sustainable changes with your clients
• How to help our clients manage their stress better and indeed managing our own better
• How to work with this awareness in an executive coaching context without seeming weird!

On Day 2 we’ll build on Day 1 looking at:

• The 4 basic distorted somatic emotional types; porous, swollen, dense and rigid, their implications and how to work with them.
• Working particularly with swollen and rigid ‘alpha’ type clients.
• The ‘Dance of Hands’; working externally to support deeper changes internally. The client’s hands are often in motion as she/he is talking, framing, shaping, supporting or disagreeing with the spoken word, normally out of the client’s awareness. This deep, highly visible (to us), link between the external and the internal is a powerful information and intervention source in a number of ways.
• How to work effectively in creating sustainable changes with commonly requested, hugely important, but abstract coaching client requirements such as ‘develop greater presence’, ‘project more gravitas’ and ‘enhanced confidence’. Classic Somatic Cognitive challenges!
• How to develop greater personal presence
• How to continue to work with this awareness in an executive coaching context without seeming weird!

Apply online for this programme

This course is ideal for practising executive coaches or consultants who would like a greater insight into and understanding of Somatic Cognitive Coaching. Delegates frequently report that as well as enhancing their practice, there are often personal benefits experienced in greater personal awareness and well-being.

Faculty Facilitator

Nick Kitchen

Fees

£600.00 + VAT = £705.00

Venue

The Gestalt Centre
62, Paul Street
London EC2A 4NA
(near to Old St tube station – Exit 4)

Dates & Times

11 & 12 June 2009
9.30am – 5.00pm

Who to contact

To learn more about the Psychology Of Coaching Series contact:

Sue Burston
Telephone: +44 (0)1959 569 516
Email: training@aoec.com

Programme dates and online applications

Somatic Cognitive Coaching and the Power of 'Bodywork' in Executive Coaching - 11 & 12 June 2009