Somatic coaching: Why executive coaches need the body as much as the mind

Executive coaching is often framed as a thinking profession - one that relies on listening, questioning and reflection. But for the professional coach, the body is just as vital as the mind. Known as somatic coaching, it invites us to recognise the body as a resource for change, not only for the client, but for the coach themselves.

In somatic coaching, the coach’s own embodied awareness becomes a central part of the coaching process. This is where the concept of self as instrument comes into play: the coach uses their whole self - body, emotions, intuition and presence - as a finely tuned instrument in service of the client’s development.

Origins of somatic coaching

Somatic coaching reframes the coach’s body as an active resource rather than a passive presence. Through embodied awareness, the coach uses their whole self - body, emotions, intuition and presence - as an instrument for the client’s growth. This approach goes beyond language, engaging the coach’s physical and emotional intelligence in service of change.

As Strozzi-Heckler writes in The Art of Somatic Coaching, “It’s now time to emphasize the cultivation of the self in the coach’s training. It’s important what the coach can do, but it’s more important how he or she can be. This requires the development of an embodied presence that’s central to success of the coach, and to the client as well.” This perspective reframes the coach’s body as a vital instrument—one that senses, responds and connects in ways that go beyond language.

The body offers valuable data during coaching. Shifts in breath, posture or muscle tension can signal what is happening beneath the surface. A tightening in the chest when a client speaks about a decision, or a sense of heaviness when a topic feels unresolved, are not distractions - they are insights that can deepen the conversation.

The coach’s body as a sensing instrument

Gestalt coaching provides a framework for working with these signals. Rather than interpreting or imposing meaning, the coach shares observations cleanly and invites exploration. For example: “As you speak, I notice a tightness in my stomach - does that resonate for you?” This simple reflection can open new awareness for the client and enrich the dialogue.

By cultivating embodied awareness, coaches can learn to notice these signals without judgement or attachment. This is where Gestalt coaching offers a valuable framework.

As John Leary-Joyce, founder of the AoEC and master of Gestalt coaching illustrates in The Fertile Void: “Occasionally a client would walk in, sit down in a relaxed manner and, for no particular reason, I’d begin to feel a physical sensation e.g. tightness in my stomach, or tension in my shoulders. I would do an internal audit to see if I had some personal difficulty that I was unaware of and usually found that there was nothing. Even in supervision I could not come up with a plausible explanation for these reactions. What I began to spot was that later on in the session, the client would reveal that she was experiencing similar feelings to the ones I’d experienced at the beginning of the session.”

The Gestalt approach encourages the coach to share their observations, feelings and somatic reactions in a way that is clean and non-directive. For example, a coach might say, “As you speak, I notice a tightness in my stomach - does that resonate with anything for you?”

This kind of sharing can deepen the client’s awareness and open new avenues for exploration.

Why somatic awareness matters for coaches

1. Enhances presence and attunement
   A coach who is grounded in their body is more present, better attuned, and more able to hold space for the client. Somatic awareness helps the coach regulate their own nervous system, which in turn supports the client’s regulation and trust.
2. Supports ethical and relational sensitivity
   The body can signal when something feels off - whether it’s a boundary being crossed, a relational tension, or a moment of emotional intensity. Coaches who listen to their bodies are better equipped to respond ethically and relationally.
3. Deepens the use of self as instrument
   The coach’s body, emotions and intuition are not separate from the coaching process - they are part of it. Somatic coaching strengthens the coach’s ability to use themselves as a resource, bringing greater depth and authenticity to their practice.

Developing somatic capacity as a coach

Somatic coaching is not about technique - it’s about practice. Coaches can begin by developing their own embodied awareness through breathwork, movement, mindfulness and reflective exercises. Training programmes, such as the Master Practitioner Diploma in Embodied Dialogue Coaching offered by the AoEC, provide structured pathways for learning how to integrate somatic methods ethically and effectively.

Importantly, somatic coaching is not about imposing physical practices on clients. It’s about being in relationship with the body - your own and theirs - and using that relationship to support insight, growth and change.

Coaching from the whole self

Professional coaching is evolving. As complexity and uncertainty increase, the need for coaches to work from a place of grounded presence and embodied wisdom becomes more urgent. Somatic coaching offers a way to meet that need - not by adding more tools, but by deepening the coach’s relationship with their own body.

When the coach uses the body as a resource, they bring their whole self into the work. They listen not just with their ears, but with their breath, their posture, their gut. They become more than a facilitator of change - they become an instrument of it.