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Controlling Emotions & Active Experimentation

Gestalt Coaching at WorkJohn Leary-Joyce

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Controlling Emotions and Active Experimentation

Webinar Overview • Introduction• Spectrum of Coaching Practice • Overview of Gestalt • Model of Human Functioning • Gestalt Approach to the Nature of Change• Active Experimentation - the 4 Levels • Coaching practice using five tools• Coaches attitude

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Spectrum of Coaching Practices

• Skills

• Performance

• Developmental

• Existential

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Future is specified – desired/created

Gap Analysis - How to get from current to desired future state Focus on specific goals and behaviours to achieve solutionsCognitive analysis of situation that needs to be changedObjective – Evidence BasedEffort to learn Skills to change Behaviours

Doing – explore what I do

Skills/Performance Approach

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Future is specified desired /created

Future as possibilities - emergent

Gap Analysis - How to get from current to desired future state

Needs / Discomfort Analysis - How we got to be the we are, why we do it this way and what we can do

Focus on specific goals and behaviours – achieve solutions

Focus on over-arching results, dilemmas, complexity

Cognitive analysis of situation that need to be changed

Emotional Feelings Self -belief, Attitude, Confidence, Presence, Relationships

Objective - Evidence Based Subjective - Experienced basedEffort to learn Skills to change Behaviours

Courage to accept self and face personal challenges

Doing – explore what I do Being – explore who I am

Skills/Performance Approach

Developmental/ Existential Approach

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Working with Emotions using a Gestalt coaching approach

What is ‘GESTALT’?

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Gestalt coaching‘GESTALT’ means whole or complete

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Gestalt CoachingWe fill in the gaps to make a a whole picture – a gestalt

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Gestalt coaching

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Gestalt coaching

Confusion!!!!

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First: Developing Awareness in the Present Moment

Two Key Principles of Gestalt Coaching in Relation to Controlling Emotions

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Behaviour

Action

Dimensions of Awareness

Perceiving Physical & EmotionalFeelings

Thinking

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Control Emotionsby accessing

Thinking

Physical & EmotionalFeelings

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First: Developing Awareness in the Present Moment (Mindfulness)

Second: Paradox of Change Principle

Two Key Principles of Gestalt Coaching in Relation to Controlling Emotions

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Actively Take Responsibility

Abdicate Responsibility

COACHING APPROACH

Become Resigned

to Fate

Take action

Be Different

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Actively Take Responsibility

Abdicate Responsibility

The Nature of Change

Become Resigned

to Fate

Accept the situation

Take action

Be More Myself

Be Different

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Gestalt Paradox of ChangeArnold Beisser

Change occurs when you become who you are

Not when you try to be what you’re not

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Gestalt Paradox of ChangeArnold Beisser

Change occurs when you become who you are

Change is effort when you try to be what you’re not

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Controlling Emotions Productively Gestalt Coaching

Trust the Process…..• Develop Awareness of:

• Awareness leads to change (Paradox of Change)

• Only Goal is Awareness - in the ‘here & now’

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Active Experimentation…….WHY?

1. Joint researchers 2. Work in the present – see the impact3. Test our hypotheses with curiosity 4. Outcome never ‘wrong’ 5. No ‘resistance’ just data6. Robust challenge – create a ‘safe emergency’

Skill comes in constructing the experiment to balance challenge and support and generate the biggest change.

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Constructing an ExperimentFour Levels Intensity

1. Dissociation2. Imagining Personal Experience3. Physical Enactment4. Direct Communication

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Four Levels Intensity in an Experiment

1. Dissociation

The coachee is observing the situation – himself and or another person, doing the activity and is therefore:

• Not connected directly to the experience • Able to see the wider context • Observing the situation unfold • Seeing the subsequent outcome • Viewing it all from a witness position• In control and able to turn it off if gets too much

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Levels of Intensity in an Experiment

2. Imagining Personal Experience

The coachee is invited to: 1. Experience of the sensations internally without

having to demonstrate any external reaction 2. Imagine or draw to illustrate the emotionally

aroused state 3. Reflect on the experience to gain insight and

learning.

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Levels of Intensity in an Experiment

3. Physical Enactment Coach engages with the same level of energy Matches the tone of voice and body posture So Coachee knows you are alongside.

The coachee is invited:• To access and demonstrate the unfamiliar reaction• Become aware of the physical sensation of the emotion

and exaggerate it.

The exposure of the inhibited emotion makes the coachee highly aware but also more vulnerable.

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Levels of Intensity in an Experiment

4. Direct Communication

Coach ready to be affectedReact in an authentic way So Coachee feels you are fully in contact

You invite the coachee to • Look at you directly • Express the words with energy directly to you.

You know how much the coachee is in touch and engaged because you feel the impact.

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The Toolkit to create an Experiment

1. Exaggeration – loosening the knot2. Movement & Bodywork3. Using Voice4. Using Art & Objects5. Metaphors

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Controlling Emotions Productively Gestalt Coaching

Trust the Process…..• Develop Awareness of:

• Awareness leads to change (Paradox of Change)

• Only Goal is Awareness - in the ‘here & now’• Expand Awareness into Polarities:

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Dialogue Relationship COACH’S ATTITUDE to SELF and Coachee• Respect whole person• Patience – trusting the process• Non-judgemental – everything is information,

not good, bad, right, wrong• Relationship of Equals• Bring your whole self into the relationship• Two persons focused on developing

awareness of one

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Coaching Practice‘Horns of a Dilemma’

Key underlying principle – Paradox of Change • Change happens when you fully experience and accept

who/what you areCoaches Purpose• To facilitate the coachee to fully experience both sides of

the dilemma• No solution; No plan; No goal; No opinion – totally objective

and accepting – allowing change to happenCoaches Skill• To find as many creative ways as possible to facilitate the

coachee to fully experience both sides of the dilemma

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Q & A For further questions, Information on Gestalt courses Receive free pdf chapter Active

Experimentation from Fertile VoidContact me, John Leary-Joyce at

info@aoec.com