Yannick’s Coaching Lab features guest coaches from a broad variety of approaches, who showcase how they work as part of a live 45min coaching session, followed by reflections and Q&A with the audience.
Curious to know what this session was like? Have a peek at the Lab Report below or consider VIP membership to access the full recording of this and many more exciting sessions.
Yannick’s Coaching Lab #54 — Victoria Bradley
Lab Report by Natalie Fraser
Session Summary
Victoria’s client recently became pregnant which was an ‘existential crisis’ moment and while supported by family and friends, her coaching business has been left to the side. She entered the session wanting to be challenged around the topic of stuckness which is hindering her progress in her career as a coach, having invested a lot in the training and setting up her own business. Their decision to start coaching was in response to burnout from her previous career and a desire to help people. During the session, through building and exploring a LEGO model, the client’s perspective shifted from having to start at the beginning to realizing how much she had achieved and what resources and qualities she had for moving forward.
Key Moments
Contracting‘s skills build session’ Victoria sent her client 2 LEGO sets in the post, and during this session they practiced some key skills in a timed environment to build confidence and awareness: technical (e.g. tower), bricks as metaphors, storytelling. During the session she confirmed that they are working through the ICF ethics and standards.
Breathwork Victoria started the session with a 5 minute breathwork and a body scan. Normally she would conduct a longer breathwork, as coach and client being connected to themselves is very important.
I’m your mirror Victora described her role as “getting you past what you already know”
LEGO Victora disclosed that she would be looking to integrate LEGO into the session and that the idea is to build with each brick having a meaning, not for the sake of building. Victoria clarified that she would only integrate LEGO if appropriate and helpful.
Pointer The client was asked to arrive with a ‘pointer’ and brought a unicorn pen which she named “sparkle” – coincidently the same pen/pointer as Victoria!
What a successful outcome would be was discussed, revealing: motivation, drive and actions to move forward with as the goals of the session.
The client shared a brief overview of her issue [see summary] describing how she is stuck in a hole after a major life shift.
LEGO – Build your achievements having identified the journey she has been on and the absence of being able to fully recognize and celebrate her achievements, Victoria invited her client to take time to build these using LEGO blocks. During the discussion, Victoria emphasized how important it is to phrase this as an invitation “would it be useful to build a model of [x]” rather than a command/request “build a model of [your achievement]” which would be a facilitator approach.
The model Asking her client to hold the LEGO build on camera, Victoria invited her client to talk her through her build using the model as a reflection object, with Victoria guiding her client to notice any physiological responses to the model and feelings which arose when really looking at it. Victoria reflected back the ‘positive’ feelings and asked how these could connect her with her goal of becoming unstuck.
Changing the model Victoria invited her client to change anything following their discussion, and upon changing the model – removing the ‘negative’ dark base – changed her client’s perspective. This was reflected upon.
Reflection noticing that there were 10 minutes left, Victoria invited her client to reflect on how the session has met the session goals. This revealed resources that the client had: her support network, herself, and her writing. Victoria invited her client to keep the model, or take a photo, if it could be a helpful resource moving forward.
Insights & Take-Aways
Having a new way to express herself was exciting for the client, however, it felt intimidating that there may be ‘right’ ways to use the LEGO – letting go of this concern was her first hurdle which she overcame and found this allowed her to use her brain in a different way and think outside the box.
The storytelling element of using the model to explore her experience felt valuable for insights and building the coaching relationship.
The colors, shapes, and sizes of blocks/model, and the client’s attachment to the model, played a significant role in the coaching work.
Victoria recognizes that clients generally build something rich and meaningful – while the model may not look rich from the outside, explaining the model often reveals the richness of the meaning.
As 65% of the population are visual learners, this kinesthetic visual approach has a tendency to be valuable for many clients.
LEGO is a very versatile tool that can be used in many contexts, such as building: emotion, state, context. Sometimes more than one build happens during a session, or building on a model to develop insight.
Holding the space, being present, and keeping an eye on the time (checking in gently every 3-4 minutes), is important for the coach while the client is building. This allowed the client to focus on the build and not feel under pressure.
If a client is taking a long time or struggling, using coaching questions to explore (e.g. what are you struggling with) can be valuable. This can occur if a client has understood their experience so literally that metaphors do not work for them.
In-person you are able to see the person building which can enrich the insights, yet this can be more difficult online – options with camera angles or two cameras can work around this. Key is to see the client’s face.
A list of all available recordings can be found at https://bit.ly/LabRecordings
This Lab Report was authored by Natalie Fraser
Natalie is an existential Counselling Psychologist, specialising in trauma and transformation, and curious about coaching. Interested in exploring life’s Big Questions? Find out more at: www.existentialofferings.com
