As leaders in Trauma Informed Coaching, Moving The Human Spirit is often asked how coaches can become involved with coaching clients who have experienced trauma, specifically coaching clients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The questions are: What is needed? Is the skill set different or are there special requirements to be able to do this type of coaching? What we have experienced with our various clients so far, is that each and every person, and their experience and definition of trauma, is different. What works for one does not always work for others.

The next question becomes: How do you get started in this field? There are no hard and fast rules, but based upon our experience, here is what we have found to be the most helpful to successfully working in this field called Trauma Informed Coaching. A Certified Coaching Program in which you are being trained to coach at the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) level, and a coaching program that is recognized by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) - is certainly the first and most mandatory step to becoming a Trauma Informed Coach.

We work along with our Moving The Human Spirit Associate Coaches who are trained in various other areas including the latest brain sciences, Emotional Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence, trauma counselling, Somatic Experiencing, Masters of Counselling Psychology and Master Practitioners of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, along with other various modalities that support in the process of healing and mastering the effects of trauma. As a Trauma Informed Coach, it is very helpful to bring an awareness to the process of trauma in the physical body, how this connects with the mind/brain and how it may manifest itself in both. This is good insight when uncovering and releasing anxious states. There are other programs offered by several universities or colleges which Trauma Informed Coaches may consider learning about cause and effect which will assist them when encountering clients who have experienced trauma.

As Trauma Informed Coaches, we do not treat trauma – we are simply aware of all of the nuances of working with clients who have experienced trauma.

Trauma Informed Coaches can help alleviate symptoms in trauma survivors by helping to create new positive experiences and diffusing event flashbacks. We assist with emotional and conversational intelligence, giving language to feelings when possible, supporting when there is no language for these, learning to manage the window of tolerance and supporting our clients to start to create a picture of a better future that they want for themselves, building this capacity little by little over time. As Solution-Focused Trauma Informed Coaches – we acknowledge and honor the past where it is, honor the person for who they are now and focus in on starting to bring an awareness to the present and the positive possibilities of the future, including post-traumatic growth. We bring awareness to other feelings that may/may not serve the client at this time such as anger and unnecessary arousal.

It is recommended that the client has been cleared to work with a Trauma Informed Coach by their family doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist or providing Trauma Informed Coaching in conjunction with these other professionals. If at all possible, it is best if you can create and have a working relationship with the psychiatric or psychologic treatment area that your client has been working with. It is highly recommended that your client discuss with their psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor that they would be seeking a Trauma Informed Coach to compliment the healing process. As long as the client feels strong enough to participate with the coaching sessions themselves, then you can form a client relationship that is supportive and successful for everyone involved.

From a Trauma Informed Coaching perspective, the more specific coaching approaches or tools that have proven to be effective for post traumatic stress are:

• Checking in with yourself as a coach and asking: “Is this my passion to work in this field of Trauma Informed Coaching?” “Do I have this capacity?”
• Knowing, understanding and practicing the difference between “empathy” and “compassion”
• Creating and holding a space of non-judgement at all times
• Listening and believing what the client says is true for them in that moment
• The Trauma Informed Coach must leave their own “agenda” aside and out of the coaching sessions
• The outcome should be specific to the client themselves and what they want
• Meeting the client where they are at – in this present moment, in this day, week, month, year – remaining flexible to their present “state”
• Believing in the resourcefulness of the client – even during the times when the client does not believe in themselves
• More than anything else, the most important tool that can be used in coaching trauma survivors is holding a safe space for our client in each present moment

Positive short-term results include building trust with any trauma survivor. Usually, the client’s world has been turned upside down and they lose trust in most areas of their life and with most people in their lives. This makes them more susceptible to post-trauma stress. As a Trauma Informed Coach, it will take time to build this trust with you and for your client to understand what trust means to them now. If over time, you are unable to build this trust with your client, we recommend that you support a safe process of referring your client to a more advanced Trauma Informed Coach in that specific field or seek another trained professional in which to refer your client to.

Trauma Informed Coaches must be able to conduct sessions that may have lengthy silences, involve highly agitated states, or involve shutdowns in the moment. They require advanced listening skillsets when things are being said, understanding what is not being said or even a very brief “hmm”. While it may seem like nothing has happened in a session to us as coaches, this could seem completely different for the trauma survivor. When doing Trauma Informed Coaching watch for these things: anxiety, disassociation, redirecting, and delusion. Tone and sound are incredibly important to the trauma survivor as it can take them in and out of a flashback. Be very aware of the breath and breathing of the trauma survivor when coaching them. If you are having a visual session, be aware of the body language being created.

The overall goal of Trauma Informed Coaching is to support the client to move towards mastery of their particular situation and supporting them to find and learn ways and practice tools and skillsets. This will help them to continually move towards a life that they want to create for themselves – perhaps a calm, peaceful and more enriched life.

​As a life coach I know that one of the most important things in our work is the ability to listen and listen well. It is referred to as “active” listening, where you want to catch every word and hear exactly what is being said because it is essential to your work and the client you are serving. On National Indigenous Day, I couldn’t help but think what could be different if only we listen.
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If listening skills are employed from the beginning, then the nuance of the Indigenous peoples stories can teach us so much more about who they are and how they show up in this world. What I “hear” is, the Indigenous peoples have the ability to step into a Coach position in almost anything they take on. Within their unique culture, amidst all its diversity and resilience, they replicate several of the tools used by a master coach.

Indigenous peoples skill for patience is something that has been handed down over years of big picture thinking when it comes to things like the environment and its management for future generations to be able to care for and sustain their children. They recognize the power of selection and taking only what is needed for life to continue.

Self-questioning that promotes intrigue and self-reflection mirrors the solution focused approach and solution problem solving. Indigenous peoples tend not to tell, but to ask what is next, how can this be different, not unlike a Coach helping a client become empowered to produce positive outcomes from inside of themselves. They have always demonstrated a curiosity, which gives them a creative edge that looks forward in a joyful way.

While most of us rush through our lives looking “busy” and being heard loudly, we think that translates into self fulfillment and productivity, our Indigenous neighbours are completely comfortable in the quiet. Knowing when to be “silent” is another tool required to be an amazing Coach. When you allow yourself to think or reflect as opposed to having to react, a flood of ideas can be realized. We may feel like we are afforded little time to be silent, yet if we were to incorporate this as a habit then we would soon learn that being with ones self in silence has a therapeutic effect and can increase healing and resolution through reflection.
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One of the biggest triumphs that I honor with Indigenous peoples is their dealing with fear through incredible bravery. Coaches, especially us who work in the Trauma and healing of trauma, know that the one thing that is needed to survive and create new ways of moving through life is the ability to face fear and change without recoil. The indigenous people have demonstrated this over decades. They have faced the unknown, their stories are filled with bravery and resilience. They have risen up time after time and survived all that has been dealt to them. With the awareness that National Indigenous Day brings, my hope is that this time we listen, and listen deeply to support our fellow humans in their healing, identity and presence. 

When we speak to any of our clients about the importance of taking time for themselves and making sure they are acknowledging "self-care", we have a responsibility to also educate them on what that is. Self-care refers to the ability, in a healthy manner, to deal with and be successful at everyday living as an individual. Making healthy choices, getting enough exercise to contribute to your physical wellbeing, eating properly and staying mentally and emotionally fit so we are able to work through, and enjoy life are all signs of self-care. Some of the basic approaches to self-care involve things like, choosing a healthy diet, monitoring and controlling drug and alcohol consumption, physical exercise in many forms, self regulation of emotions and making sure you are keeping up with hygiene and medical conditions that may need attention. Healthy Mind + Healthy Body = Healthy You!
 
In our line of work we start by looking at what our clients “want” and how they may “get it”. Self-care is no different. As with all things, it is necessary to take the time to go in deep and find what self-care actually means to you. What may work with one person does not always work for the other. One commonality for all is to make self-care habitual in your life and to have a plan in place to do so. Lets consider what a basic self-care plan may entail.

Make sure you are getting your sleep and eating healthy options that keep your body happy and maintained. As important as it is to spend time with friends, family and partners, you need to ensure you have clear boundaries so we can tune out for a while. Have a routine that gets you out and exercising on a regular basis and make it something you enjoy and want to do. Enjoy mindfulness, relaxation and self-reflection when possible. Meditation, nature walks and yoga are some activities that people report as therapeutic. Get a mentor that represents the positive aspects of living that you would like for yourself. A person in your life that you respect and look up too that is living a life very close to the one you would like to be living and use them as a supportive role model. 

As with any plan we must now implement it and make sure we maintain it for best results. Something to think about here is your level of commitment to this plan and what may prevent you from actually following through with it. Aim to remove obstacles that may discourage you from completing the plan. Set out a twenty-one [21] day challenge for yourself to help make the plan a healthy habit. Above all, make sure you enjoy what you are doing for self-care and you will be more likely to continue and make it part of your lifestyle.

For some people living with PSTD, the idea of having a balanced life can seem an impossible feat. Moving the Human Spirit (MTHS) has been successfully navigating these waters with great results. With 1 in 10 Canadian’s affected by this diagnosis, it cannot be easily ignored or forgotten about. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder became mainstream news when numerous troops who where subjected to horrific situations in war torn countries returned with sever mental disorders and constant hyper-vigilance. This was due to the conditions they were witness to and the traumas they survived. Living in this state, the most severe cases found no other relief but to end their own lives. Most recently we have seen the effect of trauma locally with the wildfire in Fort McMurray and the environmental factors, poverty and violence within our indigenous communities.
 
As Certified Trauma Counsellors and Trauma Informed Coaches, we provide the guidance for clients to respond to these difficult challenges and live a full and rewarding life. We foster positive inquiry for the focus of changing negative conditions and creating powerful outcomes that are measurable.

• “Life is complicated, and often muddled with expectations, habits and emotions. It was very helpful to have the one-on-one coaching sessions to help to dis-entangle the attachments and clarify my options.”
• “If you are looking for clarity in any given area in your life, and an effective way of coming up with solutions for yourself, I would highly recommend MTHS.”
• “In the hectic business of our lives, it's easy to lose focus of the health of the relationships that matter most. MTHS has given us (couple) the tools to navigate through our own relationship complexities.

People become focused on the negative consuming their lives; they forget to ask, “what could be?” That is where the change begins. So we ask the simple question “What do you want instead?” We start there, right at the base. A solution-focused approach employs a number of techniques that engage and stimulate actual change. MTHS specializes in post-traumatic growth, trauma informed coaching, trauma counselling, anxiety and stress management and mindfulness in all aspects of life.
Providing a supportive and logical framework for clients to generate their own powerful solutions fosters resilience, contributing to their own health and wellbeing. They become inspired to over come barriers and form new neurological pathways. They choose the path; we walk beside them on their road to change.

It is to everyone’s advantage to become more aware of a solution focused approach and what they can do to change the environment they live in. Go to www.movingthehumanspirit.com and find out more about Trauma Counselling and Trauma Informed Coaching and its benefits.

Chart a course and then revise
Take some time to think about the goals that you would like to accomplish. Be clear and make sure they are really the ones that you desire. If possible, research and learn as much about them as you can. Change or revise your goals as needed. Three months from now your goals may look very different then they did from the beginning. Being flexible so that you can alter and rearrange goals that no longer work for you, will leave you open to create new ones.
 
Pen to Paper
When you have came up with your list of goals, write them down. Studies show that goals are better realized when you actually set a pen to paper. You breathe life into your ideas and make them more tangible when they are written down. Being able to review a list is helpful in deciding what we really want to pursue.
 
Scale the goal
When setting a new goal make sure it is something that you are genuinely interested in. If you are unsure about a goal then scale the goal from 1-10, 1 being “I really have no interest in this” and 10 being “Let’s rock this”. If the goal falls anywhere below an 8 then I suggest you do one of two things: decide how you can make it closer to a 10, or look at the goal you have set and think about whether it’s really worth pursuing.
 
Be Realistic
Taking on goals that you know you simply cannot succeed at will only prevent you from accomplishing the ones you can. Keep your list manageable; don’t make it unreasonably large or daunting. Start with goals that you can more easily accomplish; this will get you energized and feeling positive for other goals on the list that may take more time or patience. Having a long list of things you want to accomplish may look impressive but can start to feel so daunting that none of the goals get completed.
 
Timing is everything
When looking at your goals, consider when they will start and when they will finish. If you merely set goals with no timeline then chances are they may never happen. I encourage clients to use their calendars and fill out several days, weeks or months at a time. It is amazing when you have an idea of what you are doing and when, how much easier the task can seem to accomplish.
 
Assume the position
To succeed at something, you have to commit to it entirely and “assume the position”. As children, we could easily become anything we desired by simply visualizing it with few restrictions. As adults, we have to exercise our inner child more and be open to possibility. For instance, I tell clients if you want to be a great cook, then you must act, talk and channel cooking as if you are a great cook! Your body and mind, when working as one can accomplish much more then when they work separately.
 
Divide and conquer
If the list you made is realistic and you want to succeed at all the items you have written down, then prioritize. It is best to start with smaller things that will help build momentum. For instance if your list includes “clean desk top” as one of the items, and “clean bedroom” as another, then build momentum by doing your smaller task first, and moving to the larger task second. You will build a sense of accomplishment, which help you carry on with larger tasks.
 
Get a different perspective
When setting goals that seem daunting, try taking on a new perspective. Looking at your goal in a different way, seeing where you can enhance what you are trying to accomplish, can be a great service. Ask others how they have accomplished similar goals or how they are working toward accomplishing them. Being open to opinions can save you loads of time and actually give you insight into faster completion of your own goals.
 
Celebrate
When you have accomplished a goal, before setting off on the next one, make sure to celebrate what you have done. It may be as simple as a coffee break or as elaborate as a dinner out. Completing a goal and being rewarded for it will establish positive reinforcement, which makes it more likely for you to continue working down your list. Hard work should always be rewarded with play!

When I tell people what I do for a living, it can create some interesting looks. Some say “I Coach… soccer, mostly”. Some stare blankly, and often I will be asked something along the lines of, “What is that…?”. I always love the questions, and who doesn't? As now I have a way to educate around my chosen career. I have never heard anyone say anything negative, but I do get, “Wow, I couldn't do that.” That one always surprises me. You see, I felt for the longest time that anyone could Coach. All you needed to do is learn. Then when you were ready… learn some more. Then be prepared to learn again. When that was complete, and you were set to open up your company and hang out your shingle, learn all over and in a deeper way then before.
 
What is it that really makes me Coach? Why do I do it? What started my engine inside to perform this gift? What do I possess that makes me pursue such work? Is it that I get to dive head-on into the life of another and hold space for them, in the kindest and simplest way? Is it that I get to say bring your burden or magnificence here, rest your head or lift it, and let’s start a conversation?
 
I coach because on a very basic level, it’s all I have ever known. As a child I was intuitive enough to know that there was something bigger then just me. A population existed beyond myself and I was part of the equation. And that population was sometimes hurting or celebrating, sometimes confused or clear and even capable of greatness even in the face of fear. The way the world seems to be going, I feel now more then ever, we need each other. I think we owe it too ourselves, and others, to open up and share what lies inside. Whether it is good or bad, let us foster resilience in the face of change. Let us look at the world we live in through a lens that still sees beauty, kindness and acceptance. To know that no matter what may come, we are not alone, we are not broken, we don't need fixing.
 
I am a Coach because of a following in my heart. My business partner refers to it as a “calling”. I have found the piece of me that lights up, holds purpose and shows the world a skill that if I chose not to share it, I would not have the gratitude or completeness that I do. That is why I Coach. It’s bigger than I am and these are the type of people I want to align with. Are you here to contribute something larger then yourself? Is this why you Coach? If that rings true for you, please send a note, as we are looking for people who want to contribute, work and get paid to follow their bliss in their Coaching career.
 
Moving the Human Spirit is a Professional Executive and Life Coaching consulting company located in British Columbia. Due to our expediential growth, we are currently seeking Coaches that possess PCC or have been assessed at the PCC level. Are in good standing with the ICF and who are interested in consulting with our company to help bring changes to the clients we serve. Our clients are couples one of which is a first responder or military personnel who are, or have been, subject to extreme situations that caused stress, anxiety or PTSD. For more information on becoming a Coach with Moving the Human Spirit, please call or email Susan Hogarth at 604 581 4452 or susan@movingthehumanspirit.com also check out our site at http://www.movingthehumanspirit.com/cope.html
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