Coaching for Psychological Flexibility

WHY psychological flexibility?

For years the field of psychology has been guided by a seemingly logical assumption: if someone feels bad, the goal should be to help them feel better by reducing or eliminating discomfort. As a result, researchers, psychotherapists, coaching and other professionals have focused on developing techniques to help clients avoid, minimize, change or get rid of unwanted feelings.

However, this approach treats emotional distress like a fire that needs to be extinguished and takes clients on a sometimes unrealistic journey to try not to experience the inevitable, normal stress, challenge and pain that is part of being human.

What too often gets missed is the good news that our wellbeing and performance don't depend on feeling good.

People with high levels of psychological flexibility can face and embrace difficult emotions and do the hard things that matter most to them. Psychological flexibility grounds people in an empowered stance. Instead of struggling with difficult emotions, you can learn to "surf" them. This shifts the focus from fighting unwanted emotional experiences to learning from them and to show up in ways that help you achieve your goals and live your values. Even when they're triggered. Even when things change quickly. Even in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world.

AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH

There is a growing body of research supporting its use in coaching both for individuals and in the workplace. Research has shown that psychological flexibility improves mental health, wellbeing and performance in both personal and professional settings by increasing:

• mental health and wellbeing

• behavioral flexibility

• mental agility

• goal clarity

• task focus at work

• resilience

• meaning & life satisfaction

Benefits oF PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY COACHING

As a coach, you want to help your clients break free from unhelpful, rigid behavior patterns that keep them from tapping their full potential. But unfortunately, not all coaches are trained in working with key psychological processes that help their clients achieve optimal levels of wellbeing and performance. Too many trainings for coaches rely on outdated models of psychology. 

In this 3-part training series you’ll learn cutting edge, evidence-based interventions to help clients increase psychological flexibility. You’ll also develop the confidence and capacity to design your work with your clients to achieve effective behavior change through a more powerful relationship with their emotions and choices. And you’ll learn about the philosophy underlying psychological flexibility and why it matters for quality of life.