The first thought that came to my mind when leaving the room in the evening, Day 3 of the training ending, was that this constant state of self-reflection—as required as a daily assignment—was both thrilling and unsettling. Not only yesterday was the day when I became fully aware that I was embarking on this journey to become a coach. It was also when I came to realize that coaching was not merely about leading others towards their established goals. Instead, each session was very likely to be a chance for personal growth, a sort of mirror-like situation reflecting my strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs.
A chance—if I would allow myself not to be afraid of the challenge—to work on any identified area for development along the way. The underlying question—that only time would confirm or deny—I found myself reflecting on whether each interaction with a client reveals a new layer of my understanding, not just about the client but also about myself. Is it possible that after so many years of clinical practice, there is more to learn, discover, and understand about myself? And then modify, improve, adjust… I repeat what I wrote before the outcome of this line of thinking is both thrilling and a bit scary.
My self-discovery journey began when I first stepped into the coaching arena yesterday, so to speak. I faced the discovery session filled with some theoretical knowledge, but mainly massively relying on my experience as a psychotherapist. However, my first encounter with the ‘client’ was a deeply humbling experience. I realized that not only was there a significant gap between theory and my ability to put it into practice but that my mindset was not the correct one for the given situation. I was not there to help the person recover from a mental health issue or psychological disorder. I was there to guide the client in customizing a plan so that the client could achieve the stated goal.
Nonetheless, I am aware that it is going to be a challenge to look at the client as a normal, healthy individual with no psychopathology in sight!
I am realizing now that constructive reflection can be a powerful ally in this journey toward a potentially new career path. How easy it is to take my competence for granted. After each training day, I have to spend time reflecting on the interactions I had with my peers and the coach instructors, on what I listened to, reacted to, accepted, and even, at times, rejected. Self-reflection has been forcing me to be a more proactive listener, pondering over the questions we were asked, the responses received, and the progress made. This process has not only enhanced my listening skills but also my ability to engage with others in a more meaningful way.
I cannot deny there have been moments of self-doubt and criticism. I found myself questioning my ability to develop the most effective competence and become successful in the new field. Some ‘what-ifs’ in my mind—clients not achieving the desired outcome or sessions not going as planned—that I tried to shut off, yet they were hard to ignore. On reflection,’ I became aware that these thoughts, although uncomfortable, can be crucial for my growth. Very confident in my previous role, I need to accept that failure is not a dead-end but an opportunity to learn and improve.
