In a new session of the programme EEC Alumni, European School of Coaching has held the meeting «Keys to accompanying emotion».», taught by Mavi Catalá, coach and trainer of coaches. The session focused on one central idea: you cannot emotionally accompany another person without first learning how to manage yourself..
«If we say that emotion invades us, that it is biological, the emotion is produced in the limbic system as a natural response, but then it goes through a whole bodily activation and the identification that I make of what is happening to me on a bodily level, together with the account of my judgements. That's what marks the whole observer that we are.
Thus, the expert shared some essential ideas, among them the difference between control (impossible) and management emotional (possible), assuring that «emotion invades us» and that this is worked on from the awareness raising.
He also stressed the importance of the body in accompaniment: breathing, posture, tone and rhythm as emotional languages and some intervention tools at the coach's disposal: validate without contradicting, clarify and inquire, working from the non-judgment and avoid advice; use of metaphors to broaden the story and understanding.
«Emotion does not only have a verbal language, it has many other languages that we need to incorporate in order to talk about emotions. To be afraid is a label, but fear itself for everyone is going to be a very different experience».»
Finally, for those who do online coaching he recommended a pre-focusing (body scan and attention to breath) to sustain presence and connection.
Participation and community
The format included a short introspection exercise and a question and answer session, with interventions from attendees who shared learnings about fear, sadness, anger and guilt, and how perspective changes as triggers and needs are identified.
Upcoming Alumni Activities
Future meetings were announced: 5 February (ICF competency update and its impact on practice) and 18 February (observed coaching sessions).
