Internal Barriers

Coaching is about change - and change requires action. However, our actions are influenced by our thoughts and feelings and, in addition to having goals that they wish to achieve, some clients may describe themself as 'depressed', 'anxious', 'stressed' or suffering from low self-esteem/lack of confidence. Thus my coaching often also includes those approaches and techniques that come under the heading of  'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) including, for those who wish to incorporate mindfulness meditation into their life, Mindfulness-Based CBT (MBCT). In fact, CBT resembles coaching much more than it resembles more long-standing therapeutic approaches.

CBT evolved from the ideas of Albert Ellis (who developed Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy in 1955) and Aaron Beck (the founder of Cognitive Therapy. It is an umbrella term for a range of techniques and tools. However, all coaches (or counsellors/therapists) who use CBT techniques will work with an approach that recognises that what we think influences what we feel and that what we think and feel influences our behaviour - including the decisions and choices we make in our lives in all areas.

One way of referring to our thoughts is as ‘self-talk’. We all talk to ourselves all of the time – whether you are aware of it or not. If a significant amount of this ‘internal dialogue’ is negative it is difficult to have the confidence and belief in yourself that you need to turn your goals and dreams into reality. Thus its important to become more and more aware of such thoughts and to recognise that they are not ‘the truth’ but rather are just ‘bad habits’ that you have learnt in the course of your life. The fact that you have had a thought 100,000 times does not mean that it is true! Habits can be changed.

Changing your behaviour to achieve what you want in life will be much easier once you have learnt to identify and weaken the ‘negative’ thoughts that hold you back/sabotage you and to replace them with more positive and useful thoughts that makes change a process which flows rather than something where you feel you are having to force and push yourself.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been developed as a powerful approach to working with people who suffer repeated bouts of depression and chronic unhappiness by combining the approach of cognitive therapy with meditative practices and attitudes based on the cultivation of mindfulness.

However, the combination of mindfulness and CBT is also extremely helpful for developing a positive relationship with, and learning more control over, our thoughts, emotions and behaviour in any situation - including stress management, anxiety and low self-esteem. A mindfulness ‘mind set’ can be incorporated into daily life but for the best results a willingness on the part of the client to develop a meditation practice is required