challenges

To change or not to change – that is the question

More often than not, the answer is not a simple one. Whether it’s ourselves or our clients, changing jobs, habits, behaviours or beliefs which we have had for a lifetime, is one thing, but just making the decision to change can be torture. As a coach I became fascinated in the concept of decisional balance, as a simple(ish) way of seeing whether change was likely or not. I use it in my own reflections when I realise that I am…

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The Importance Of Embracing Uncertainty

We are living in uncertain times right now, but right now I am pondering a different type of uncertainty we grapple with, as OTs who coach. I started to read the Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) book (mentioned above) and the following phrase jumped out at me: “Getting comfortable with (this) uncertainty has been a key part of the journey to becoming skilful at OPC” The uncertainty that Fiona Graham talks about is to do with an internal shift we need…

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Understanding our occupational selves: coaching and OT

Understanding our occupational selves: coaching and OT

I often write about how coaching helps us tackle barriers to occupation, be they lack of confidence or self-belief, the lack of a congruent, desirable action plan or the need to un-earth perhaps unconscious drives/desires which scupper our well-intentioned plans. However, I am often still asked “is this occupational therapy?” or “am I being an OT if I coach?” or “if a client figures it all out through coaching, why do they need me?” Of course, these are all complex…

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ESCAPING THE CLAWS OF “I’LL START WHEN…”

Escaping the claws of “I’ll start when…”

There are times of extraordinary upheaval and stress, catastrophic events, sudden bereavement and other awful, awful stuff- so please don’t mishear what I am about to say. I remember when my kids were very small and it seemed impossible to do anything (watch this if you are in any doubt!) and my lovely mum, who is also my best friend, would say things like “in a few years Jen, it will get easier…” Well it didn’t – it just changed.…

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coaching

Coaching Occupational Choices: from “I” to “We”

I made this video yesterday and immediately doubted whether I should post it or not, but these are issues I feel very strongly about. Whilst we are a profession with our roots in healthcare and the medical model and a profession which values independence and personal choice, we and our clients operate in a much wider world. This world is interconnected, global, interdependent and our occupational choices impact way beyond our immediate world. Enjoy and if you hate it, feel…

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PROFESSIONALISM AND FEAR: FEELING LIKE AN OT MORE THAN EVER

Professionalism and Fear: feeling like an OT more than ever

Professionalism and Fear: feeling like an OT more than ever I was inspired to write this posting after I coached an OT this morning, who I have been working with since January this year. She is a fabulous OT who I thoroughly enjoy working with, and we had more of a mentoring session today, rather than a coaching session.  As ever, I always learn about myself and my process when I work with others – that’s one reason why coaching…

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