Trauma is not separate from coaching. Whether realised or not, it can influence how clients think, relate, adapt and make meaning. It also affects us as coaches, informing what we notice, what we avoid and how we respond in the moment.
This session asks coaches to accept trauma as part of the coaching landscape rather than an exception to it. Attention turns to what may sit in the shadows of the presenting issue, the conclusions we draw about ourselves and our clients, and the importance of distinguishing what belongs to us from what belongs to them.
Drawing on trauma-informed principles, Susanna encourages consideration of how connection, containment and unconditional positive regard support ethical coaching without slipping into therapy or premature referral. Rather than fearing or overlooking trauma, participants are invited to reflect on what trauma may evoke in both coach and client, alongside the professional judgement required to balance care with client agency.
