Building your capacity for empathy

NBHWC Standard: 2.4. Client emotions and energy

Emotions can generate insight and impact the brain’s capacity for learning and change. The coach calls attention to positive shifts in the client’s energy or emotion that may support healthy behavior change. The coach encourages the client to foster self-compassion and acceptance of emotions, since these qualities allow a more honest appraisal of one’s behaviors and better self-care. Harsh self-criticism, on the other hand, tends to lead to avoidance and undermines insight.

Competencies

• 2.4.1. Attend to the client’s state of being (mood/affect/presence) 2.4.2. Acknowledge the client’s emotions
• 2.4.3. Ask the client to describe emotions when appropriate
• 2.4.4. Show empathy (resonance with)
• 2.4.5. Foster self-compassion Resources

RESOURCES 

Arloski, M. (2014). Wellness coaching for lasting lifestyle change. pp 118-119 (Topics 2.4.1, 2.4.2); p 247 (Topic 2.4.4).

Bark, L. (2011). The wisdom of the whole: coaching for joy, health, and success. pp 290-293 (Topics 2.4.4, 2.4.5).

Dossey, B.M., Luck, S., & Schaub, B.G. (2015). Nurse coaching: integrative approaches for health and wellbeing. pp 315-316 (Topic 2.4.4).

Jordan, M. (2013). How to be a health coach: an integrative wellness approach. p 100 (Topic 2.4.4). Livingstone, J.B., Gaffney, J. (2016). Relationship power in health care: science of behavior change, decision making, and clinician self-care. pp 63-64 (Topic 2.4.3); pp 68-71 (Topic 2.4.4).

Miller, W.R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: helping people change. pp 18, 392-39 (Topic 2.4.4).

Moore, M., Jackson, E., & Tschannen-Moran, B. (2015). Coaching psychology manual. pp 34-35 (Topic 2.4.1); p 82 (Topic 2.4.2); pp 55-56 (Topic 2.4.3); pp 45-46, 58-62, 143-144 (Topic 2.4.4); pp 57-58 (Topic 2.4.5).

Muth, N.G., & Green, D.J. (2014). Coaching behavior change. p 18 (Topic 2.4.4).