Coaching Session template

01 INTAKE SESSION - Obtain Consent - 5 minutes

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. 

It is a pleasure to meet you! 

I’m so excited to support you in developing your goals. 

I appreciate that you have already read the coaching agreement and completed the client intake form. 

I’ll be using that information you provided as a springboard for our discussion today.

Before we get started, I have some “housekeeping” to cover related to the Zoom meeting today - this is in relation to recording sessions - so I have a few “consent” questions to ask, okay? I will be reading this outloud, so let me know if you need me to repeat anything.

Yes or no responses are fine for answers.

1. Do I have your consent to engage and record this session with you today?

2. Do I have your consent to share this recording with other ThirtySpoke coaches and / or ICF Mentors for the purposes of evaluating ThirtySpoke’s coaching?

3. Are you aware that I am an ICF Coach In-Training—meaning I am a member of ICF but I do not have my full ICF credentials—and I am working toward my ICF accreditation?

4. Do you agree that in this session we will not focus on any topic that may cause psychological distress and that the coaching session is not counseling, therapy, nor is this coaching session intended to be a substitute or replacement for sound medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice?

5. Are you aware that I am bound by ICF’s ethics and standards guidelines?

6. Last one: you have the option not to proceed with this session at this time and any time during the session. Do you wish to move forward with coaching session now?

Okay, great! Thank you!

And to follow up, do you have any prior experience with coaching? Perhaps in high school, college, club level? What would you say are the attributes of a good coach for your interests?

Now let’s review your client intake data.

Do you have any questions?

Great and thank you again.

02 Let’s Get Started - Establishing rapport - 5 minutes

Initial Session Questions 

Coach Action: Take an interest in the client. Goal: Establish rapport.

1. What went well this week for you since the last session?

03 Clarify goals and points to cover in session(s) - 5 minutes

CHOOSE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING. Align questions to action plan that has been created.

1. What are your best hopes for coming to this session so that when you look back you will say it has been helpful and worth your time?

2. What is the most important thing to discuss today?

04 Work through discovery session agenda - 5 minutes or 20 minutes

(This is the actual coaching - coach is partnering with client)

CHOOSE A MAGIC WAND SCENARIO

1. The magic wand  

Suppose I had a magic wand by waving my wand I could make this problem disappear,  just like that (waving an invisible magic wand). As you go back to school /  work / to your family, how would you notice that the magic is working?  

2. The snap  

Suppose I had some superhuman powers and simply by snapping my fingers like this  (snaps fingers) I could make your problem disappear (or I could give you the skill or ability you need), and all I would need to do is to simply snap my fingers like this. If this was possible, what would be the first opportunity for you to test if the snap works? Give me an example of a situation in which you would be able to find out whether the problem is gone or not (or whether you possess the skill or ability you need).  

3. The follow-up  

We have not yet decided when to have a follow-up meeting for this project but let’s say, for the time being, that it will take place in two months from now. What I would like to know from you is what would you be telling in that meeting supposing you’d be all convinced that this project has been a truly successful one.  

This question is particularly suited for working with teams and organisations. 

4. The present  

Christmas is only two months away. Suppose this year Santa Claus would bring you a special Christmas present that would make you happy and improve the quality of your life considerably. It would not be a book, or slippers, or something like that. It would be some change in your life. What would that present be? How would it influence your life?  

5. The coincidental encounter  

Suppose I meet you in town next summer in one of the cafes at the market place, perhaps the one with the red plastic tables and chairs. You know that one? You’d be there sitting and having a cup of coffee. Or do you prefer tea? I would notice that you look happy and I would come over to you and I would ask you how you are doing. You would say that you are doing very well indeed; that you are happy with your life and how  things are going. I would naturally become curious and so I would ask you to give me  some details. What would you tell me?  

6. Through the grapevine  

Suppose I bumped into your mom (husband, wife, brother, friend, boss, doctor…) some day, say just a couple weeks from now, and she would tell me that things are getting better with you. I would be all ears. What do you imagine she would tell me?  

7. Hypothetical hypnosis  

Suppose I was a hypnotist and I would be able to hypnotize you and give you a post hypnotic suggestion. Do you know what a post-hypnotic suggestion is? (explains and gives a few impressive examples). Ok, so, what kind of a post-hypnotic suggestion would you want me to give you supposing I was able to hypnotize you? (client makes an attempt to answer) Supposing I was a hypnotist, I would probably ask you to be more  specific. I would need you to be precise in order for me to be able to find the the right  wording for my post-hypnotic suggestion. What would you say? What specifically would you want me to tell you? And if indeed I did give you that post-hypnotic suggestion and it would work, how would you find that out? Can you think of a way of testing whether the suggestion works or not? What would be proof to you that it indeed works. 

8. Supernatural ability  

Suppose I could give you a prescription of very special potion that would give you an almost supernatural power to do exactly the things you need to do in order to overcome your problem. What kind of an almost supernatural power would you need to overcome your problem? And once you had that power – ’cause you would have drunk the potion in the morning – how would you handle the situation? I’d like to know the whole story including the minute details.  

9. Surprise me!  

Suppose you’d decide to surprise your family by doing something that for them would indicate that you must be making real progress. What would it take, what would you need to do, to take them by surprise and get them thinking that something promising is taking place?  

10. The treatment  

The client says they are going to start some treatment, or therapy. The therapist responds by saying, ‘suppose this treatment you are talking about will be helpful to you. It is not impossible. As you say, many have been helped by this treatment. So suppose you will be one of them. What will be the first sign for you that the treatment is having an effect? What would be further indication for you that indeed, the treatment has made a major difference in your life?’  

11. The injection  

Did you know I am a doctor? Being a doctor I can give you injections. Suppose I would give you an injection that would give you the strength and ability to do whatever it is that you need to do to overcome your problem. Would you like that? Would you say yes to  such an injection? The injection would be effective and it would not have any side-effects apart from a little soreness on your shoulder muscle right after the injection. How soon  would you be able to find out if the injection is working? What would you need to do? What would indicate to you that the injection is indeed working?  

12. The miraculous brain  

The brain has an almost miraculous ability to heal itself from horrible experiences. This process is already under way. When you look back at your life a year from now, you will probably be surprised at the changes that you have gradually made during this time. Where, in terms of your recovery, do you hope to be at that point in time? What would indicate to you that indeed your brain has done the job for you.  

13. The clairvoyant  

Suppose I was a clairvoyant. You know, a person who has the gift of seeing the future. I would have a crystal ball here in front of me (leans forward pretending there is a crystal ball on the table) and by looking deep into the ball, I could see you in the future and you going about your business at some point in time in the future. Now I don’t pretend to be a clairvoyant, I don’t even know if it’s possible to see into the future, but if I was a  clairvoyant, and I indeed had that ability, so what would you hope that I would see in my crystal ball for you? You would be happy for sure but where would you be? With whom would you be? And what would you be doing?  

05 What do you do after the miracle question?  5 minutes or 10 minutes

The miracle question is not meant as a stand-alone question even if it alone sometimes seems to bring about positive changes in clients. In order for it to yield therapeutic effects, the miracle question, as a rule, needs to be bundled with further questions the aim of which is to help the client discover strategies for making their miracle description  come true. 

Suppose one day, in the not too distant future, I would write another blog on solution focused therapy and you would find that blog especially useful. What do you imagine would be the theme of the blog? 

1. Miracle question: getting the detail of the finish line. What would indicate the differences in the current and end states? Shows what the finish line looks like in great detail.

2. What if you moved away from the spot that caused the relapse?

3. What does failure mean for you?

4. What does success mean for you?

5. You must have a good reason for feeling that way. What do you think it is?

6. In what ways will that impact on different areas of your life, career, relationships?

7. What do you know about yourself that will help you?

8. What do you know about other important people in your life that will help you?

9. What else will you need?

10. How confident are you? What number is good enough?

11. How will you feel if your best hopes are met? 

12. How do you celebrate your success? (reflecting on achievement)

06 Takeaways - 3 minutes or 5 minutes

1. What do we still need to cover today to make this session worth your while?

2. What has been most helpful for you today?

3. What difference does this make to your life?

4. What do you notice that is better?

5. What steps will you take next?

6. What does moving forward look like?

7. What would you like to be happening instead?

8. You seem relieved.

9. How will you celebrate?

10. What would you like to feel instead?

07 Next Steps / Closing the Session - 2 minutes or 5 minutes

1. What is a good first step for the coming session?

2. What will you need to do to stay on track? (accountability)

3. Is there anything else you were hoping we would cover today?

4. Is there anything you think will help our work together going forward?

5. How will you feel if your best hopes are met? (motivation by pleasure)

6. How will you feel if your best hopes are not met? (motivation by pain and suffering)

7. I am here if you want to meet again if you want.

8. You want to act like you are painting a picture together; the client example with canvas powerful - help fill in the canvas

9. Creating a script for the future - this has not been a good time for me to start. What could you do to prepare for that. What would it look like if you didn’t put things off.

08 TIPS

• Box breathe and ground before every session. Release energy of client in opening and closing rituals.

• Use the words of the client to respond when asking questions

• Respect the pause.

• Hold a non-assuming stance and from there allow everything to flow.

• Our job is to champion; not impart our will or what we think is best.

• We must trust the client to discover their path on the journey.

• Don’t assume they want to go there

• Don’t use words like have to should or must - value statements for value judgements

• Direct Compliment - direct evidence

• Indirect Compliment - it sounded like you coped with that really well

• Compliment build on the person’s strengths - not just frivolous.

• Amplifying positive differences: What were / are / will you be doing that is different?

• Yes Set - responses create a positive rapport: It looks like you have had a great time up there during the summer in Maine Cherie. I can see how amazing that has been for you.

• It’s my job to steer the ship, not assuming anything

• What have you been noticing that signals the end of the session?