When I first started my business, I wrote and shared this poem on my website:

A coach is not a therapist

A coach is not a mentor

A coach cannot wave a magic wand

And make you feel much better.

A coach does not give answers,

But asks questions all the time.

A coach cannot force doing,

Only you can take the time.

A coach is just a midwife,

A midwife for the soul.

I hear you and I see you

And I’m here to help you grow.

Since then, I have occasionally abandoned these commitments to give clients the "tactical" career support that more people ask for. That's in part because I haven't truly taken the time to share what I mean by transformational and liberatory coaching. 

I had the great honor of training in coaching with Sarah Jawaid and Damon Azali-Rojas who now lead Coaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation. They define Liberatory Coaching in this way in their book Love Letter to the Movement: Using a Coach Approach for Healing, Justice, and Liberation:

Liberatory Coaching is listening, seeing, feeling, and sensing in multiple dimensions to someone's essence and what they are being called to evolve into...

We feel coaching is a tool, a technology, an operating system. All of our experiences organizing, speaking, training, supervising, raising funds, bridging movements, and building organizations have shown us that the coach-partner (aka client) relationship already has all the answers to their issues or problems; this is our core coaching philosophy. This means that, as the coach, you don't have to fix anyone or anything - the coach-partner will bring the answers...

When we discuss Transformational models of coaching like Liberatory and Somatic coaching, it's essential to understand how they differ from traditional career counseling or advising. Career counseling primarily focuses on tactical actions to achieve specific job-related goals. While this approach can be beneficial, it often lacks the depth and holistic view necessary to create lasting change and personal growth.

Transformational coaching dives deeper into the individual's core beliefs, values, and identity. The goal is to empower clients to overcome limiting beliefs and embrace personal transformation as they navigate their career journeys. I love helping my clients tap into their full potential by examining the beliefs and emotions that influence their decisions and aspirations.

Liberatory coaching shares similarities with transformational coaching but emphasizes breaking down systemic barriers and building a more equitable and inclusive world. By applying this approach to my work, I enable my clients to recognize and navigate the systemic issues within their career journeys, supporting them as they show up as leaders and agents of change within their communities, organizations, and industries.

Somatic coaching aligns with, and adds another facet of depth to this work by incorporating embodiment practices. By focusing on the mind-body connection, somatic coaching helps clients identify and address the physical manifestations of their emotions, fears, and desires. In my experience, this holistic approach is crucial when navigating career transitions, fostering leadership skills, and making brave choices that honor your dignity, belonging, and safety as well as these qualities in the communities you're fighting for.

While each of these approaches has unique characteristics, they intersect in their focus on fostering self-awareness, resilience, and long-term personal growth. As a coach specializing in leadership and career change, I find that integrating transformational, liberatory, and somatic coaching principles empowers my clients to achieve meaningful career transformations that align with their values, goals, and aspirations.

Want to experience what it's like to work together in coaching? 

Book a commitment-free initial Clarity Coaching Session.