As a coach, how competent do you feel in ensuring you hold an ethically safe space to support your clients when they implicitly or explicitly share that they are having fleeting thoughts of suicidal ideation, have made active plans to end their life or have attempted suicide?
Studies show that 1 in 5 adults often or always feel lonely. Loneliness and suicidality share a complex and intertwined relationship. Similarly there is a profound link between burnout and suicidality. It is thought that 53% of managers are currently experiencing burnout. These interconnected themes are increasingly finding their way into the coaching space.
Many coaches are unsure how to sufficiently contract with their clients around having difficult conversations, should suicidal ideation surface during sessions. As a result they skim past the topic, compromising the ability to develop a deep and trusting relationship.
Often coaches miss the metaphors that their clients bring in to the coaching space that suggest suicidal ideation or dance around the edges of them because they are fearful of doing harm and feel uncertain about how to hold a safe container, should their client divulge something that suggests they may need support beyond the parameters of the coaching relationship. Ironically, in doing this they risk rupturing rapport.
Avoiding the topic of suicidality removes the potential for the client to share openly. Studies overwhelmingly suggest that sharing suicidal ideation is a powerful preventative measure that reduces stigma and feelings of isolation, enables earlier engagement with resources and specialised professional support. It also fosters hope, connection and resilience, all of which are key to navigating mental health challenges.
In this 2-part workshop, seasoned professional coaches Jayne Morris MCC and Jo Reeves PCC combine their experience in coaching, coach training, coach mentoring and supervision to offer an in depth CPD training that is suitable for coaches of all levels.
​
By the end of the short course, you will have learned how to:
-
Curate a safe coaching space
-
Recognise signs of suicidality
-
Establish risk
-
Coach your client around resourcing themselves and explore preventative measures
-
Appropriately safe guard and sign post for specialist support
-
Stay within your competencies as a coach
-
Build your confidence in having difficult conversations
-
Use clean and clear language
-
Ask direct questions in a coaching manner
-
Be aware of the connection between neurodiversity and suicidality
-
Appreciate the link between loneliness and suicidality
-
Stay alert to the interplay between burnout and suicidality
-
Recognise the importance of self-care following coaching sessions where there has been a conversation around suicidality
​
As part of the training we will explore the common fears that coaches often bring into the space around this topic, in addition to the fear that is frequently held by coachees in making contact with and expressing their thoughts, feelings and emotions in the coaching space.
You will be provided with the opportunity for experiential learning, breakout room discussion and practice, whole group reflection and plenary, Q&A and much more.
This is for you if you identify with any of the following:
-
You want to feel better clued up on what to do if a client who once was coping, no longer is.
-
Recognise that you have been tip toeing around the edges not knowing what “good practice” actually is in relation to this topic.
-
You have been hesitant to take this topic to supervision for fear of being judged, having got it wrong, appearing clueless, breaching boundaries.
-
You want to increase your confidence and reassure yourself as to how to work within your competencies.
This was an incredibly impactful workshop which addressed such an important topic. It helped me to understand how to step more into these important conversations, and overcome the fears that may have been leading to avoidance. Knowing that 1 in 5 people potentially have suicidal thoughts, they may be in crisis, or they may been taken by surprise by a fleeting thought and as a coach I want to ensure that I can co-curate a space where my clients can bring all of themselves and share their thoughts, with no fear of judgement or parenting. So that we can sit with their thoughts and emotions and explore what they need. My biggest takeaway - this is about being human: ask the question and have the conversations that matter. We don't want to do harm by asking, but we could potentially do more harm by not.
Navigating Suicidality in Coaching
Pricing:
Self-funded
£175
Public sector/ SME funded
£250
Corporate funded
£350
We want to ensure this programme is accessible to all, so if you would like to join and are currently experiencing financial difficulty please let us know and we can offer you a space on donation.
Sign up for the course
Ended
From 175 British pounds