Final Prep

Question 1

What is Life Coaching?

Answer 1

ICF definition: Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspire them to maximize their personal professional potential.

• a collaborative relationship between coach and client that fosters self-discovery, self-awareness and a deeper sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
• happens in an environment where clients can freely express their emotions, be profoundly heard, manage internal blocks, clarify intentions & desires, become more self-directed
• coaches trained in listening, empathy, reflecting through insight, and asking powerful questions
• the most important element is the relationship b/w the coach & client

Question 2

Coaching

Answer 2

• focuses on the present and how to move into a desired future.
  The past may be touched on, but coaching doesn’t attempt to unearth and heal wounds from the past.

It’s not considered a healing or therapeutic modality.

Question 3

Counselling

Answer 3

• delves into client’s past in order to support the healing of traumas or developmental disruptions.
• trained in therapeutic interventions and traumatic processing.
• provides support for addictions and mental health disorders.

Question 4

What is presence?

Answer 4

The ‘here and now’ or when the focus is on our experience exactly as it is in the moment, so we can inhabit ourselves free from the past or expectations of the future.

• the practice of returning to the present moment facilitates self-awareness, personal growth and clarity.

Question 5

Why is it important for a coach to cultivate presence?

Answer 5

• helps avoid getting swept up in our thoughts and emotions.
• clean listening means the coach is free from distraction, filters and assumptions which develops trust, safety and rapport with clients.
• exploring presence-cultivating practices: sit/grounding, breath, body scan, meditation, mindfulness, nature, movement.

Question 6

Who was the Life Skills Program designed for?

Answer 6

socio-economically disadvantaged adults

Question 7

What are the 4 Communication Styles and which one is most effective?

Answer 7

Passive
Aggressive
Passive-Aggressive
Assertive
The most effective is Assertive.

Question 8

What are signs of Passive Communication?

Answer 8

• fail to assert for themselves
allow others to deliberately or inadvertently infringe on their rights
• fail to express their feelings, needs, or opinions
• tend to speak softly or apologetically
• exhibit poor eye contact and slumped body posture

Question 9

What are signs of Aggressive Communication?

Answer 9

• try to dominate others
use humiliation to control others
• criticize, blame, or attack others
• be very impulsive
• have low frustration tolerance
• speak in a loud, demanding, and overbearing voice
• act threateningly and rudely
• not listen well
• interrupt frequently
• use "you" statements
• have an overbearing or intimidating posture

Question 10

What are signs of Passive-Aggressive Communication?

Answer 10

mutter to themselves rather than confront the person or issue
• have difficulty acknowledging their anger
• use facial expressions that don’t match how they feel - i.e., • smiling when angry
• use sarcasm
• deny there is a problem
• appear cooperative while purposely doing things to annoy and disrupt
• use subtle sabotage to get even

Question 11

What are signs of Assertive Communication?

Answer 11

• state needs and wants clearly, appropriately, and respectfully
• express feelings clearly, appropriately, and respectfully
• use “I” statements
• communicate respect for others
• listen well without interrupting
• feel in control of self
• have good eye contact
• speak in a calm and clear tone of voice
• have a relaxed body posture
• feel connected to others
• feel competent and in control
• not allow others to abuse or manipulate them
• stand up for their rights

Question 12

An empathetic response to a person’s dog passing away.

Answer 12

“I can really hear how much your dog meant to you and I can see the tears.. that appears to me there is a lot of sadness there for you right now, and that makes so much sense to me because your dog was your companion, your best friend for all these years…” *Recognize and validate feelings/emotions

Question 13

Why is it important for a skilled coach to ask a lot of questions during a session?

Answer 13

Invite inquiry and compassionate

curiosity.

Question 14

The most effective open-ended coaching questions start with _____ & _____ ?

Answer 14

How/What

Question 15

What is the definition of life skills?

Answer 15

Life skills are problem solving behaviours appropriately and responsibly used in the management of personal affairs.

Question 16

Describe the stage “contemplation”, in stages of change

Answer 16

The Client is considering making a change, but doesn’t know what that change is exactly, or how to make it and is still feeling undecided.

No plan/action to make a change yet.

Question 17

When would you refer a client to a counsellor?

Answer 17

If the client is seeking healing/processing from past trauma.

Question 18

What are 5 phases in the 5 Phase lesson plan?

Answer 18

Stimulus
Evocation
Objective Inquiry
Skills Practice
Evaluation

Question 19

What is the purpose and an example of a ‘Stimulus’? (5 phase lesson plan)

Answer 19

The purpose is to promote interest in the topic and either emotionally/intellectually stimulate them into an active state of learning.

A question, video, problem for discussion, activity, game, etc. related to the lesson topic.

Question 20

What is a metaphor? And what are 3 benefits of using it?

Answer 20

A figure of speech in which a comparison is made between two unlike things that have something important in common.

Metaphors foster connection, build communication and encourage insight.

• help explain a situation in a way that may be more relatable or even less complicated.
• help clients identify with the situation through a metaphor in a way they may not have understood it before.
• great to explain something more precisely in how the client is actually feeling about a situation.

Question 21

What are the stages of group development?

Answer 21

Form (centred around belonging)

Storm (testing out behaviours and may include frustration, conflict, lack of unity)

Norm (starts with decrease in satisfaction and ends with neutral or positive feelings)

Perform (trust is high and a strong sense of unity)

Adjourn (review experience, achieve understanding and insight)

Question 22

What is a limiting belief?

Answer 22

A belief a person holds about themselves that limits their capacities and/or abilities.

Question 23

Define empathy and explain its importance in Coaching.

Answer 23

The ability to understand the emotional experience of another, connect with that experience from within oneself, and have an appropriate, compassionate response.

• builds trust and safety in the coaching relationship and encourages emotional
  processing.

Question 24

Explain why giving advice isn’t effective in Coaching.

Answer 24

It’s more powerful for a client to find their own answers. If someone relies on a coach for advice, they come to believe that the coach is the capable one, not themselves.

Question 25

What does SMARTER stand for in goal setting?

Answer 25

Specific
Measurable
Action plan
Realistic
Timely
Emotional motivation
Relevance

Question 26

What do BEFIR’S stand for?

Answer 26

Body language
Eye contact
Following
I-thou
Relaxation

Question 27

Describe at least 2 responsibilities of a Life Coach (according to ICF)

Answer 27

• Discovering, clarifying and
aligning with what the client wants to achieve
• Encouraging a client’s self- discovery
• Eliciting client- generated solutions and strategies
• Holding the client responsible and accountable
• Have adequate and on-going training from reputable teachers
• A commitment to personal development

Question 28

Name 3 responsibilities of a life skills

facilitator.

Answer 28

• Observes group process
• Helps keep group focused
• Discourages group from going off topic
• Ensures that everyone participates
• Protects members from getting attached
• Points out and helps to resolve conflicts

Question 29

Explain the value of including a “Rationale” in the 5 phase lesson plan.

Answer 29

explains the reason or purpose of the lesson and how it pertains to the needs of the group

Question 30

Name and describe the 3 levels of listening.

Answer 30

Level one- internal listening (awareness/attention is on oneself)

Level two- focused listening (all attention/focus is on the client)

Level three- global listening (the listener can observe their client with all their senses, what they see, hear, smell, feel, intuit)

Question 31

Name 3 key differences between Coaching and Counselling.

Answer 31

• coaching focuses on the present and how to move into the desired future
• coaching doesn’t attempt to unearth and heal wounds from a person’s past
• counsellors provide support for those suffering from addictions, mental health disorders, while coaching does not
• counsellors have the ability to delve into a client’s past in order to support the healing of a person’s traumas

Question 32

Name and describe the steps to problem solving.

Answer 32

1. Recognize that there is a problem
2. Identify and own the problem
3. Brainstorm possible alternatives/soluti ons
4. Choose a possible solution
5. Implement the decision
6. Evaluation

Question 33

What are 4 examples of defence mechanisms that occur in group development?

Answer 33

• withdrawing
• intellectualizing
• generalizing
• projecting
• interrogating
• competing
• blaming
• sub-grouping
• scapegoating

Question 34

What are some examples of unhealthy boundaries?

Answer 34

• Expecting others to know what you want or need.
• Saying ‘yes to things you don’t want to do.
• Making decisions based on the opinions of others.
• Expecting someone else to make you happy.
• Thinking you can change someone and make them happy.
• Being afraid to disagree.
• Ignoring your feelings.
• Being afraid to express ideas or thoughts.

Question 35

What are some examples of unhealthy thinking styles?

Answer 35

• All or nothing
• Over generalizing
• Jumping to conclusions
• Should, must, ought to criticize
• Magnification
• Labelling
• Emotional reasoning (assuming how we feel is who we are)
• Blame and shame for something that wasn’t completely your fault or blaming others when it wasn’t their fault.

Question 36

What are the 8 ICF Core Competencies?

Answer 36

1. Demonstrates Ethical Practice
2. Embodies a Coaching Mindset
3. Establishes and Maintains Agreements
4. Cultivates Trust and Safety
5. Maintains Presence
6. Listens Actively
7. Evokes Awareness
8. Facilitates Client Growth

Question 37

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Answer 37

The ability to understand and use one’s emotions in helpful ways to manage stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.

Question 38

What is Self-Awareness?

Answer 38

The ability to recognize and understand one’s own moods, emotions and behaviour, and the impact they have on oneself and others.

• depends on the ability to monitor one’s emotional state and to correctly identify and name the emotions being experienced.

Question 39

What is Self-Regulation?

Answer 39

The ability to manage disruptive emotional impulses, moods and resulting behaviours.

Managing means being able to suspend judgement, delay reaction and create room for a thoughtful response when appropriate.

Question 40

What are 6 core emotions in the Emotion Wheel?

Answer 40

Fear
Anger
Disgust
Surprise
Happy
Sad

Question 41

Is it ok for coaches to allow feelings and emotions to arise in a session?

Answer 41

It’s ok for coaches to allow emotion - sadness, pain, anger, loss…and actually encourage it.
Emotion is a legitimate form of expression, like words, music, and dance.

The cause itself is not important; just focus on accepting the feeling. Explore and acknowledge it: “That’s a powerful feeling. There’s some pain in there, I can tell.”