A Coaching Model Created by Stania Zbela
(Transformational Coaching, UNITED STATES)
The Integral Coaching Process by Stania Zbela
The Integral Coaching Process is ensconced in a multilayered approach which integrates all principal levels of individual’s consciousness comprising the spiritual and vital levels or planes at the core, the mental and emotional levels at the middle, and the sensory at the most topical layer. All levels, in turn, include the conscious, the subconscious and the unconscious states albeit expressed to different degrees. For example, the core make-up of an individual subsists through the spiritual and vital planes correlating with the unconscious state while the direct conscious state is best expressed at the sensory level. However, the direct conscious state still encompasses enough depth and breadth of the being in the emotional and mental levels but to a lesser if not a finer degree.
More accurately, the subconscious state resides in these two mid levels though it may not always amply express itself herein due to unique individual psychology, mental capability or spiritual unfoldment. Concurrently, these internal planes converge with the external environment and create an opening for the more sublime and visionary aspects to funnel through and mix with the denser material realm in order to co-create what the innermost level of being needs and desires. The external provides the necessary environment for the internal architecture to develop, expand and transform itself into a new state of beingness whether or not the individual is consciously expressing it.
While the design of the coaching process is concentric, including and integrating all levels of being, both the expression and integration of any one level into the others can be best mapped out through specific stages in order to demonstrate the ideal flow of direction and progress of the individual client throughout the entire coaching process. Additionally, there are three aspects to the quality of the “integral flow:” one is demonstrated in the unfoldment of the process in each individual session; the second one is manifested with the integration of consecutive session(s); and the third one is embodied or pronounced in the entire coaching agreement spanning a minimum of three months but indefinite in duration unique to each client’s desired level of attainment.
Although goal setting and documenting of real progress before arriving at the desired outcome is significant to this coaching process, the overall design or system of transformation contains a much greater periphery of the entirety of the individual being. With more understanding and mastery of each consciousness state, the client becomes self generative in creating ideas and producing the necessary motivation to amply and capably navigate through life via the individual internal levels and states which are offset by the external architecture of shared reality.
The first stage of the coaching process involves the Harnessing of Energy unique to each client. Through the exploration of client’s goal(s), current state, resources, personal ecology, and language delivery the coach gathers enough information about the client in order to offer optimal support at the level(s) of beingness the client needs and desires. Similarly, client’s core values, strengths and underlying beliefs will be tracked at this stage to fortify momentum and stay on course. Although this stage provides the takeoff for the coaching process to unfold, it remains the primary force behind all stages throughout the entire coaching process and agreement, for it directs the client towards a more authentic state of beingness. Once the exploration is underway, the client will begin to discover other factors contributing to the given challenge at hand.
This may lead the client to shift a perspective or adopt a new attitude, in which case, the natural progression is towards the second stage of the process, the Creating of Vision which will serve as the client’s energetic imprint of the blueprint later found in the third stage where the Establishing of Goal is secured and/or modified to keep the client better equipped and fully energized to reach the desired summit of success. In the Creating of the Vision stage, the client is encouraged to access the unconscious realm via imagery and meditation tools, then contents of which is then funneled through the subconscious memory before being reintegrated through the focused conscious state (of awareness). This comprehensive dynamic may not likely arise in the first few sessions, but if the client is encouraged and accordingly supported, the Creating of Vision becomes that much more powerful and useful for the attainment of the goal in the long run.
Similarly, the third stage is extremely important, for the mental plane converges with the vital one; hence, the Establishing of Goals is directly fed by the expansive and generative energy of the Vital which, in turn, is drawing on the energy of the Spirit. Goal setting becomes more effective, for the above elemental frame embodies additional “energy tools” to make this part of the process efficient and operative.
The fourth and next stage, the Harmonizing of Stages is best expressed via the emotional modality of the client who may or may not be meeting with “successes” in the process of ascending the necessary steps of the ladder towards the top. By effectively harmonizing the different stages of the process, the client may need to revisit any of the proceeding stages and engage in a deeper level of self reflection and whenever possible, self introspection to smooth out any bumps or obstacles arising on the traveled course.
Additionally, this stage includes specific tools to engage and deeper embody the Spirit to feed more energy to the first stage, the Harnessing of Energy. Although various practical tools or methods will be used whenever necessary at different stages of the entire coaching process, the inclusion of spirit-based tools supersedes any of the other tools by reawakening the primary energy source that holds it all together, i.e., all the levels of individual’s state of consciousness and expressing itself in three distinct albeit not necessarily individually felt states of being—as they too are flawlessly integrated. The fifth and final stage, the Integrating of the Outcome not only culminates with the client reaching the desired goal, but more importantly it gives direct evidence of the learning and growth carefully garnered along the way. Although the client is acknowledged often along the way, the recognition culminating with the attainment of the desired goal feeds the process anew by furnishing the client with foundational tools to keep the momentum going.
