Trauma-Responsive Coaching: A Coaching Paradigm Aligned with the Times

The tridemic of COVID-19, violence, and isolation significantly increased coaching encounters with extreme emotion, fatigue, and “atypical” behaviors. This can manifest as distrust, a breakdown in communication, demoralization, and disconnection at a time when advanced leadership is most necessary. Across industries, executives are seeking organizational tools to navigate through this trauma-filled time. They seek a framework that mitigates damage, increases individual and institutional engagement, and facilitates intra- or post-traumatic growth through healing-centered engagement.

Coaches need to be accessible, reliable, and to remain firmly within the coaching scope of practice when working with clients to move beyond toxic stress and harm. Through recognition, practice, and implementation of trauma-informed, and trauma-responsive tools and practices, coaches can develop the skills to move clients back into choice and aspiration, where they may begin to build cultures that are restorative, relational, sustainable, and strengthen both individuals and their organizations.

Essential coaching competencies are foundational to a trauma-informed coaching approach. Building from this core with expanded skills when encountering trauma in clients requires a broad understanding of trauma and its multivariate sources, impact, and manifestations. Just as trauma can become embodied as harm, so can safe, affirming encounters become embodied as sources of resilience.

Grounding in trauma-informed principles and trauma-responsive practices encourages the coach to tap into deeper listening skills and more meaningful engagement, thus providing clients with a deeper, broader experience and toolkit.