What is Integral Coaching^®?

"Integral" means inclusive of everything, entire, complete, whole. So, at its deepest root, Integral Coaching® refers to a way of coaching that is whole, complete and integrated. Further, Integral Coaching® includes frameworks based on Integral Theory (see Integral Institute for further information). We have extensively studied Adult Development Theories and Integral Theory to build a systematic approach to change, bringing about change, and pursuing change using an approach that is whole and complete. Change is at the root of coaching whether it is introducing healthier ways of being in our current lives or transformative depth work that brings about radical development. Ken Wilber's Integral Theory underlies many aspects of our work and similar to other Integral colleagues in different disciplines, we have been applying Integral Theory to the field of Professional Coaching; others have applied it to their fields of study (Integral Psychology, Integral Ecology, Integral Politics, etc.).

In understanding Integral Theory, one comes to see that many different perspectives are offered by leaders in various disciplines who profess that their "way" of approaching their particular field of study is the "correct way." Looking at their approaches from an Integral perspective, we can see that their professed ways of working in a particular discipline are "all correct" and they are "all partial." In other words, many schools can argue that their approach to a discipline is the right way but Integral provides a map that shows they are all valid, all partial, and all fit into a larger and more inclusive map: an Integral map. Whole. Entire. Complete. Everything.

Integral Coaching® provides the Integral map for the discipline of Professional Coaching. It includes behaviourism and ontology. It includes systems approaches and the unique dyad phenomena associated with a relationship between a coach and client. It includes subjective understanding and objective, measurable results. And it works. Quickly. Powerfully.

With any approach to coaching, there are two primary components:

1. the METHOD employed by the school of coaching (how that school understands human development, healthy growth)
2. the APPROACH used to understand and support the client (how that school seeks to understand a client's way of moving in the world)

The Integral Coaching® method enables you to get underneath a coaching topic to see how a client has been approaching it up until now. There are usually some fundamental 'Ah Ha' moments as the client realizes, "No wonder I haven't been able to sustain this." Integral Coaching® enables the client to more effectively identify and work with long-standing patterns while building the ability to move in new directions. Both occur at the same time. The grip of a past way of being is loosened as it is more consciously worked with while simultaneously creating new ways of moving forward.

In actively working in both of these areas (the 'past-based' way of being and the 'future-based' desired outcomes) unprecedented results are attained in very short periods of time. This method or way of working with a client is based on the principles of Subject-Object Theory in human development; by working with a client so that they explicitly and objectively come to see her/himself, the client is able to shift quite quickly and radically into healthier, more productive, deeply satisfying, and more expanded ways of being in their life. The 'Ah Ha' moments are powerful but more poignant are the capabilities developed by clients to shift long-standing patterns that have felt immovable.

To be able to work with a client in this way involves employing Integral Theory to gain insight into how our clients 'move in the world'…how they see, actions they take, results they look for, etc. We have developed and adapted Integral Lenses based on Ken Wilber's AQAL model including the lenses listed below. AQAL is a short-form term meaning All Quadrants, All Levels, All Lines, All Types, All States.

1. Quadrants Lens
2. Levels of Consciousness Lens
3. Lines of Development Lens
4. Type Lens (Enneagram, Gender type structures)
5. States of Consciousness Lens

These Integral Lenses aggregate into an Integral framework (whole & complete) that we call a client's AQAL Constellation™. Through the course of work with a client, the AQAL Constellation™ becomes the coach's road map for building new capabilities with their client. Our approach to understanding clients is powerful in that we use lenses to 'look through' so that we can appreciate the world views of our clients. They are not tools to categorize clients, stick them in a box and draw conclusions about who they can and cannot work with! The AQAL Constellation™ is a rich framework providing a map that truly honours the complexity of being human.

The combination of a powerful Integral Coaching® method, the objectives of a coaching topic and a complete view of a client's AQAL Constellation™ enable a powerful approach to adult human development. We have been described as best in class by the Integral Institute for our truly Integral approach to the discipline that is being called the change modality of our times: Coaching.

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