Where Past based Psychotherapy meets future based Life Coaching
Often used as a reflective practice model (Rolfe et al., 2001) the ‘what’s so’, ‘so what’ and ‘now what’ model offers a good analogy for this particular unique type of therapy.
The ‘What’s so’ part explores how we’ve become the way we are, what experiences have shaped us, what particular life experiences we have had may have informed the thoughts, beliefs and feelings we have about ourselves and others. This particular set of unique interpretations informs us as to what we can and cannot do, as well as deep seated beliefs about who we are as a person. This is where the past based nature of psychotherapy comes in. Here you will be guided through an exploration of what has made you you.
Once insights and awareness have been established (all of which takes time), the next step of ‘So What’ comes in. Here you will be facilitated to explore what you have meant your experiences in the past mean about you and in what ways have they helped and in what ways have they got in the way or held you back on occasion. Perhaps there are patterns of behaviours that may have been helpful at an earlier part of your life that no longer serve you and may be impeding you in some direction. This middle phase is spent exploring how past based experiences impact on us on a day-to-day basis. Processing of thoughts and emotions and resultant insights then takes place leading to greater clarity, self-awareness, self-acceptance and a clear sense of ones own authentic self. The last phase entitled ‘Now What’ is where the client is facilitated to consider the future and equipped with the insights and awareness of earlier steps, the client is facilitated towards creating a future they wish to live into, perhaps a future that didn’t seem possible from the past based perspectives of beliefs about self and what’s possible.
It’s important to point out that this process can take time and although depicted here as a set of sequential steps, clients move back and forth throughout the therapeutic process. Engaging in therapeutic process such as this takes courage and commitment yet feedback from clients demonstrate that the results are worth it.
