What happens during a coaching session? (coachee POV)
Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling like you could finally breathe again, as someone had reached in, untangled the knot in your chest, and handed you back something you didn't even know you'd lost?
That's what a good coaching session can feel like.
Today I would like to share some insights from my own recent coaching session.
As a coach myself, it matters deeply to me that I walk the talk. Seeking coaching isn’t always a sign that something is wrong or not working. Looking for coaching can also mean you are serious about your growth, clarity, and well-being.
There are so many incredible benefits to coaching and talking it all out with a fellow coach.
This time around, I had nothing too specific in mind, no goal setting or ongoing bigger challenges.
However, I had a few minor things I wanted to address during my coaching session.
When working with a coach, feeling safe is everything. Before committing, always take advantage of a free discovery call. You'll know quickly whether you click or not. and that click matters more than credentials alone. (They are also important, though)
For example:
Think about the last time you tried to talk about something important to you. Something you were still figuring out, and you could feel the other person waiting to judge, fix, or advise.
Now imagine the opposite. Someone who simply holds the space. Listens without an agenda. Reflects without a verdict. That's what good coaching feels like.
Sometimes you resonate better with one coach than another, and it feels much easier to openly talk about what's going on for you, once you feel safe.
A skilled coach holds the space for you. Listens attentively and reflects. With powerful (or gentle) questions, depending on the coaching style, they provide you with the space to verbally process and untangle your thoughts.
Speaking it out loud, rather than spinning in your own head, is profoundly different. When someone receives your words without judgment, with genuine compassion, something shifts. It feels validating. Sometimes, even quietly life-changing.
In my recent experience, I started to work with an ADHD coach, because I am diagnosed with ADHD as well.
And it felt particulary good to me to speak to someone who understands ADHD because some of my challenges were in relation to ADHD symptoms.
Although I am not an ADHD-specific-trained coach (yet) or advertise ADHD coaching, I often coach people with ADHD. I know how validating it can feel when we get the chance to talk about it, regardless of whether you experience ADHD, are diagnosed or undiagnosed, I will get it.
Coaching doesn't always require a fixed goal. A good coach will dance with you. We are pivoting as your needs shift, following the thread of what matters most in the moment. That flexibility is a skill. It takes practice, deep empathy, and years of learning to trust the process.
When I left my last session with my coach, I felt so much lighter. I walked in carrying weight I didn't even know I was holding. I walked out clearer, calmer, and more like myself. That's the quiet magic of coaching. Clarity. Direction.
To sit with a coach, talking it all out, allows me to gain more clarity. To untangle my thoughts. Maybe redefine them. I become aware of a belief or underlying root cause which can help me make better decisions in life moving forward.
And if I wanted to, coaching can support me towards my chosen goal.
There are countless benefits to coaching.
If any of this resonates — even a little — I'd love to hear from you!
Whether you're curious about coaching, sitting with a specific challenge, or just want to talk it through, reach out. There's no pressure.
