ABSTRACT
The opportunity to ventilate feelings in a safe, holding space can be enormously important, particularly for clients who typically bottle things up, have nowhere else to express them, or who find themselves in a crisis situation. Nonetheless, they may be surprised or taken aback by the strength of feeling they have about an issue. Whilst traditional coaching emphasises practical action plans and to-do lists as proper take-aways of coaching conversations, from a Gestalt perspective these are not always appropriate or relevant. Whilst there may be some back-in-the-world action to be taken, the outcome of Gestalt coaching is often an interior reconfiguration of self – a new way of seeing, perceiving, and feeling. The original issue can seem far less important and not require action. Allowing a natural cycle to close out without prematurely rushing to the next thing is a hallmark of the more experienced, sensitive practitioner.
