Techniques, Theories, and Studies
Appreciative Inquiry (AI): Developed by Organizational Behavior Professor David Cooperrider in the 1980s, AI involves the art and practice of asking questions that strengthen a person’s capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten their positive potential. It involves inquiry through “unconditional positive questioning”. Instead of negation, criticism, and spiraling diagnosis, AI utilizes discovery, dream, and design to build a “positive change core” in a person’s behavior by linking an individuals past and present achievements, assets, unexplored potential, innovations, strengths, elevated thoughts, high point moments, lived values, strategic competencies, personal wisdom and insights – and visions of valued and possible futures. By linking the energy of this core directly to any change agenda, changes never thought possible are suddenly realized and obtainable.
Motivational Interviewing (MI): Developed by Dr. Stephen Rollnick and Dr. William R. Miller in the 1980s, MI is a counseling style that is goal-directed and seeks to gently help a client discover why he is ambivalent to change. MI is based on four principles for coaching: Expressing empathy means to have true support of the client’s position to help progress. Supporting self-efficacy means to recognize that the client operates under free will and to support confident change. Rolling with resistance requires understanding that resistance to change is normal. Developing discrepancy means helping clients see the usefulness of change. MI uses four basic techniques–open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening and summaries.
Non-Violent Communications (NVC): Developed by American Psychologist Marshall Rosenberg beginning in the 1960s, NVC is a communication process based upon self-empathy (defined as a deep and compassionate awareness of one’s own inner experience), empathy (defined as listening to another with deep compassion), and honest self-expression (defined as expressing oneself authentically in a way that is likely to inspire compassion in others). Through the practice of NVC, we can learn to clarify what we are observing, what emotions we are feeling, what values we want to live by, and what we want to ask of ourselves and others. We will no longer need to use the language of blame, judgment or domination. We can experience the deep pleasure of contributing to each others’ well being. NVC creates a path for healing and reconciliation in its many applications, ranging from intimate relationships, work settings, health care, social services, police, prison staff and inmates, to governments, schools and social change organizations.
Positive Psychology: Developed in 1998 by American Psychologist Martin Seligman, Positive Psychology is intended to complement, not to replace traditional psychology. It does not seek to deny the importance of studying how things go wrong with people, but rather to emphasize the importance of using the scientific method to determine how things go right with them. Through Positive Psychology individuals are helped to correctly identify their strengths and use them to increase and sustain their respective levels of personal growth and wellness. It utilizes positive emotions and how to be content, find meaning, and remain engaged with life despite external conditions; and examines how people optimally experience, forecast, and savor the positive feelings and emotions that are part of healthy living.
Self-Determination Theory (SDT): This theory and study was founded by Dr. Edward Deci. SDT is comprised of predicting behavior as determined by the connections between intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and other factors.
Terms
Coaching: In the context here, coaching involves a dialogue between you and the coach that is based upon Mindfulness, and with the aim of helping you achieve goals that realize your vision. With your input, you and the coach will co-create value based goals and the plans to achieve them. Through collaboration, you will be guided and motivated to achieve goals.
Empowered: A result of professional coaching that increases the client’s state of being strong and in control of their own lives and destiny.
Health & Wellness: The terms “Health” and “Wellness” while often used interchangeably actually have very different meanings. The concept of wellness is broader and includes more facets of human life than the traditional definition of health, and the two differ in an important way. Health may be measured and assessed objectively. For example, a physical examination and the results of laboratory testing enable a physician to determine that a patient is free of disease and thereby healthy. In comparison, wellness is a more subjective quality and is more difficult to measure. The determination of wellness relies on self-assessment and self-report. Further, it is not necessarily essential that individuals satisfy the traditional definition of good health to rate themselves high in terms of wellness. For instance, many people with chronic conditions or disabilities report high levels of satisfaction with each of the six dimensions of wellness. Similarly, people in apparently good health may not necessarily give themselves high scores in all six aspects of wellness.
Health: As defined by the World Health Organization, Health is: “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity”.
Mindfulness: Is the state of being completely in touch with and aware of the present moment, as well as taking a non-evaluative and non-judgmental approach in which each thought, feeling, or sensation that arises is acknowledged and accepted as it is. For example, a mindful approach to one’s inner experience is simply viewing “thoughts as thoughts” as opposed to evaluating certain thoughts as positive or negative. It is part of the Noble Eightfold Path practiced by Buddhists as they work towards enlightenment, as well as being a part of hatha yoga practice.
Paris Wellness: Is the application of proven techniques, processes, and experiences in Wellness Coaching that takes individuals to the point at which they feel empowered to achieve any of their goals and dreams.
Self-efficacy: A person’s belief about his or her ability and capacity to accomplish a task or goal , to succeed in a particular situation, or to deal with the challenges of life.
Self-Esteem: Is the belief in one’s strong personal value and self-worth. It is the way you see yourself, how you cope and solve your problems and your confidence in your own existence. Self-esteem can involve a variety of beliefs about the self, such as the appraisal of one’s own appearance, beliefs, emotions and behaviors.
Wellness: As defined by the National Wellness Association, Wellness is “an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successful existence.” Wellness encompasses how people feel about six interrelated aspects of human life: Emotional, Intellectual, Occupational, Physical, Social, and Spiritual Wellness.