Tracey Turmel

Working with Lise in the hills and mountains around her home in Switzerland was my first real experience of coaching in nature. I had attended a workshop at an ICF conference in London a number of years ago, on the topic, which involved getting outside and which opened my eyes to the idea.

Lise did not disregard my fears like a bad ski instructor once did. She watched and listened and knew what I was capable of and what would support my 'journey'. She was very 'hands off' and didn't fuss or 'mother' me, which was exactly what I needed. She could have been drawn into my nervousness but she wasn't. She set really effective boundaries and somehow knew I needed that.

I noticed a number of times while we were working, that I paused and looked around me, allowing much deeper thought. I'm not sure I'd have accessed those thoughts whilst sitting in a room in a 'normal' coaching session. I loved the process of walking/hiking combined with doing the coaching work. I'm sure that Lise's expertise would have had an impact wherever we were, but it was even more special being outside.

Lise's use of props taken from nature as we walked was very powerful, e.g., using leaves to represent relationships, a branch across our path to represent the 'brick wall' I was describing etc. These made the 'issues' easier to work with and find a way forward. We discarded the 'brick wall' metaphor and worked on creating a better/more meaningful one instead. I have used a new metaphor (of a dual carriageway) a lot since returning home. I've also managed to 'let go' of some controlling behaviours which were impacting my family relationships. I've felt very different since and have stopped certain behaviours completely.

I was worried about my fitness levels/breathing in hiking to the top of the mountain, but I did it, so I guess I am more determined than I thought. I was able to tap into my 'use of self' and started to trust my judgement, sense of gut-feel etc, which was a very powerful lesson to use in my own coaching practice and in my personal life too.

I think the rhythmic nature of walking (or swimming) encourages thinking and reflection. It allows worries to 'settle' and sometimes find a resolution. I found it helpful to be able to look up at the sky, the mountains etc. to get a sense of perspective. I noticed my body wanted to stop when my brain was confronted with a difficult or big question. So we paused until I could form the words which best expressed what I was thinking or feeling.

Somehow being in the mountains, and in particular hiking to the top of one, puts things in perspective and allows distance on things that previously had felt all-consuming. No matter what's going on in my head, the world keeps turning, the birds keep soaring etc.

Advice:
Just do it!!!!! Working with Lise is a really powerful experience anyway, but being coached while hiking in the beautiful Swiss countryside adds an extra dimension which is really powerful. Don't overthink the need to be super fit. Lise tailors the experience to suit your fitness levels/abilities/wishes. She is evaluating your 'ability' from the moment she meets you, and knows just how far to push you so as to challenge you to achieve more than you thought you could, but not to the extent that she causes you stress.

The experience with Lise was inspiring, transformational (in terms of addressing some habitual behaviours that weren't working for me or my family), liberating.