A HOLISTIC
APPROACH
Your voice matters
My parents were humanitarians dedicated to social services. I grew up immersed in diversity.
From a young age, I realized that celebrating diversity and fostering inclusion is more than a compassionate response, it’s a choice that yields powerful outcomes.
I believe this is crucial in the workforce.
When all perspectives are valued we have the capacity to build stronger relationships, connect with broader audiences, and develop greater understanding.
When all voices are heard, we can tap into a wealth of creativity and expertise that drives innovation and progress.
Your voice is essential for our collective success.
Why a trauma-informed lens is important
Empowerment starts with acknowledging the impact of stress and past trauma on each person’s ability to communicate to their fullest potential.
Working in high-pressure environments puts our nervous systems on high alert and can lead to chronic stress and burnout.
Public speaking can trigger the fight-flight-freeze stress response, leading to increased anxiety and overwhelm.
Past negative experiences or perceived threats can exacerbate this stress.
In addition, past trauma related to expressing one’s voice can impact one’s sense of self-worth and identity, further inhibiting the ability to speak confidently in front of others.
A trauma-informed approach to communication coaching widens our perspective, acknowledges our humanity, and creates a supportive opportunity for learning and growth.
Communication is not just a mental process
While your words are important, it is the quality of your voice and body language that conveys the full meaning of what you are saying.
Your ability to regulate your nervous system is key to feeling confident.
Your lived experience, and sense of purpose give your message depth and relevance.
Your capacity to listen, feel, and respond allows you to engage and inspire.
My commitment is to acknowledge you as a whole person and help you show up in a way that is confident and impactful.
A learning approach I stand by
Adult Learning Principles
As your coach, my goal is to empower you to take charge of your learning journey, honouring both your comfort zone as well as your desire to take new risks. I will build on your prior experience and ensure that your coaching sessions are engaging and applicable. I also want to understand how you best learn and process information. Not only does this help me to customize your sessions, it’s also key in identifying your strengths.
Mindfulness Techniques
Mindfulness techniques are crucial for overcoming speaking nerves because they address both psychological and physiological aspects of anxiety. Breathing, visualization, and mindset practices can help you create inner stability, improve concentration, detach from future worries or past experiences, and feel more present and connected. These techniques also help to decrease stress and burnout by supporting resilience and well-being.
Somatic Experiencing (SE™)
Somatic Experiencing (SE™) helps to release stress, overwhelm and trauma in the body. The goal is to help the body overcome stuck fight, flight or freeze patterns in the body and help facilitate a sense of integration and build resiliency. It’s a guided body-based process that is used in a variety of professional settings including coaching, psychotherapy, medicine, and teaching to release any physical tension or emotional distress that may be stored in your body.
Acting-based techniques
Using acting-based techniques to improve your communication skills has nothing to do with playing a character. Actors learn skills such as voice modulation, body language, and emotional expression that can be applied across various professional contexts. Through acting-based techniques, you can learn how to improve the quality of your voice, cultivate leadership presence, adapt and think quickly on your feet, and ultimately, increase your impact.
Build on your natural strengths
Public speaking nerves are intense. It can feel like your expertise instantly disappears with the first wave of fear.
When dealing with panic and insecurity, the idea that you already have unique speaking strengths to offer can be hard to grasp.
But it’s true.
Public speaking is a muti-faceted skill set. You have natural competencies as well as areas of challenge.
Perfectionism and self judgment are common patterns to fall into. The problem is, it simply isn’t an accurate perception.
That’s why I created the Speak with Confidence Assessment.
It’s an easy and supportive self-assessment process to help you get crystal clear about your strengths and growing edges as a speake
Ready to chat about your specific goals?
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