The value of having a specialist Trauma-Informed Executive Coach at your organisation’s fingertips
Poor Mental Health, and even Trauma, is already in your teams
In 2016, the World Health Organisation published a major study that showed that 70% of the worldwide population has been exposed to at least one traumatic event (yes, that was before the pandemic. The figure is thought to be higher now). Of these, around 9% will receive a diagnosis of mental injury needing treatment, such as PTSD. This leaves an enormous delta of people who may have low (sub-clinical) levels of trauma exposure.
Trauma responses are stored in the body (more than the mind) and can lie dormant for many years. They are most likely to show up under high stress, or when suddenly we get ill, or experience another traumatic event or situation. No human is “immune”, and it shows up differently in every individual, so its tricky to spot. Even though it is stored in the body, where it gets us, is our Mental Health.
The WHO study was conducted via worldwide data capture with high levels of credibility and scientific rigour. Their figures suggest that in the general population, 2 in 10 will get a clinical diagnosis. For the purposes of this blog we will consider that they are unlikely to be in your top teams (though not impossible). However, in your workplace we can safely assume that around 6 in 10 will have experienced a single trauma exposure, and 4.5 in 10 will have multiple exposures.
When you add a previous presence of trauma to intense performance pressure, and then some major life event happens, your top executives are the most vulnerable. They are your people who I serve the best.
(If you thought poor mental health only happens after major events like car crash, you might find my podcast on the topic useful – spoiler alert – trauma is not solely what happens to you, but what happens inside of you as a result. Catch the podcast episode here).
The good news is that it is possible to bounce back, with the right support. I’m trained to understand how poor mental health, and trauma, can be present in the coaching room, and how to work WITH it (not on it, this would be therapy).
Why executives are especially vulnerable
Executives are an especially high-performance group of people. My clients thrive on the buzz of the scale and scope of their work, making a difference, leading teams, being involved in many aspects of making the business a success. They often thrive on a healthy level of stress, boosted by adrenaline and the feel-good-hormones that come with being needed and a job well done. People count on them to be dedicated, professional, and pull together when it matters.
I’m there for these precious people who are facing extra challenging health or life issues – trying to stay in work after (for example) heart attack, illness, or birth trauma; working whilst caring for family members in old age and sickness; working while feeling depressed, anxious and stressed and yet have not the time or energy to get to the bottom of it.
They have maybe tried therapy, maybe had some time off. But ultimately, they need to work. Its their happy place where they are in full thriving and flourishing mode. They miss their old spark terribly, and they fear that somehow they are broken beyond repair. Time off work makes them feel worse, not better.
Mostly if your executive needs to get therapy or medical help, they are supported in doing that. But there is a delta – the gap I can help you close – where people are trying to return to full power, because they love their job. You value them and need them to be back on their game too, after all there’s a business to run!
I’m here for the more challenging cases that standard executive coaches are unlikely to be suitable for, where the brief exceeds the ethical capability of the in-place coach, or where the previous coaching relationship has either broken down, or not been effective.
So how can you tell if I am the right fit for your person, or will your standard executive coach do? The balance is in the ethical and logistical match:
Is your coach a qualified psychologist, with additional specialist training, supervision, and experience, to handle the presence of poor mental health (and even trauma) in the coaching room?
Do they have the capacity to dedicate 9-12 months to work often and regularly with your person, probably weekly at first, with 24/7 support in place?
You decide.
Free session for you – it makes sense
I meet with you to understand more about your organisation, its challenges and the issues faced by your executives. I highly recommend a free coaching session for yourself (you don’t have to have experienced poor mental health, or trauma to coach with me!), because in my experience this works best when the person bringing me in has been behind-the-scenes, and has personal experience of how I work. This makes for a much stronger hand-over, with high levels of trust and safety in place (essential building blocks for trauma-informed work of any kind), right from the start.
How this works
🟢You can onboard me immediately if you have someone you are seeking to match me with (I start coaching as quickly as possible as this work tends to be urgent. If a waiting list is in place, I engage immediately with your person and set up support until they can start coaching with me).
🟢You can put me on your preferred supplier list, ready to call me in when needed. We can get the administrative stuff out of the way, and you get priority status.
🟢You can invite me to speak at conferences on well-being and optimal human performance (with 7 in 10 trauma exposures out there, this topic is highly relevant). Add in the additional stress of making it as an executive from a minority group (NeuroDivergent people, women (especially women in pregnancy and single parenting), homosexual, transgender, people with disabilities, BAME, or even in some cases, their religion), and you’ll know that there is some existing wear and tear already present in your people.
🟢You can invite me to deliver bespoke workshops for your executives on the nature of trauma, stress, and how to work WITH it (not on it).
Who am I
I am a qualified Psychologist (Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society) and certified Trauma-Informed Coach, with over 1000 logged hours of client work (accredited Professional Certified Coach with the ICF). I live in Luxembourg, coach in English, and work 1:1 online in any suitable time zone. I experienced traumatic childbirth and I’m a British Army veteran.
Spaces now!
12 months trauma-informed executive coaching signature program called Moving Beyond Trauma
– 1:1 coaching calls with me, lifelong access to a mini podcasts of coaching tips, techniques, reminders, exercises and reflections as you do the inner, deep work, to move beyond trauma.
Message me now and we will discover if I am the specialist you are looking for.
Message me! Spy on me!
Email: kate@katebrassington.com
Website: https://katebrassington.com/
Learn more about Moving Beyond Trauma!
Described by one fan as ‘like listening to the contents of your mind’, my podcast is the most radically creative thing I have done in a while. Subscribe to Moving Beyond Trauma Podcast and upgrade your knowledge and understanding of poor mental health, trauma, and how to move beyond it to ease suffering and get the fun back!