Logosynthesis

on the Boundary

of Coaching and

Psychotherapy

© 2015, DR. WILLEM LAMMERS

B A H N H O F S T R A S S E 3 8 C H – 7 3 1 0 B A D R A G A Z

W W W.LOG OSYN THESIS .NET I N FO @LOG OSYN THESIS .NET

Issues

Definitions of psychotherapy and coaching

The application of Logosynthesis in these fields

10 tips for coaches to stay on the safe side

Psychotherapy

Definition:

Psychotherapy is the treatment of a patient's mental

health problems by talking with a psychiatrist,

psychologist, licensed clinical social worker or other

trained practitioner

Its purpose is the exploration of thoughts, feelings and

behaviour for the purpose of problem solving or

achieving higher levels of functioning

Coaching

Definition (ICF):

Coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking

and creative process that inspires them to maximise their

personal and professional potential

The emphasis in coaching is on fulfilling tasks and

roles in everyday life:

as a professional in organisations

as a member of groups and teams

in families

Boundaries

Questions about boundaries between coaching

and psychotherapy with Logosynthesis come up

time and time again

Ethical and professional issues are connected

with the question

Coaches and psychological counsellors can

even run into legal and professional problems

if the boundaries are unclear

Logosynthesis

Logosynthesis always works from the same

energetic framework

However, the context may help you decide

which techniques to use

The following recommendations may help you

to stay within the framework of coaching

How to Avoid Boundary Issues

as a Coach

1. Avoid Diagnostic Categories

Avoid using established clinical terms and diagnoses:

Trauma, Anxiety Disorder, Phobia etc.

To work with Logosynthesis, it's sufficient to know if and where energy is blocked or frozen and to specify the blockage type:

Frozen structures in the triggers: visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory (VAKO)

Frozen structures in the reactions: physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioural

2. Stay Close to the Client

Start from the topic presented by the client and remain close to the client’s language

Don’t interpret or search for possible sources of the presented symptoms

Don't explicitly ask for childhood experiences

A counselling intervention:

Have you experienced that more often?

A psychotherapeutic intervention:

Where do you recognise that from?

3. Focus on Beliefs and Fantasies

Place more emphasis in your work on the

identification and dissolution of beliefs and

fantasies than on memories of distressing events

Then it will be easier to avoid issues considered

psychotherapeutic

4. Start from the Present

When resolving triggers, start with distressing

representations of people and situations in the

client's current life

Work with formulations like:

This representation of X and everything it stands for

That way aspects of the past will be neutralised

without being immediately activated

5. Take the Time for the Relationship

Take plenty of time to build up a working

relationship based on care, support and

accuracy

This will make the client feel safe and secure with

you if archaic material spontaneously emerges

in the process

Stay Three Steps Behind the Client

Stay three steps behind the client at all times

Don't go ahead of him or her:

Doing so may mean that you introduce your own

images and interpretations

If you stay behind, no disturbing experiences will

be activated unnecessarily or prematurely

It also stabilises and confirms the working relationship

7. Reconnect to the Presented

Problem

During the process, return to the problem that

the client first presented, again and again

A link will then remain between the client's

conscious reason for seeing you and the

Logosynthesis process with the sentences

Tendencies towards regression will be reduced

8. Translate the Client’s Psychology

into Logosynthesis Terms

Clients often have their own psychological

theories to justify or explain their reaction

patterns and the corresponding suffering

Try to understand and interpret clients' own

psychological interpretations in energy terms,

as triggers and reactions

Don’t follow clients in their own psychology

9. Think Energy

Avoid using the sentences for any psychological

concepts or constructs: Think Energy

Even if the sentences could work in such cases,

they'll work better and more precisely if they're

related to concrete representations of sensory

experiences

10. Use Images and Metaphors

The use of images and metaphors as topics for

the sentences also allows for processing without

direct reactivation of disturbing events

Avoid introducing your own metaphors

Use those, which come from the client

For the content of the sentences use those

images and metaphors that have the highest

emotional impact

Read the Handbook

Logosynthesis – Healing with Words.

A Handbook for the Helping

Professions with a Preface by Dr.

Fred Gallo

www.amazon.com/Logosynthesis-Healing-Handbook-

Helping-Professions/dp/1505826756

You can also join

one of our Facebook groups:

- Logosynthesis

- Logosynthese

- Logosynthèse

- Logosintesi

Welcome to the world of Logosynthesis!

About the Author

Dr. Willem Lammers has

discovered and developed

Logosynthesis since 2005

He is a Dutch/Swiss coach

and psychotherapist with

30+ years of experience on

the interface of body, mind

and spirit

info@logosynthesis.net