ТHE POWER OF THE MIND: BRAIN BASED COACHING

Galina Cholakova is a coach that specialises in the neuroscience of learning, motivation, and change. She uses effective and science-based strategies in the coaching conversation to support her clients to develop new habits, skills, and behaviour. Galina Cholakova's expertise is truly impressive – she is an ACC (Associate Certified Coach) by the ICF, Results Trained Coach, Brain-based Coach by the NeuroLeadership Institute EMEA, Professional Neurolanguage Coach and an ELC Licensed Trainer in Efficient Language Coaching. We talked to her to learn more on how neuroscience can help in our personal and professional life.

Why in your practice do you pay special attention to knowing the brain?

Knowing the brain has a lot of advantages as it deepens coaching effectiveness and leads to powerful conversations. It also gives insights into how the brain reacts and functions in times of conflict and creates understanding of the need for a potential perfect brain state. In addition, when the International Coaching Federation competencies are paired with a brain-friendly approach, this can bring change. Neuroscience is a perfect complement to coaching because change begins on the inside. It involves formation of new connections in the brain and intentional balancing of the neurochemicals that influences our mood, which, in turn, affects our thinking. In other words, the change coaching clients seek requires an inside change in neural connections and body chemistry. That's why Brain-based Coaching is beneficial as it gives the coaching clients deeper insights and new awareness in their journey towards their goals. The brain-based coaching conversation model raises coaching client's awareness of their need for change in a way that encourages positive emotions, and minimises any emotions that may get in the way of their progress towards change.

What is the most important thing that you can achieve with your clients?

As people go through the coaching journey, their picture of what is possible expands and they tend to see more and more choices. People come with different needs for change. Some of them want to work on their productivity, planning, decision making, problem solving, communication, and work-life balance. Others want to build new habits. Some of them express that they have trouble saying no, expressing opinions, setting healthy boundaries or making their needs clear. Others experience difficulties with maintaining focus and becoming problem-focused. Contemporary neuroscience shows that change engages multiple regions in the brain, both emotional and rational. Our past experiences shape the way we see the world. However, this tends to be non-conscious; in other words, we tend to believe our perception is reality. Therefore, it all narrows down to changing beliefs and changing behaviour which can then lead to changes in the way someone thinks and feels. My job is to support the clients in their journey towards their desired change and delve deeper into their self-knowledge and self-perception.

How fast can one see results? Is it a sprint or a marathon?

One of the most important things we do in brain-based coaching sessions in order to add value is help people increase both their self-awareness and reflection. This could be an instant insight for someone or a life changing path for others.

phone: +359 878 740 424

galinacholakova1@gmail.com

www.coachingforresults.eu

www.languagecoachingforyou.com

Linkedin: Galina Cholakova