Gary Collins Christian Coaching Summary
Collins Review: Understanding Christian Coaching
Kari Dobzynski
Liberty University
Abstract
This book review looks at the book Christian Coaching, by Gary Collins, which helps a life coach understand the difference between secular coaching and Christian coaching. The paper summarizes the book by the foundations, skills, assessment, vision, strategy, specialties and vision in life coaching. By dividing it into these seven parts the author helps the reader define what a coach is as well as understand the steps it takes to become a life coach. Christian coaching also looks at the importance of a person’s worldview and core values and how those things can change how a person coaches. This paper continues with a personal …show more content…
response, which shows the benefits of having a strategy, and an action plan that is suggested in the Collins text. The paper ends with an application to how the Collins text can be used to help a person succeed as a Life Coach.
Summary
In the book Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality Christian Coaching, Gary Collins addresses many issues about the Christian perspective of life coaching. The author discusses things such as the foundations of coaching which defines coaching and what it really takes to be a good coach. The book is organized into seven parts that help the reader gain a vast understanding of Christian coaching from many different perspectives. The seven aspects of the book are foundations, skills, assessment, vision, strategy, specialties and practice. The first part of the book really focuses on defining the word coach. The word coach was used to describe a horse-drawn vehicle in the 1500’s to a person who helps train someone but the word at its core still means the same thing. It helps get people where they want to go (Collins, 2009, p. 15). The first part of book also pointed out the many similarities and differences that psychology and life coaching have. The main difference is that a coach does not diagnose while a counselor or give advice. A life coach is a person who listens, understands, and asks questions. They are focused on the future goals of the client and are willing to be the cheerleader while a counselor focuses on past issues and the healing process (Collins, 2009,p. 17). The most interesting thing about this book is the Christian perspective. The author allows the reader to understand both life coaching as well as Coaching Christian. The Christian Coach has a different set of values and beliefs. The foundations section of this book not only focuses on defining a coach but also looks at what sets a good coach from a great coach. Some things that separate a good coach and a great coach is their worldview, leadership and change. Collins focused a whole chapter on change because embracing change is a great thing but is often very difficult (Collins, 2009, p. 51). The next section of the book focused on the coaching skills. The first thing skill building technique is to build good rapport with the client (Collins 2009, p. 83). A life coach must work at always building their relationship with their client with active listening and summarizing what you hear for clarification. The author points out the different types of listening such as informal listening, active listening and intuitive listening. It is important that a life coach uses active listening and intuitive listening with clients. Active listening focuses on what is being said and makes sure that the message are coming across clearly and accurately. Intuitive listening because it is the highest level of listening, concentration and awareness. It looks at the emotions behind what the client is saying (Collins, 2009, p103).
As the Collins text progresses, he brings the reader in by telling a story of a goldfish named Jonah.
The point of the story was to show that many people do not know how to change the patterns of their lives despite the big dreams they have. There is no guideline to life coaching. Not every life coach does the same thing. While some people send clients an information sheet other coaches may send a client their resume. Many coaches tend to use more formal assessment tools (Collins, 2009, p.133). Part four of the book looks at the vision of a life coach. Without vision many things would not be what they are today. Gary Collins uses the circus to motivate the reader to have a vision and use that vision to be a more effective coach and leader (Collins, 2009, p. 170). One of the things that the author notes later in the book is using leadership and vision to help move a client forward. It is important to help the client not only set a goal but overcome any obstacles that may get in their way to help them reach their goals. Finding the vision may be challenging and demanding but it is important. A vision has to specific and focuses to the client’s life (Collins, 2009, p. 173). As the book continues the writer discusses some action steps that a life coach can take as well as the many obstacles that may occur during the coaching process as well. The main action step for a coach to develop a strategy and help client set goals (Collins, 2009, p. 206). Life coaching also has …show more content…
specialties that people focus on such as career coaching, marriage, transitions and spirituality coaching (Collins, 2009, p. 238). At the end of the book the author concentrates on how to become coach and the best places and steps that will help a student who is interested in becoming a life coach.
Concrete Response This book was very insightful because it had a very unique perspective. Collins attempts to teach the reader how to be an effective coach while also teaching things to look for to help the client. One of the things I enjoyed about the book is the story at the beginning of each chapter. They connected the chapter to the main theme he wanted to discuss. I believe that I can relate to this book in regards to setting a goals and taking actions to meet those goals. I had a difficult childhood growing up and I decided to move out when I turned 15 years old. I grew up in a home that was full of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. I decided when I was 15 years old to set a goal for my self to set myself to a higher standard then the environment I grew up in. At the age of 15 I left home and moved in with my cheering coach. I went from relying on myself to moving in with a family that had more rules than I could ever imagine. I questioned why the rules were in place and who had the authority to make these rules. I was in charge of myself my whole entire life and now someone else is telling me what to do. I had to make a drastic change and I couldn’t do it by myself. Collins stated that, “Change is difficult. Walking with people through change can be challenging and often draining… When coaching is successful, it’s about bringing and maintaining change” (Collins, 2009, p. 51). As a child change was hard for me whether it was leaving home or accepting rules. My goal at the age 15 was to make a better life for myself and I have. My vision for myself was to hold myself to a high standard and I have. I was very resistant to change much like many people but like I am now able to use my childhood as a way to help others achieve their goals.
Application
When reading this book I was often reminded that God is the author of every practice, method or behavior and that He is the ultimate coach.
Even though I am not planning on becoming a life coach I do think that the views, techniques and foundations that Gary Collins expressed in the book Christian Coaching, can be used in the counseling field as well. The Collins reading taught me that there are similarities between counselors and coaches. I think that I can use the coaching techniques in my future as a counselor. The main thing that I believe I could use is how it challenges clients to look towards the future. According to
Collins,
“Coaching is not for those who need therapy to overcome disruptive painful influences from the past; it is for relatively well-adjusted people to build vision and move forward toward the future. Coaching is not reactive looking back; it is proactive looking ahead. It is not about healing; it’s about growing. It focuses less on overcoming weaknesses and more on building skills and strengths” (Collins, 2009, p. 14).
Many clients come into counseling that may not need counseling and do not want dwell in the past. The Collins text has taught me that not all clients need therapy but many people can benefit from coaching. Another way that I apply the Collins text and life coaching is by using the coaching skills and techniques. Collins states “There are many skills coaches can use to enable clients to make this journey, but three are of prime importance: listening, asking powerful questions, and responding. These seem like simple skills, but they can take a lifetime to learn” (Collins, 2009, p. 100). By using listening skills and asking questions that let your client know you are there and understand them it is also building great rapport.
References
Collins, G. (2009). Christian coaching: Helping others turn potential into reality. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
Kari Dobzynski
Liberty University
Abstract
This book review looks at the book Christian Coaching, by Gary Collins, which helps a life coach understand the difference between secular coaching and Christian coaching. The paper summarizes the book by the foundations, skills, assessment, vision, strategy, specialties and vision in life coaching. By dividing it into these seven parts the author helps the reader define what a coach is as well as understand the steps it takes to become a life coach. Christian coaching also looks at the importance of a person’s worldview and core values and how those things can change how a person coaches. This paper continues with a personal …show more content…
response, which shows the benefits of having a strategy, and an action plan that is suggested in the Collins text. The paper ends with an application to how the Collins text can be used to help a person succeed as a Life Coach.
Summary
In the book Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality Christian Coaching, Gary Collins addresses many issues about the Christian perspective of life coaching. The author discusses things such as the foundations of coaching which defines coaching and what it really takes to be a good coach. The book is organized into seven parts that help the reader gain a vast understanding of Christian coaching from many different perspectives. The seven aspects of the book are foundations, skills, assessment, vision, strategy, specialties and practice. The first part of the book really focuses on defining the word coach. The word coach was used to describe a horse-drawn vehicle in the 1500’s to a person who helps train someone but the word at its core still means the same thing. It helps get people where they want to go (Collins, 2009, p. 15). The first part of book also pointed out the many similarities and differences that psychology and life coaching have. The main difference is that a coach does not diagnose while a counselor or give advice. A life coach is a person who listens, understands, and asks questions. They are focused on the future goals of the client and are willing to be the cheerleader while a counselor focuses on past issues and the healing process (Collins, 2009,p. 17). The most interesting thing about this book is the Christian perspective. The author allows the reader to understand both life coaching as well as Coaching Christian. The Christian Coach has a different set of values and beliefs. The foundations section of this book not only focuses on defining a coach but also looks at what sets a good coach from a great coach. Some things that separate a good coach and a great coach is their worldview, leadership and change. Collins focused a whole chapter on change because embracing change is a great thing but is often very difficult (Collins, 2009, p. 51). The next section of the book focused on the coaching skills. The first thing skill building technique is to build good rapport with the client (Collins 2009, p. 83). A life coach must work at always building their relationship with their client with active listening and summarizing what you hear for clarification. The author points out the different types of listening such as informal listening, active listening and intuitive listening. It is important that a life coach uses active listening and intuitive listening with clients. Active listening focuses on what is being said and makes sure that the message are coming across clearly and accurately. Intuitive listening because it is the highest level of listening, concentration and awareness. It looks at the emotions behind what the client is saying (Collins, 2009, p103).
As the Collins text progresses, he brings the reader in by telling a story of a goldfish named Jonah.
The point of the story was to show that many people do not know how to change the patterns of their lives despite the big dreams they have. There is no guideline to life coaching. Not every life coach does the same thing. While some people send clients an information sheet other coaches may send a client their resume. Many coaches tend to use more formal assessment tools (Collins, 2009, p.133). Part four of the book looks at the vision of a life coach. Without vision many things would not be what they are today. Gary Collins uses the circus to motivate the reader to have a vision and use that vision to be a more effective coach and leader (Collins, 2009, p. 170). One of the things that the author notes later in the book is using leadership and vision to help move a client forward. It is important to help the client not only set a goal but overcome any obstacles that may get in their way to help them reach their goals. Finding the vision may be challenging and demanding but it is important. A vision has to specific and focuses to the client’s life (Collins, 2009, p. 173). As the book continues the writer discusses some action steps that a life coach can take as well as the many obstacles that may occur during the coaching process as well. The main action step for a coach to develop a strategy and help client set goals (Collins, 2009, p. 206). Life coaching also has …show more content…
specialties that people focus on such as career coaching, marriage, transitions and spirituality coaching (Collins, 2009, p. 238). At the end of the book the author concentrates on how to become coach and the best places and steps that will help a student who is interested in becoming a life coach.
Concrete Response This book was very insightful because it had a very unique perspective. Collins attempts to teach the reader how to be an effective coach while also teaching things to look for to help the client. One of the things I enjoyed about the book is the story at the beginning of each chapter. They connected the chapter to the main theme he wanted to discuss. I believe that I can relate to this book in regards to setting a goals and taking actions to meet those goals. I had a difficult childhood growing up and I decided to move out when I turned 15 years old. I grew up in a home that was full of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. I decided when I was 15 years old to set a goal for my self to set myself to a higher standard then the environment I grew up in. At the age of 15 I left home and moved in with my cheering coach. I went from relying on myself to moving in with a family that had more rules than I could ever imagine. I questioned why the rules were in place and who had the authority to make these rules. I was in charge of myself my whole entire life and now someone else is telling me what to do. I had to make a drastic change and I couldn’t do it by myself. Collins stated that, “Change is difficult. Walking with people through change can be challenging and often draining… When coaching is successful, it’s about bringing and maintaining change” (Collins, 2009, p. 51). As a child change was hard for me whether it was leaving home or accepting rules. My goal at the age 15 was to make a better life for myself and I have. My vision for myself was to hold myself to a high standard and I have. I was very resistant to change much like many people but like I am now able to use my childhood as a way to help others achieve their goals.
Application
When reading this book I was often reminded that God is the author of every practice, method or behavior and that He is the ultimate coach.
Even though I am not planning on becoming a life coach I do think that the views, techniques and foundations that Gary Collins expressed in the book Christian Coaching, can be used in the counseling field as well. The Collins reading taught me that there are similarities between counselors and coaches. I think that I can use the coaching techniques in my future as a counselor. The main thing that I believe I could use is how it challenges clients to look towards the future. According to
Collins,
“Coaching is not for those who need therapy to overcome disruptive painful influences from the past; it is for relatively well-adjusted people to build vision and move forward toward the future. Coaching is not reactive looking back; it is proactive looking ahead. It is not about healing; it’s about growing. It focuses less on overcoming weaknesses and more on building skills and strengths” (Collins, 2009, p. 14).
Many clients come into counseling that may not need counseling and do not want dwell in the past. The Collins text has taught me that not all clients need therapy but many people can benefit from coaching. Another way that I apply the Collins text and life coaching is by using the coaching skills and techniques. Collins states “There are many skills coaches can use to enable clients to make this journey, but three are of prime importance: listening, asking powerful questions, and responding. These seem like simple skills, but they can take a lifetime to learn” (Collins, 2009, p. 100). By using listening skills and asking questions that let your client know you are there and understand them it is also building great rapport.
References
Collins, G. (2009). Christian coaching: Helping others turn potential into reality. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.