The Integrative Stance in Transformative Coaching

Coaching Uncaged

In this fourth foundational presentation of the Transformative Coaching series, Animas Founder and CEO Nick Bolton explores The Integrative Stance in Transformative Coaching.

Nick first explores what we mean by the integrative stance. He defines it as an "open attitude towards models, practices, and theoretical frameworks that draw upon whatever will be most useful for the client but built on top of a unifying theory of change and a core purpose."

He then delves into the importance of the integrative approach to the 5 Animas Principles of Transformative coaching. Particularly, he believes the integrative stance is a natural consequence of our approach that puts the clients' experience first: the phenomenological stance at the very heart of Transformative Coaching.

In discussing the Unifying Transformative Theory, Nick gives us a brief look into the sets of concepts that Animas attempts to integrate to create paradigm a shift.

Nick also shares how the integrative approach can be problematic in that it can become merely light-fingered eclecticism and, done badly, can prioritise technique over the humanistic endeavour. He then shares ways to mitigate these risks, asking us to treat these theories as narratives and metaphors - as a stance rather than an ambition or metric of progress.

With that in mind, he argues that supervision is something that transformative coaches should seriously think about.

Finally, he shares the Animas Integrative Model offering it as an approach that we can fully adapt or one we can use to develop a sound integrative framework of our own.