of how the challenge looks in the scene.
Ask orienting questions
Your aim at this point is to connect the client deeply to the symbolic meaning of the scene, so they feel totally invested in it and are able to explain why it has such meaning for them.
You want to leave them to reflect, especially if they are actively thinking and figuring things out as they construct the scene. Once they get into the exercise, it will take on a momentum of its own.
As the scene starts to come together and when the client signals it is complete, this may be a good time to ask any of the orienting questions below. Ask the client to describe the scene, what the objects represent to them and which are the most important or meaningful themes or items to them:
• What does x represent?
• What attributes does y have?
• What is happening here? What else?
• How do you feel about that?
• What is the most important aspect of this? In what way?
• Select and point to two objects in the scene and ask the client: What is the relationship between x and y?
A more in-depth explanation of metaphors and symbolism and their role in coaching can be found in Chapter 5: ‘Coaching the Unconscious Mind through Metaphor’ by Richard Haggerty.
Once you know a client is emotionally invested in this, and they have expressed the perceived parameters of the challenge, check to see if this scene is complete. Is there anything else you would like to add to make this complete? Once complete, let them know it is vitally important to capture the scene before they start working with it to achieve their outcome. They will then be able to assess progress later on and compare solutions against this initial scene. Photograph the scene now to record in their Coaching Report as a way to highlight the significance of what they have just created.
Step 4: Photograph establishing scene
Take a photo of the scene. A mobile phone or camera will suffice. You may want to have some Post-its that say ‘scene 1’ or ‘scene 1: establishing scene,’ so it is easy to identify the sequence later on, especially if you decide to include photos of all the intermediate steps.
Step 5: Move from challenge to outcome scene
Invite the client to create a new scene that begins to move them away from their challenge (‘establishing scene’) towards their outcome.
Remind the client of their overall outcome and ask some of the suggested questions below to help them get started:
• So, what is your outcome?
• What do you want to have happen?
• What’s the very first thing that needs to happen to move towards your outcome?
• What needs to happen next for this [establishing scene] to begin to change?
• If you wish to talk through your ideas please do so.
Ask them to start making any changes e.g. move objects around, remove objects or add new ones to achieve their outcome. Invite them to take their time so that they fully process the significance of the moves and how they will work out in reality.
Stay curious about, and connected to, their process by being present, watchful and silent. Let your client sit longer in the silences, longer than we would all do ‘normally.’ The reason for this is that people think faster than they speak and the extra time in silence enables them to think more. Allow the client to be the one to initiate a conversation with you. When you do speak use what and how questions, rather than why or closed questions, and remain sensitive to the impact of your questioning. Remember this is their time and space and never give any interpretations of your own. Ask for theirs only. For example:
• What will that move do for you?
• What is the significance of this?
• How will this support achieving your outcome?
Listen deeply and attentively. Very quickly they will get the idea that they can experiment without consequence and judgement. The more space you create and the fewer words the coach says throughout the process, the more effective PMT is likely to be.
Ask follow-up questions
Now the client is creating a new 3D scene it is important to draw out the meaning behind the metaphors – or further metaphors – to solidify and further deepen any insights that are emerging spontaneously.
The more a client can articulate perceptions and own their observations, the more likely they are to develop confidence about influencing those perceptions.
Examples of open questions the coach can ask include:
• The outcome
o What will the outcome look like relative to this scene?
o What has to change to continue towards the outcome?
o What else? What more?
• What is off limits here?
• What else is there that is not in the scene that you want to bring along now?
• What does this mean to you?
• If the client seems stuck, or is having difficulty articulating at any point, then help them out: I’m interested in what’s happening here [point to the part of the scene that you are curious about]. Tell me a bit more about this, and finally,
• What further steps do you want or need to take to achieve your outcome? until the client indicates they have some ideas and strategies to resolve their challenge and to achieve their outcome.
Once the client indicates that the scene they have created is sufficiently transformed from the original problem-establishing scene, and, that they have a new range of options, strategies and potential new actions to move forward on, be sure to capture this.
You may also want to check that your client is at an outcome scene by asking: How are you feeling now compared to the start of the session when you were sharing your challenge? Raising awareness of how they are feeling now will also help convince them that some significant shifts and changes have already taken place throughout the session.
Step 6: Photograph final outcome scene
Photograph the scene as you did with the establishing scene. Remember it may be helpful to have a label or card to number / name the scene and date, so you know later what this represents and the sequence it comes in. You may want to take a few photos from different angles (e.g. from the side or from above).
By having an establishing scene and an outcome scene captured, it is possible to do a contrastive analysis: in other words, it will be far more obvious to note what needs to change, what relationships developed and what else
