We live in a society celebrating busyness and workaholism, and it looks down on anyone who can't participate in the global rat race. Critics are harsher on those suffering from so-called "invisible illnesses", even more so mental illnesses. If we look good, smell amazing and don't foam at the mouth, surely, things aren't that bad?
Workaholism is often a trauma response: keeping really busy so as to not feel or think about our inner turmoil! Aren't we all told to "leave your problems at home?" and "Fake it till you make it!" and "Work will distract you from your problems" It doesn't matter how we feel, as long as we can work 40 + hours, with a fake smile on our faces!
I , myself, kept myself very busy, for years. At one point, I worked 48+ hours a week, behind a bar, with no holidays nor breaks for a year. On my last job, as a trainee Support Worker, I wasn't well. I was cutting myself, but I didn't listen to my inner voice telling me: "You aren't well. You can't do this!" What choice did I have as a single mother? Until, my mind and my body took a real hit and I had to resign from work. At the Job Centre +, a Work Coach told me: "You left your job so I am not sure you will get your Job Seeker Allowance." and "You don't look depressed." I got paid but, hearing these words made me feel anxious and angry.
I used to envy those individuals who found refuge in work, at least they didn't have to ,also, deal with claiming and "living off" benefits, worrying about supporting themselves and their children. Yes, they too suffer a great deal (and need support) but, without the added financial burden. The shame I carry is two fold: I was used as a housekeeper, in my childhood home, always told I was rubbish at cleaning when I was doing my chores, and I was called lazy when I didn't. This is what pushed me to work and work and work , for so long. "Doing nothing" fills me with anxiety, and futility, which sometimes brought suicidal thoughts up. "I am useless so, where is the pint of being alive?" Second, as I mentioned above, as a society, we are brainwashed into thinking if we can't work, well, we are worthless. So, it feels like I was abused and shamed at home, and I am still abused (Yes, the Tories are abusing the most vulnerable people in the UK) and shamed, as an adult.
Victims and survivors of child abuse aren't stupid or lacking in skills. We are often sensitive and creative. A few of us do want to work, as I do, but our depression, or C_PTSD or whatever else we suffer with, takes over, paralyses us or bullshit us into thinking we can't do anything of value. We feel we have nothing to offer to this (cruel) world. It isn't that we don't want to, it is that, at this moment, we can't ,nor should we be pushed to do so! Is it really wise to carry on with a job as a trainee Support Worker while I struggle everyday to get up? When I am cutting myself? When , behind the fake smile, I want to die? No, it isn't wise nor it is fair on employers, clients and myself. Other people will not want to work. Why shall we judge them? For some, work can be helpful, for others, it is the last thing they need. Any support for unemployed individuals suffering with childhood trauma need to be person centred and compassionate.
The effects of child abuse listed below, from NSPCC's website, clearly shows why it is difficult for some adults survivors to focus on their education, get a good job ,with a good salary and, ultimately lead a fulfilling life.
As long as vulnerable people aren't supported and respected, they will never feel safe to step into the world and being a full participant in Life. Pushing people in poverty into further poverty, because they can't work is despicable. Some of us grew up shamed and belittled, for things out of our control, and now, we deal with more shame and critics on a bigger scale. This needs to urgently change, for everyone's sake.
Sylvie
Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences.
All Rights Reserved | SylvieRouhani
What is it Life Coaching? What isn't Life Coaching?
It is a
partnership between a Life Coach and a client.
The coach facilitates a safe space and creates a positive rapport in order for the client to identify the inner blocks to their goals, hindering their happiness. Life Coaching helps the client to identify their own goals, to find their own solutions and achieve personal growth and transformation.
Life Coaching isn’t therapy. Although we acknowledge most inner blocks have their roots in the client’s past, we don’t dwell deep on it (this is best done in a therapeutic setting), but, with the client’s permission, we can explore how the "Then and There" affects the "Here and Now", and how the client can move forward, with Self-Compassion.
If I feel a client could benefit from ongoing therapy, I will advise they do so.
My approach is trauma informed. What is trauma? What does "Trauma Informed" means and how does it fit in with Life Coaching?
Trauma is the impact any significant event that has a lasting adverse effect on an individual’s happiness and well-being. The earlier and the longer lasting the stressful event in an individual’s life, the deeper the debilitating effect on a person’s happiness and well-being are.
“Trauma-informed coaching happens when the coach understands what trauma is, how it presents in the coaching room and how to respond. All this, within established coaching boundaries and contracts.”
Julia Vaughan Smith –
Coaching and Trauma
I have personal and professional experience of trauma and have a real understanding of its impact on mind, body and spirit.
What is Self-Compassion?
Self-compassion is extending compassion to oneself in instances of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering.
Dr Kristin Neff,
PhD, has pioneered and defines self-compassion as being composed of three main components –
mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness.
Self-compassion is facing our deepest fears, outdated self-beliefs and our perceived inadequacies with loving kindness towards oneself, by learning to take the time to acknowledge when we are hurting (Mindfulness) , by reminding ourselves how suffering is part of the our human experience and we all experience it (to some degree), we aren’t as alone as we think we are (common Humanity ) and, finally, by taking time to sooth and to love ourselves though our pain as we would with a dear friend of ours (Self-Kindness).
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How does Self-Compassion and Trauma Informed Coaching work?
Oftentimes, our deepest fears, outdated self-beliefs and perceived inadequacies, are the very things blocking us from creating a happy, fulfilled life, and building happy relationships, tailored to our needs and aspirations.
These blocks have roots in our past, whether we are aware of this or not, and will impact our thoughts, feeling and our behaviour as well as on how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. The more severe a past trauma, such as Child Sexual Abuse, the stronger the blocks, which are survival/ defence mechanisms created in childhood in order to survive extreme violence and neglect.
They are also natural responses to abuse and neglect,
when the child really has no one to turn to.
In Coaching, there is an opportunity for the client to explore how the past has an impact on the present and focus on what the client can achieve NOW by becoming their own best friend through anything life throws at them and by having compassion for what they have been through. I will provide the space, the support and some tools (such as reading materials, meditations practice etc...), when necessary, to support clients on their journey.
The coaching process will be led by the client. It will be tailored to the client’s needs, with the client’s approval.
The coaching will be most effective if the client is willing and ready to commit
100% to their journey of self-discovery and healing. During Trauma Informed and Self- Compassion based Life Coaching sessions, the client will learn to approach their biggest blocks and find their inner resources of loving kindness and compassion towards themselves.
If you are interested and ready to transform your life, with self-compassion and tender loving care towards yourself, please, contact me for a FREE 30-minute Skype/ Zoom or phone assessment.
(See Notice Board below for more info)
I am looking forward to hearing from you,
Sylvie
Thank you for contacting me.
I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Kind Regards,
Sylvie
Notice Board
Zoom or Teams
For those who would prefer to have their Life Coaching sessions, remotely, I use Zoom and Microsoft Team.
Venues for face-to-face sessions
TBC
Life Coaching sessions available from January 2023
My Fees
- 30 Minutes Skype/ Zoom or phone
assessment:
FREE
-
Full price
-
£80. (8 to 10 sessions
in total.)
-Concession prices: £60 (8 to 10 sessions in total.)
If you are experiencing financial hardship, such as unemployment or long-term disability, I offer limited places on concession fees. Please, contact me to discuss.
All payments via bank transfer.