The difference between empathy and sympathy
One of the key things I remember from therapist-training is the definition of empathy - "imagine putting your elbow in the bathwater surrounding the client and from that, knowing how it is to live in their world." Something about the vividness of...
Integrating Coaching and Counselling
My friend and colleague Carolyn Mumby has recently published an interesting article in BACP's Private Practice magazine about the integration of coaching and counselling. Along with other practitioners, I was asked to contribute and here's the outcome. Thanks for the...
Clare Myatt’s CV
Secrets
Over the years I have been the recipient of many secrets. I keep them. In fact, I may not share them with anyone else* given my professional mandate to hold confidentiality. So I was fascinated to hear Frank Warren's story about collecting secrets and, of...
After a while
Listening to a podcast recently, I suddenly heard someone read aloud this poem. Haven't heard it in years and her querulous voice reminded me how evocative Veronica Shoffstall's words are: "After A While" After a whileyou learn the subtle difference between holding a...
Beginner’s mind
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki, Zen teacher You've probably heard this quote before. It reminds me that with each client, each session, I benefit from bringing beginner's mind rather than my...
Reward for Failure
As a Mac fan living in Palo Alto at the turn of the century, Steve Jobs was a particularly fascinating character. I read Walter Isaacson's biography on release and anticipated Danny Boyle's 2015 movie with relish. It didn't disappoint. It put a spotlight on his...
Trauma expert
Dr. Bessell van der Kolk was one of the first trauma experts who made sense to me. Here's a piece I wrote last year about the experience of attending one of his lectures in 1998: SPEECHLESS I am speechless, horrified, pinned motionless in my chair. Grainy images of...
What is Leadership
My friend and colleague Pete Hamill published his excellent book Embodied Leadership last year. I don't find it easy to paraphrase or summarise, so am delighted he's written this brief piece on leadership for Future Considerations. Highly recommend this...
Compelling
Do you more easily relate to having had an adverse childhood experience than childhood trauma? For some, this descriptor will be a portal to exploring the consequence of such experiences, and if your curiousity is piqued, I highly recommend this...