Emotions in the Context of Coaching

Abstract

Best intentions notwithstanding, managers often fail to change their communicative behavior in a constructive manner. This would require a better understanding of their own and others emotional patterns. An understanding of this type can be obtained through interactional psychoanalytic interventions: The coach selectively makes his authentic emotional reactions available; he helps to identify and clarify the client’s emotions; he assumes ego functions, if these are temporarily unavailable to the client. Case studies clearly show how these interventions can improve self-management and self-control. An overview of the findings of basic neurobiological affective research serves as the scientific foundation of the approach.