It’s been about three weeks since Module Three, which means it’s only a few weeks until the fourth and final module. Things are happening so fast that it’s hard to keep track of what happened during Module Three, what happened in the weeks since, and what’s happening in my own head from moment to moment. Off the top of my head:
Module Three was awesome, as the entire training has been. We learned more coaching skills—specifically, how to work with people who have psychological issues, and how to do “group coaching”—and we practiced those skills on each other. The always inspiring Tracy Gaudet (Director of Duke Integrative Medicine) gave us an update on what she’s been up to lately. In February, Dr. Gaudet presented at the “Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public,” in Washington, DC, where she made the case for Integrative Health Coaching’s place in the future of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Evangeline Lausier gave a fascinating presentation on “nutritional supplements and botanicals.” Janet Shaffer taught us all about acupuncture and oriental medicine, and Dr. Jeff Brantley (Director the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program) did another wonderful session with us.
Of all the presenters—all of whom were very impressive—I was particularly impressed with Jon Seskevich, a nurse clinician at Duke Medicine who teaches stress and pain management skills to patients, most of whom are dealing with very challenging health conditions. Jon just blew me away with his gentle nature, his radiant kindness and his boundless compassion for others. He taught me a meditation technique that I used the very next day in the midst of difficult situation—and it was incredibly helpful.
We also met with some folks who graduated from the inaugural training (ours is only the second cohort to move through the training) to discuss setting up a professional association for Integrative Health Coaching. The staff at Duke is very supportive and we anticipate a future website where our community can come together and raise the field to new levels of awesomeness.
Speaking of new websites, Duke Integrative Medicine’s has a great new look, and my own website (Integral Health Resources.com) is shaping up rather nicely, if I do say so myself.
What more can I say. It’s all very exciting, and I look forward to Module Four, graduation, and then bringing all this into the world somehow (I’m still figuring that one out!).
Boo-ya!