A Brain-Based Approach to Coaching: Neuroscience and Coaching

I read an interesting article “A Brain-Based Approach to Coaching” which introduces a unique coaching method based on neuroscience. To tell you the truth, I really expect the neurophilosophy class to give me a hint or a fresh idea which makes my coaching more effective and more functional. In that sense, this article provided me with unique perspectives about coaching. Basically, why do we need coaching? I came up with this fundamental question in my mind though I work as a coach now. As for this question, the author explains the need of coaching in the following way. For us, “change” is much harder than we think, and not only we but also our brains need coaches. This is a unique answer. 

In my view, each of us has inherent immune system to change. So, it is strenuous for us to change something which we want to alter. The author remarks that “change requires more than just scant thought; it requires ongoing attention and a significant effort of the will.” This statement implies an important thing. We need continuing awareness and conscious training in order to change something in us. However, we tend not be able to do that by ourselves. That is because our will power is not so strong as we think, and we have immune systems to change. In that sense, we need others’ help to change; that is coaching. Coaches encourage clients’ constant awareness and support their endeavor to change.

Brain-Based Therapy with Adults: Evidence-Based Treatment for Everyday Practice

Arden and Linford (2009) insist: “The more often the neural network organizes an event such as a memory, the more likely it is that this event will occur again, and when it does reoccur, it will take less energy to make it happen” (p. 22). In retrospect, I understand this sentence from my past (or current) experiences. When I learn something new, in the beginning, the learning process is tough and rugged. That is because my new neural network is not built firmly, but it is a frail and weak network. 

Thus, I need to spend (sometimes enormous) time and effort to establish a new neural network. In that sense, the authors’ point is true for me. Also, once a new neural network is created in my brain, the learning content requires little effort for me. In other words, I become able to do the same thing without spending my energy a lot.

Mind Wide Open: Your Brain and the Neuroscience of Everyday Life, What is Qualia?

In the book of “Mind wide open,” the author, Johnson (2004) refers to “qualia.” I’ve heard of this word before again and again, but I’ve never taken a real understanding of the meaning. It is my understanding that qualia are our subjective feelings, in other words, our sense of feelings themselves. For instance, when we smell good, electronic signals corresponding to the stimulus are produced in our brain. However, these electronic signals are not qualia. Qualia are our pleasant feelings themselves in this case. 

Regarding qualia, I came up with the following questions: Where do our qualia arise from? Where do our qualia exist? In my view, our qualia show up from our consciousness and also reside in our consciousness. However, I still don’t know the process of production. What creates our qualia? How do our qualia come from our consciousness? By the way, what creates our consciousness? The list of my philosophical questions goes on.

Brain and Mind Development?

Hanson (2009) explains “as the brain develops in childhood, so does the mind; if the brain is ever damaged, so is the mind” (p. 10). I agree with this idea for the main part, but I have several questions. I’m not sure the meaning of “mind development” in this sentence. What does it mean our mind develops? Perhaps, the author doesn’t definite it appropriately. If it means that our perception to the world is expanded, why is our phenomenological perception widened when our physical brain is developed? I’d like to know the link between our physical brain and phenomenological mind. 

Furthermore, if I turn the author’s argument upside down, what does it happen? ; As the mind develops, so does the brain.” Is that true? When our mind develops more and more, our physical brain also grows in accordance with the development of our mind? If so, we, human beings may get a new function of the brain or new part of the brain in the future. The possibility about our physical brain’s evolution will still remain. How far can our mind and brain evolve?

Reference

1 Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom