Working with Emotions in Coaching

If you’ve ever found yourself unsure about what to do when a client gets emotional (whether to explore it, hold space, or turn the client’s attention back to the content) this episode is for you. Many coaches hesitate around emotions, afraid of crossing into therapy or “doing it wrong.” Yet emotions are not off-limits. They’re essential to understanding who the client is and what truly matters to them.

In this episode, we explore the real role of emotions in coaching and how to approach them confidently and ethically. You’ll hear about:

• Why emotions matter in coaching conversations;
• How to distinguish between coaching and therapeutic territories when emotions arise;
• What the ICF Core Competencies and MCC standards say about working with emotion;
• Non-directive ways to acknowledge and explore emotions without overstepping;
• How to stay grounded and present when clients express strong emotions;
• Why cultural awareness is key to understanding emotional expression in global coaching.

We also touch on supervision and reflective practice as essential tools for developing your emotional presence as a coach.

If this episode resonated, share it with another coach who’s learning to navigate emotion work with more ease and confidence.

Explore My Other Resources to Deepen Your Coaching Skills:

• Mock ICF Credentialing Exam
• PCC Marker Demo
• Conversations with Credentialed Coaches about Various Coaching Niches and Approaches

Let’s Connect.

• DM me on LinkedIn or visit upthinkcoaching.com to explore supervision, mentor coaching, or our accredited coach training programs.
• If you’re deepening your coaching practice and want accredited training that integrates emotional intelligence, relational depth, and intercultural awareness, visit upthinkcoaching.com. Our next PCC Path (Level 2) and ACC Path (Level 1) cohorts begin this November. They are designed for coaches who care about coaching beyond the tools and techniques.

Three-Party Agreements: Coaching in Organizations If you’re stepping into organizational coaching (or thinking about it) one of the first big questions is: how do you navigate a coaching engagement when there’s more than just you and the client at the table? That’s where three-party agreements come in.

In this episode, I break down the essentials of three-party (or sponsored) engagements: what they are, why they matter, and how to set them up in a way that protects trust while also aligning with organizational goals. Whether you’re new to corporate coaching or looking to strengthen your contracting skills, this conversation will give you practical tools for building clarity, safety, and alignment from the start.

You’ll hear about:

• Why a three-party agreement is best approached as a conversation first, document second;

• The must-have elements to include, from goals and confidentiality to feedback protocols and exit clauses;

• How to balance organizational expectations with the coachee’s autonomy and professional growth;

• What to watch out for when hidden agendas or performance management creep into the process;

• The role of culture and diversity in shaping agreements that actually work across contexts.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow coach who’s navigating organizational coaching or preparing for it. And if you haven’t yet, hit subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes, especially the next one, where we’ll dive into one of the most powerful aspects of coaching: working with emotions.

Want to deepen your coaching practice with more confidence and clarity? I’d love to connect.

• DM me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/luba-diasamidze/) or visit www.upthinkcoaching.com

When a Client Does Not Make Progress in a Coaching Session

If you’ve ever left a coaching session wondering, “Was that enough?” or “Did my client actually make progress?” this episode is for you. Whether you’re a new coach or an experienced practitioner, the pressure to “deliver results” can lead to performance mode, second-guessing, and even subtle missteps in the coaching relationship.

As a mentor coach and supervisor, I see this all the time. Coaches confusing visible “aha” moments with meaningful progress, or missing deeper signs of transformation that don’t look dramatic on the surface.

In this episode, we unpack what progress actually means in a coaching session, how to sense it, and what to do when you’re not seeing it.

You’ll hear about:

• The myth of the “big aha” and how it trips coaches into performance mode;
• How to notice when the client is circling around a surface topic to avoid something deeper;
• The coach’s role in creating psychological safety for emotional honesty and real insight;
• What to do when you feel you’re working harder than your client — and how to hand the process back;
• The link between progress and trust, and why emotional transparency matters more than perfectly framed questions.

If this episode helped, please share it with a fellow coach who might need to hear it. And if you haven’t yet, hit subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes, especially if you’re curious about the deeper, relational side of coaching.

Let’s connect!

Want to bring more presence, confidence, and clarity to your coaching? I am here for that.

• DM me on LinkedIn or visit upthinkcoaching.com to explore supervision, mentor coaching, or our accredited coach training programs.
• Our next PCC Path (Level 2) - "Beyond the Tools: Advanced Coaching in Emotional, Intercultural & Relational Spaces"- begins in September: https://upthinkcoaching.com/coach-training-development/the-path-to-excellence-for-certified-coaches/
• ACC Path (Level 1) opens in November: https://upthinkcoaching.com/coach-training-development/become-a-coach/

Looking forward to supporting you on your journey.