Poetry for Coaching

Julie Jenson, a researcher and doctoral student of existential psychotherapy, joined Ross Nichols for Episode #9 of the Poetry for Coaching podcast.  They explored the intersection of poetry, coaching, and psychotherapy. The discussion ranged from Julie’s research finding that Gen Z has become ‘Gen Poetry’ to the practice of poetic dialogue in therapeutic and coaching settings, the role of the listener poet in creating meaningful human connections, and the power of metaphor.

Dr. Jaki Wasike Sihanya, a Kenya-based business and leadership coach with a Doctorate in Education, joined Ross Nichols for Episode 8 of the Poetry for Coaching podcast. The conversation explored her lifelong but largely private relationship with poetry, her protest poetry anthology published in 2024, and her emerging use of poetry as a coaching tool. She shared an original poem live about coaching titled The Space Between and expressed her intention to join the Poetry for Coaching community. 12

Averil Price, Executive Coach and author of The Legacy Coach, joined Ross Nichols for Episode 7 of the Poetry for Coaching podcast.  Averil shared how poetry unexpectedly entered her practice following a two-hour writing-for-wellbeing workshop in summer 2025. She now integrates curated poems into her work including the ‘Rise and Renew’ leadership development programme she delivers for Solace (the local government membership body).  Averil uses poems as reflective prompts in one-to-one coaching sessions. Ross and Averil discuss her experience that poetry creates an additional reflective space that helps clients access deeper thinking and new language for self-understanding.

Patricia Ahern, founder of Positive Autonomy Coaching, joined Ross Nichols for Episode 6 of the Poetry for Coaching podcast. The conversation explored how Patricia discovered poetry through lifelong journaling, how coaching helped her silence self-doubt and embrace her identity as a poet, and how she now integrates creative writing into her coaching practice. Ross and Patricia also discussed broader themes of emotional expression, loneliness, and the therapeutic power of poetry for vulnerable populations

Margaret Bukowska, a clinical research nurse, therapist, and poet, shares how poetry functions as a versatile healing and coaching tool. The conversation covered two core methods for using poetry with clients, the philosophy behind accessible creativity, and Margaret's published works and upcoming projects. Key insight: a poem doesn't need to be perfect to be powerful — "a lousy poem, but I feel so much better" captures the entire approach. 

Margaret wrote and shared this poem as her response to the global Covid lockdown because no matter what the external circumstances are, and how much or how little control we have over then, there’s always Hope, and we are All One Humanity 
~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

In Our extraoridinary times...
The social-distancing,
The self-isolating,
The scary word “Quarantine”
that we so dread...
We have been doing this
all along,
by putting up false pretences,
by building higher (de)fences,
keeping up with appearances,
by the shallowness 
of our connections,
those meaningless conversations...
And Now,
with the death toll
that this Invisible Army from within
rings up every day
-we feel each and every one of them
  as our own
And in the confines of our physical walls
our collective mask falls...
And in that distance in space,
just as the Universe always meant,
We Are UNITED
once again...

Ross Nichols hosts Dr. Jackie McCartney on the Poetry for Coaching podcast, discussing the integration of poetry into coaching. Dr. McCartney, a seasoned organization development professional, emphasizes the importance of poetry in business, sharing a real-world example where a poem supported a director to communicate a complex experience, effectively. She differentiates between reflective practice and reflexive practice, highlighting the latter's deeper, recursive exploration of one's assumptions, impact on clients and vice versa. Dr. McCartney also discusses her doctoral dissertation on poetry practice and potential, advocating for poetry as a tool for self-examination, self-awareness and meaningful client interactions.

Ross Nichols hosts Nancy Sherlong on the Poetry for Coaching podcast, discussing the integration of poetry in coaching and therapy. Nancy, an expressive arts therapist and trauma-informed psychotherapist, emphasizes the therapeutic value of poetry, sharing her personal journey from an English teacher to a practitioner in expressive arts. She highlights the use of poetry for reflective practice, supervision, and healing, and mentions her recent article in the Arts and Psychotherapy. Nancy also discusses the importance of overcoming academic trauma and invites coaches to experiment with poetry for personal and professional growth. Ross shares his own experience with poetry, inspired by grief, and concludes by encouraging listeners to join the Poetry for Coaching community.

In this episode, we are joined by Lisa Williams, the creative force behind Rhythm Poetry For Your Soul, curated by the Spiritual Sisters Collective.  

Lisa is a spiritual creative mentor, Kundalini Reiki Master, dance teacher, author and podcaster.  She was inspired by her grandmother, Nanny Peggy, to create her first anthology of poetry, Rhythm Poetry For Your Soul, to uplift and empower women around the world.

There are strong parallels between her Anthology and the Poetry for Coaching Anthology: both are described as 'poetry for your soul' and both comprise 111 poems, which is an 'angel number', full of potential.

Lisa describes her next poetry projects, which have been inspired by her own guardian angel, her nanny Peggy: Angel Poetry, for female poets to share their angel insights, and Rhythm Poetry For Their Soul for male poets to explore their vulnerable side.  She sees the potential for all her poetry projects to be illustrated with music and images, and celebrated in festivals.

This is Episode #1 of the P4C podcast where the magic of poetry meets the power of coaching.

Ross Nichols, the Founder and the Editor of the Anthology, Poetry for Coaching-Transformation Through Verse (The Creative Coaching Collective, Nov 2024) introduces the people behind Poetry for Coaching and shares plans for future podcasts.

He tells the story of the creative spark that started the project and how he gathered a team of 6 coach poets who became his co-editors and founder members of The Creative Coaching Collective: Sharon Strimling, Sarah Moores, Kate Jenkinson, Tracey McEachran, Elizabeth Papalia and Anjli Gheewala.  

He explains how the project is more than just a book, it’s also a Vision and a Mission, and a community.

Our Anthology: comprises 111 poems, and the story behind each poem, by 41 coach poets from around the world.  The book is available via the website: www.poetryforcoaching.org.  The Anthology is designed as a resource for coaches, counsellors and therapists, and anyone interested in personal transformation, empowerment and the healing journey that accompanies life’s challenges and changes.

Our Vision: is that the use of poetry for coaching is widely adopted in the profession.  

Our Mission: is to inspire the profession to adopt the use of poetry as a resource for coaching

Our Community: we are building a community of coaches, counsellors and therapists who share our Vision.  If you’d like to help us inspire the use of poetry for coaching, you are most welcome to join our community by registering your profile on our website.

Our Podcast: is available via our website and also wherever you get your podcasts.

Our Newsletter: is available via our website.

If you are interested in learning more, we can provide presentations and run workshops to support coach education providers, coaching groups and individual coaches to use poetry for coaching.

Future episodes of this P4C podcast will explore the use of poetry for coaching from different perspectives in conversation with:

o   Members of the Community will be reading some of their poems from the Anthology, and exploring the stories behind their poems

o   Clients who’ve experienced the benefits of poetry in coaching sessions

o   Coach educators about how poetry could be used in their accredited coach education syllabus

o   Coaches who use poetry for reflective practice

o   The Poetry for Coaching ambassadors, both Master Certified Coaches and published authors, will be invited to talk about their perceptions of what is possible when poetry is used for coaching.

Episode #2, which will be available by mid-May, will feature Lisa Williams and her project, to collect poems from 111 men for the next volume of Rhythm Poetry for Your Soul.  The first volume has poems by 111 women and was curated by the Spiritual Sisters Collective.

Until then, further information is available on www.poetryforcoaching.org.