Talking mats for coaching

Using Talking Mats ® as a coaching tool Eileen Abbess

Contents
Talking Mats – background
Wheel of life – overview
Approach
Symbols
Further information

What is a Talking Mat?
A low tech communication framework originally developed by speech therapists to support people with communication impairment.
Now an established, award winning communication tool which uses a mat with pictures as the basis for communication.

How can a Talking Mat work with coaching?
It can provides an alternative to the traditional questionnaire for assessment/ diagnosis
It provides a structure where information is presented in small chunks supported by symbols.
It gives your client time and space to think about information and work out what it means in a visual way that can be easily recorded.
People using Talking Mats find it enjoyable and easy to use, as it provides a simple and effective, non-threatening way of expressing themselves.

Wheel of life Personal growth Fun Physical environment Money Career Health Romance People The Wheel Of Life

Approach
Break down wheel of life ‘segments’ into more detail (mind mapping is a useful technique)
Build picture/ symbol set
Facilitate client in mat completion (note for very quick analysis mat can be completed with ‘top level’ 8 segments)

Symbols – personal growth
Supplementary symbols might include:
Spirituality
My contribution
My development
My growth
Possible top level symbol

Symbols - fun
Hobbies
Energy levels

Symbols – physical environment
My house
My town
Neighbours

Symbols - money
Income
Spending
Savings

Symbols - career
My job
My company
Colleagues
Work life balance

Symbols - health
Health
Diet
Fitness
Exercise

Symbols – people
Friends
Family
Neighbours
Colleagues

Symbols - relationships
Relationships
Romance
Partner

Further information
On Talking Mats at www.talkingmats.com
And all sorts of further reading ( click here )

Talking mats for coaching

by Eileen Abbess on Oct 29, 2010

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