In working with Logosynthesis, there is a thin line between coaching and psychotherapy. The methods are similar, but the goals are different. In this presentation, Dr. Willem Lammers offers definitions for coaching and psychotherapy. From there, specific aspects of Logosynthesis coaching are described, which makes it easier for professionals in guided change to stay within the realm of their specialty.

1. Logosynthesis
on the Boundary
of Coaching and
Psychotherapy
© 2015, DR. WILLEM LAMMERS

2. B A H N H O F S T R A S S E 3 8 C H – 7 3 1 0 B A D R A G A Z
WWW.LOGOSYNTHESIS.NET INFO@LOGOSYNTHESIS.NET

3. Issues
 Definitions of psychotherapy and coaching
 The application of Logosynthesis in these fields
 10 tips for coaches to stay on the safe side

4. Psychotherapy
 Definition:
 Psychotherapy is the treatment of a patient's mental
health problems by talking with a psychiatrist,
psychologist, licensed clinical social worker or other
trained practitioner
 Its purpose is the exploration of thoughts, feelings and
behaviour for the purpose of problem solving or
achieving higher levels of functioning

5. Coaching
 Definition (ICF):
 Coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking
and creative process that inspires them to maximise their
personal and professional potential
 The emphasis in coaching is on fulfilling tasks and
roles in everyday life:
 as a professional in organisations
 as a member of groups and teams
 in families

6. Boundaries
 Questions about boundaries between coaching
and psychotherapy with Logosynthesis come up
time and time again
 Ethical and professional issues are connected
with the question
 Coaches and psychological counsellors can
even run into legal and professional problems
if the boundaries are unclear

7. Logosynthesis
 Logosynthesis always works from the same
energetic framework
 However, the context may help you decide
which techniques to use
 The following recommendations may help you
to stay within the framework of coaching

8. How to Avoid Boundary Issues
as a Coach

9. 1. Avoid Diagnostic Categories
 Avoid using established clinical terms and
diagnoses:
 Trauma, Anxiety Disorder, Phobia etc.
 To work with Logosynthesis, it's sufficient to know if
and where energy is blocked or frozen and to
specify the blockage type:
 Frozen structures in the triggers: visual, auditory,
kinaesthetic, olfactory (VAKO)
 Frozen structures in the reactions: physical, emotional,
cognitive, behavioural

10. 2. Stay Close to the Client
 Start from the topic presented by the client and
remain close to the client’s language
 Don’t interpret or search for possible sources of the
presented symptoms
 Don't explicitly ask for childhood experiences
 A counselling intervention:
 Have you experienced that more often?
 A psychotherapeutic intervention:
 Where do you recognise that from?

11. 3. Focus on Beliefs and Fantasies
 Place more emphasis in your work on the
identification and dissolution of beliefs and
fantasies than on memories of distressing events
 Then it will be easier to avoid issues considered
psychotherapeutic

12. 4. Start from the Present
 When resolving triggers, start with distressing
representations of people and situations in the
client's current life
 Work with formulations like:
 This representation of X and everything it stands for
 That way aspects of the past will be neutralised
without being immediately activated

13. 5. Take the Time for the Relationship
 Take plenty of time to build up a working
relationship based on care, support and
accuracy
 This will make the client feel safe and secure with
you if archaic material spontaneously emerges
in the process

14. Stay Three Steps Behind the Client
 Stay three steps behind the client at all times
 Don't go ahead of him or her:
 Doing so may mean that you introduce your own
images and interpretations
 If you stay behind, no disturbing experiences will
be activated unnecessarily or prematurely
 It also stabilises and confirms the working relationship

15. 7. Reconnect to the Presented
Problem
 During the process, return to the problem that
the client first presented, again and again
 A link will then remain between the client's
conscious reason for seeing you and the
Logosynthesis process with the sentences
 Tendencies towards regression will be reduced

16. 8. Translate the Client’s Psychology
into Logosynthesis Terms
 Clients often have their own psychological
theories to justify or explain their reaction
patterns and the corresponding suffering
 Try to understand and interpret clients' own
psychological interpretations in energy terms,
as triggers and reactions
 Don’t follow clients in their own psychology

17. 9. Think Energy
 Avoid using the sentences for any psychological
concepts or constructs: Think Energy
 Even if the sentences could work in such cases,
they'll work better and more precisely if they're
related to concrete representations of sensory
experiences

18. 10. Use Images and Metaphors
 The use of images and metaphors as topics for
the sentences also allows for processing without
direct reactivation of disturbing events
 Avoid introducing your own metaphors
 Use those, which come from the client
 For the content of the sentences use those
images and metaphors that have the highest
emotional impact

19. Read the Handbook
 Logosynthesis – Healing with Words.
A Handbook for the Helping
Professions with a Preface by Dr.
Fred Gallo
 www.amazon.com/Logosynthesis-Healing-Handbook-
Helping-Professions/dp/1505826756

20. You can also join
one of our Facebook groups:
- Logosynthesis
- Logosynthese
- Logosynthèse
- Logosintesi
Welcome to the world of Logosynthesis!

21. About the Author
 Dr. Willem Lammers has
discovered and developed
Logosynthesis since 2005
 He is a Dutch/Swiss coach
and psychotherapist with
30+ years of experience on
the interface of body, mind
and spirit
 info@logosynthesis.net