“The body keeps the score—but it also tells the story. When we listen with an immersed, meta awareness, we begin to hear what the body has been trying to say all along.” In trauma‑informed coaching, cultivating the ability to recognize hypervigilance is a mark of experience and mastery. When we learn to notice what the body communicates—especially in online sessions—we begin to understand safety and connection in an entirely new way.

As Thanksgiving approaches, gratitude can feel complicated. When we’ve faced loss, trauma, or deep transition, the idea of “being thankful” may land hollow — even irritating. Yet gratitude, in its truest form, isn’t about denying pain or forcing positivity. It’s a quiet noticing — a soft awareness of what still remains, what continues to hold us, even in small ways.

In one session, a client stopped mid‑sentence, eyes down, breathing shallow. I felt the urge to ask another question, but something in the moment seemed important, so I stayed quiet, softened my breath, and waited. After a long—and a bit uncomfortable—pause, she whispered, “I’ve never said that out loud.” Silence had done what my questions could not—it acknowledged an insight and provided a moment of safety for something more meaningful to emerge. As coaches, our work with silence goes beyond simply waiting; it’s about sensing what’s happening in the quiet. 

Each Wednesday, I’ll share a short reflection built around a single, powerful question — What if…? The What if question is one of the simplest yet most transformative tools in coaching. It opens curiosity, invites hope, and expands possibility — especially when someone feels stuck in patterns of overwhelm, fear, or emotional reactivity.