Navigating Grief as a Coach and Practicing Self-Management: Debrief of Coaching Session #4 with Dr. Mary
Jul 20, 2026Shownotes For Podcast Episode 14: Navigating Grief as a Coach and Practicing Self-Management: Debrief of Coaching Session #4 with Dr. Mary
In this debrief episode of The Holistic Physician Coaching Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh reflects on her fourth coaching session with Dr. Mary, a family medicine resident physician. During the session, Dr. Mary explored grief following her grandfather’s death, including feelings of guilt and blame, and reflected on changes she had experienced at work since her previous coaching session.
In this debrief, Dr. Singh begins by sharing how she grounds and prepares herself before coaching. She reflects on creating an intentional environment, cultivating presence, and allowing time before and after sessions to process and reset. She also explores the importance of prioritizing personal well-being and setting boundaries as a coach.
As the debrief unfolds, Dr. Singh considers what it means to navigate grief within the coaching scope of practice. She reflects on following the coachee’s agenda, recognizing when additional support may be needed, and practicing self-management when a coachee’s experience evokes the coach’s own emotions or memories.
Dr. Singh also reflects on the value of going beyond the mental through a whole-person approach to coaching. She discusses how somatic awareness, breathwork, emotions, energy, and spirituality may support deeper awareness and meaningful shifts when these approaches are welcomed by the coachee and used within the coach’s competence.
The episode closes with reflections on recontracting, translating insight into action, seeking mentor coaching, and approaching professional growth as a coach with humility and self-compassion.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Grounding and Preparing Before a Coaching Session
3:56 - Prioritizing Yourself, Scheduling Sustainably, and Setting Boundaries as a Coach
10:03 - Navigating Grief as a Coach and Practicing Self-Management
23:53 - Going Beyond the Mental Through Somatic Awareness and Breathwork
30:18 - Reflections and Key Takeaways
