Certified Brainspotting Practitioner, Consultant in Training, and wellness expert, Coach Bonnie Kaye brings a wealth of diverse certifications to her practice. With expertise in alcohol and drug counseling, co-occurring disorders, trauma, group therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, peer recovery support, mindfulness, Heartmath, and running coaching, Bonnie offers a holistic approach to healing and wellness. Her extensive toolkit allows her to create personalized treatment plans tailored to meet each client’s individual needs, promoting healing and support across a broad spectrum of modalities. MysticMag finds out more.
Bonnie, your certifications span a wide range, from alcohol and drug counseling to trauma, brainspotting, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and running coaching. How do you integrate this diverse skill set to provide a holistic approach to healing and wellness for your clients?
I begin by conducting a comprehensive assessment of my client’s needs, considering their physical, emotional, and mental health and work with them to set clear and achievable goals for their wellness journey. I educated them about the various modalities I offer and how they can benefit from each one. This helps them understand the rationale behind my approach and empowers them to actively participate in their healing process. With the client at the helm and my guidance, we decide which modalities to prioritize to approach their healing journey. By integrating these elements, I can provide a holistic approach to healing and wellness that addresses the diverse needs of my clients and support their journey toward improved health and well-being.
As a Certified Adult Distance Running Coach, you’ve accomplished an impressive array of races, including marathons and ultramarathons. How has your personal experience in running influenced your coaching style, and how do you incorporate running into the broader spectrum of your coaching practice?
Running requires discipline and goal setting which can translate into coaching by helping clients establish clear objectives and develop strategies to achieve them. I draw parallels between the mental strategies employed during training for endurance sports such as maintaining focus, managing discomfort, and pushing through fatigue and apply them to help clients develop strategies for overcoming challenges in their lives. This approach can be particularly effective in areas where persistence and resilience are key to achieving success.
Brainspotting is a fascinating approach you use, especially in addressing mental blocks and performance anxiety for athletes. How has brainspotting been effective in helping runners overcome mental barriers and enhance their performance on the track or trail?
Brainspotting is a therapeutic technique that has been used to address various mental and emotional challenges, including performance anxiety, in athletes, including runners. Brainspotting allows runners to target specific areas of the brain associated with their mental blocks or performance issues. By locating and focusing on these brainspots, runners can process and release underlying emotional and psychological barriers that may be hindering their performance.
Brainspotting taps into the subconscious mind, where many mental barriers and performance issues originate. This allows runners to access and address deep-seated fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs that may be holding them back. Brainspotting is also effective in reducing performance anxiety which can negatively impact performance. Brainspotting can improve focus and concentration by clearing away distractions and negative thought patterns leading to improved performance.
In addition to your coaching roles, you cover various topics in speaking/training, including Trauma Informed Care, Narcan Training, and Substance Use and Suicidality. How do these topics tie into your overall mission, and what impact do you aim to make through these educational sessions?
As an educator and speaker, my overall mission is to promote mental health awareness, destigmatize sensitive topics, and empower individuals and communities with knowledge and skills to address mental health challenges effectively. Each of the topics align with this mission in different ways. By training individuals and organizations in Trauma Informed Care, I aim to foster empathy, understanding, and appropriate responses to those who have experienced trauma, ultimately promoting healing and resilience.
In providing Narcan training, my goal is to empower community members, including first responders, family members, and individuals at risk of opioid overdose, to take proactive measures in addressing the opioid crisis and preventing overdose deaths. Substance use and suicide are complex and interconnected issues with significant public health implications. By addressing these topics in educational sessions, I aim to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and provide resources for prevention, intervention, and support.
Through education on substance use and suicidality, individuals can better understand risk factors, warning signs, and effective strategies for seeking help and supporting others who may be struggling. The impact I am to make is to increase awareness and empowerment, teach lifesaving interventions and reduce stigma. Overall, my mission is to contribute to a culture of mental health awareness, resilience, and compassion, where individuals feel empowered to seek help, support one another, and thrive.
You’ve highlighted Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT);Tapping; as a stress-relief technique. Can you share a success story or an instance where EFT tapping has made a significant positive impact on an individual’s mental well-being? How do you incorporate this technique into your coaching sessions?
I have many success stories. One young man I work with has a history of losing jobs due to his temper. After attending one of my EFT classes, he came back and reported that he was able to use the technique as he was being reprimanded by a supervisor and was able to remain calm and handle the situation without incident.
I have a lady (a senior citizen) who has osteoarthritis, and she reports that her pain medication only helps to a degree. She swears by the use of EFT to assist in the reduction of pain. Another woman that I work with uses it for chronic insomnia and swears by it. I’ve had new parents use it to calm themselves when they were distressed by the cry of their newborn and found that it translated into a calmer baby as well.
Incorporating EFT/tapping into coaching sessions can be a powerful way to address emotional issues, limiting beliefs, and other psychological barriers. We begin by discussing the specific issue or emotion they want to address. If the client is unfamiliar with EFT, I take some time to explain the technique and how it works. I lead the client through several rounds, checking in between rounds to see where their level of disturbance is. We repeat as needed a focus on any shifts or changes they experience during the process. Once the intensity of the emotion or issue has decreased significantly, I guide the client through a process of integrating the new insights or feelings that have emerged during the tapping session. This could involve setting intentions, visualization, or affirmations related to their desired outcome. I encourage my clients to continue using EFT outside of the sessions as a self-care tool and provide them with resources or recommendations for further practice.
If you would like to find out more about Bonnie Kimpling, please visit https://www.coachbonniekaye.com/
