760. Coaching In The Presence Of Trauma: Boundaries, Confidence & Ethics - With Julia Vaughan Smith

760. Coaching In The Presence Of Trauma: Boundaries, Confidence & Ethics - With Julia Vaughan Smith

Author: Mark Walsh March 17, 2026 Duration: 53:56

Julia Vaughan Smith joins me to explore what it really means to be a trauma-aware coach. We unpack the fear many coaches carry of getting it wrong, causing harm, or stepping outside their scope, and how that can undermine confidence.

We look at the difference between working with trauma and working on trauma, and why coaching doesn't need to become therapy to be effective. We also explore the shadow sides of both coaching and psychotherapy, the rise of popular approaches like parts work, and how to stay grounded in good practice.

Towards the end, we dive into the powerful dynamics between mothers and daughters, trauma entanglement, and how early relationships shape identity and behaviour.

Find out more about Julia's work here: www.becomingourselvs.co.uk.

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Julia Vaughan Smith is a master accredited coach and supervisor, a retired registered psychotherapist and an author of three books including 'Coaching and Trauma', one of the very few books that deals with this topic and 'Daughters: How to Untangle Yourself from your Mother' which considers the trauma behind difficult and painful daughter/mother relationships and the entanglements that ensure. She has been teaching and talking about coaching and trauma since 2010 and ran Masterclasses with Jenny Rogers on the topic over several years. Other than coaching and psychotherapy, she has had a long and varied career. 

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For seven years, The Embodiment Coaching Podcast has been a gathering place for a curious community. Host Mark Walsh sits down each week with pioneering thinkers and practitioners from across the globe, exploring the profound intelligence of the human system. While it’s essential listening for coaches and embodiment teachers, this series truly speaks to anyone who senses the body is far more than just a vehicle for the brain. Conversations flow naturally through a rich landscape of topics-from the practicalities of coaching and the subtlet of somatics to the grounded wisdom found in martial arts, yoga, and various movement practices. You’ll also find deep dives into mindfulness, meditation, and trauma-informed approaches, all discussed with a light-hearted and accessible tone. The focus remains on tangible, real-world application, stripping away unnecessary jargon. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful, ongoing dialogue where theory meets practice, offering insights you can feel in your bones and apply in your daily life. Mark’s genuine curiosity and the diverse range of guests ensure that every episode brings a fresh perspective on what it means to live fully in our skin.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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