What is Ontological Coaching?

Artists come to coaching because they want to do things differently: They want to enhance their studio practice, move toward new levels of professional achievement, or work in a manner that feels more satisfying and expansive. In short, they desire to change their behavior.

But it’s very difficult to do things differently unless we pay attention to how we be. And how we are being — how we are showing up for our lives from moment to moment — is influenced by how we perceive and interpret the world.

Ontology is the study of the nature of being. Ontological coaching is a form of support that combines the philosophy of being with the neuroscience of cognition. It’s an empowering approach that fosters creativity and courage, and leads to significant self-awareness and transformative change.

In ontological coaching, we do this through observing our thoughts, because our thinking guides how we are being.

The human brain is wired to swiftly create conclusions and narratives. We do it all day, every day, and often these assumptions, beliefs, and stories operate in the background. We react to them without observing if they are true or useful.

For example, if I email a curator for a studio visit and I don’t get a reply, I might conclude that she thinks my work isn’t good enough to merit a response (when in fact, I don’t know what happened after I hit send). When I’m focused on “not good enough,” I start to think of all the other times I’ve received a rejection or not heard back. When I’m in this state, I avoid the studio, because I wonder if there’s any point to it. Then, after a few days or even weeks of this, I start to feel like I’m “falling behind” in my practice and career. I rush to “catch up,” which turns my practice into a stale and frustrating to-do list. As the old saying goes: If I don’t change direction, I’m likely to end up where I’m headed… uninspired, dissatisfied, and burnt out.

The essence of ontological coaching is observe and shift—we acknowledge that we have thoughts, but we don’t have to be our thoughts.

This isn’t the same as so-called positive thinking. In ontological coaching, we look at what’s there and tell the truth about it: I might say, “I didn't hear back from that curator, and I’m so disappointed. I feel like I took a risk for nothing.” With the guidance of a coach, I might notice that my situation brought up a lot of worries about my professional status. I might begin to see a pattern in my thinking, in how I’ve reacted to similar situations.

Once I’m able to see the narrative my brain naturally constructed (as all brains do), then I have a bit of breathing room. I can acknowledge my disappointment, and I can also be willing to put my attention on something more interesting, such as exploring what a successful artist in this situation might do next. From this vantage, I can see new possibilities that lead to action: I could send a follow-up email; I could reach out to a different curator; I could ask a friend to trade studio visits so that I’m “warmed up” when I host a curator in the future. Where before I was stuck in the story of “not good enough,” now I begin to see opportunities.

Here’s what I love about ontological coaching: It empowers you to access your innate wisdom. When you observe the thoughts that are blocking your progress, they lose their power over you. And when the chatter in your brain gets quieter, you’re able to be more alive to your intentions and values, to the very core of who you are. By learning to compassionately observe and shift your focus, you build your agency and resilience, and can move toward your goals with more ease and satisfaction.