Next Level Coaching: Tapping into Intuition - Trusting Your Inner Wisdom
- Andrew J Calvert
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
Practical Ways to Encourage Clients to Listen to Their Gut and Make Intuitive Decisions
We all have an inner compass guiding us — that subtle pull or instinct we often call our "gut feeling."
As coaches, helping clients learn to trust this internal wisdom can empower them to make decisions that feel authentic and aligned. Yet intuition can be elusive, especially for those who are used to a highly analytical approach.
Here are some practical techniques to help clients listen to their intuition, paired with an understanding of why these techniques work. And as with most every facet of coaching there are times when you should NOT take this approach - so I've also covered situations where leaning into intuition may not be the best choice.
Create Space for Stillness
How-To: Encourage clients to build short, quiet moments into their day — even just five minutes of mindful breathing, a walk, or silence. The goal is to give their mind space to let intuition rise without interference from a constant stream of thoughts.
Why It Works: Intuition thrives in moments of mental clarity. When the brain has a chance to quiet down, subconscious insights and intuitive cues are more likely to surface.
Contra-Indications: If a client feels anxious or fearful in stillness, this might indicate they need a gentler introduction to mindfulness. In such cases, it may be better to start with guided activities rather than solo silence.
Body Awareness Check-In
How-To: Guide clients to pay attention to physical sensations when they're considering a decision. Invite them to pause and notice if they feel tightness, lightness, warmth, or coolness in their body. These physical reactions can offer clues about their intuitive responses.
Why It Works: Emotions often manifest physically. Helping clients connect body awareness to decision-making can bring subconscious cues into conscious awareness.
Contra-Indications: Clients who’ve experienced trauma may find body awareness exercises overwhelming. For them, it may be better to focus on journaling or visualizing rather than tapping into physical sensations initially.
Journaling for Insight
How-To: Suggest a simple “intuition journaling” practice. They can write down a question they’re wrestling with, jot down any initial reactions without censoring, then set the journal aside. After a few days, have them revisit and observe any new feelings that emerged.
Why It Works: Writing allows unfiltered thoughts to flow, often revealing insights buried beneath surface-level concerns. Time away gives these reflections a chance to deepen.
Contra-Indications: Journaling may lead to overthinking for clients prone to ruminating. If they get stuck in loops, it might be helpful to try more dynamic or verbal techniques, such as talking with a peer.
Guided Visualization
How-To: Lead clients through a short visualization where they imagine a choice point. Encourage them to “see” each choice unfold and observe any gut reactions or emotional responses that arise. They might imagine a decision being made and visualize how they feel in their body and mind.
Why It Works: Visualization can tap into emotional responses in a safe, controlled way, allowing intuition to show itself in feelings or imagery that might not emerge in purely verbal processing.
Contra-Indications: If clients have difficulty imagining or feel resistant to visual exercises, this technique may create frustration. In such cases, a simpler body awareness technique may work better.
Experimenting with Small Choices
How-To: Encourage clients to “practice” intuitive decision-making on small, low-stakes choices (like what to eat or how to spend a free hour). After making these choices, they can reflect on how the decision felt afterward.
Why It Works: Building familiarity with trusting intuition in non-pressured scenarios builds confidence and awareness, making it easier to rely on intuition in more significant situations.
Contra-Indications: For highly structured clients, even small intuitive decisions can feel unsettling. If this exercise creates resistance, start with minimal body awareness or journaling instead.
Listening to the Inner Voice Through Metaphors
How-To: Ask clients to name and explore their gut feelings in metaphor. For example, “If your intuition was an animal, what would it be?” or “What color, shape, or texture does this feeling have?” The metaphor invites a gentle exploration of their inner wisdom.
Why It Works: Metaphors give form to feelings, making the intangible more tangible. This can reveal surprising insights and deepen self-trust.
Contra-Indications: For clients who struggle with abstraction, metaphors may feel confusing or artificial. In such cases, focusing on straightforward body check-ins may be more productive.
When to Exercise Caution: Contra-Indications for Intuitive Decision-Making
While intuition is a powerful tool, it’s not always the best guide. Here are a few cases where a different approach may be more effective:
High-Stakes Decisions Requiring Data: When dealing with high-stakes decisions involving significant consequences, relying solely on intuition without consulting data can be risky. Encourage clients to balance intuition with analysis in such situations.
Bias and Prejudice: Sometimes, what feels like intuition can be a cognitive bias or prejudice in disguise. If a client’s “gut feeling” is rooted in a strong emotional reaction, suggest examining the feeling to rule out personal biases before acting on it.
Emotional Turbulence: When a client is experiencing strong emotions (anger, grief, or fear), their intuition can be clouded by these feelings. In such cases, it may help to wait for emotional clarity or try less emotionally loaded techniques like grounding exercises.
Lack of Self-Trust: Intuition requires a level of self-trust. If a client doubts their inner wisdom or feels unsure, it’s wise to help them develop confidence gradually with smaller decisions before moving to more consequential choices.
Tapping into intuition doesn’t mean abandoning logic or rational thinking — rather, it’s about balancing both to make more informed and personally aligned decisions. For clients, learning to listen to their gut is a journey of self-discovery, patience, and practice. As coaches, guiding them to use intuition mindfully and with awareness of potential pitfalls can lead to richer, more authentic decision-making.
Comments