Table Of Content“This book is an amazing journey through the very sensitive topic of
Bereavement, in its many forms. What I love about this book is the care
and respect offered to the reader in each section. It is full of
information, practical tips and case studies, inviting the reader to reflect
and process at their own pace. It is not a definitive guide to the correct
responses but an exploration of potential responses and answers for
individuals. I believe this book would be a great addition as a must-read
for all Coach and Supervision training programs.”
Benita Stafford-Smith, Managing Consultant at BLSS Coaching,
and Accredited Coach Supervisor
“Julia and Maggie have written a highly accessible and practical book,
which makes a needed contribution to our profession on this subject.
The sharing of relevant theory, their research, and practitioner case
studies provides Coaches, Supervisors and Organisations with expert
guidance and raises critical questions for professional practice. It could
not have come at a better time.”
Damion Wonfor, Founder of Catalyst 14
“It is a privilege to have made a small contribution to this comprehen-
sive book. Julia and Maggie have made a difficult subject uplifting and
exceedingly informative. Both practical and well-researched, it gives real
life, relatable case studies throughout. This is an impressive addition to
my essential reading list for experienced and student coaches and
supervisors.”
Marie Faire, Director at The Beyond Partnership,
Executive Coach and Executive Trainer
“A necessary book on an important topic, reminding us that coaching
begins in a shared humanity and for human beings grief and loss are
normal experiences. Anchored by case studies and enriched by psycho-
logical insights, this is a wise and practical guide offering an extensive
box of tools applicable in a range of contexts.”
Patrick Hobbs, Master Executive Coach
and Coaching Supervisor
“Grief and loss are an inherent part of life and growth. This book offers
coaches a comprehensive and practical framework to help clients
process the various experiences and aspects of loss that life brings their
way. This book is a must for every coach who is passionate about
helping people reach their fullest potential.”
Shiri Ben-Arzi, Medical Coach, founder of MCI – the
Medical Coaching Institute
“Written with grace and sensitivity, this pragmatic and compassionate
looks at grief and loss in everyday scenarios from loss of job to crisis of
meaning and purpose. This timely wisdom illuminates how to serve your
clients and yourself as a practitioner in the coaching industry.”
Tammy Turner, ICF MCC and EMCC Master EIA,
CEO of Turner International
“Truly fascinating topic to write about and this book by Julie and
Maggie is comprehensive and written with love, compassion, and a keen
eye for detail to support coaches and supervisors to navigate working
with grief and loss and to be better equipped when this topic comes up
during sessions. This is an intriguing book and offers tools and lenses to
work through in support of clients. A must read for coaches and
supervisors as it will improve how you work with these topics for better
outcomes for clients.”
Zsofia Juhasz, Executive, Group and Team Coach,
Coach mentor and supervisor
Coaching and Supervising Through
Bereavement
This book presents a pragmatic guide for coaches and supervisors working
with grief and bereavement, providing both useful case studies and practical
techniques to aid professionals in embracing the complexity of working with
these topics in a coaching context.
Coaching and Supervising Through Bereavement clearly delineates the
boundary between bereavement issues requiring specialist counselling and
‘normal’ bereavement topics within coaching. It addresses how to coach
clients through all different forms of bereavement, not just through death
but also other losses such as job loss and relationship loss, and enables
coaches to shine a light on their own bereavement journeys for the benefits
of themselves and their clients. The authors also offer a guide for coaching
supervisors to aid the ethical and emotional support required for their own
supervisees and themselves.
This book debunks the myth that bereavement should not be discussed in
coaching, and so will be a valuable resource for any practicing coach or
supervisor of all levels of experience or expertise.
Julia Menaul has a background in learning and development and is an
Association for Coaching Accredited Master Executive Coach with a thriving
UK-based coaching supervision practice for coaches and supervisors.
Maggie João has an international career of more than 25 years and holds
various coaching credentials (MCC, EIA SP, PMC). She has been a coach
supervisor since 2012 and is the author of 14 published books about
coaching in various languages.
Coaching and Supervising
Through Bereavement
A Practical Guide to Working with
Grief and Loss
Julia Menaul and Maggie João
Cover image: © Chris Clor/Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Julia Menaul and Maggie João
The right of Julia Menaul and Maggie João to be identified as authors of this
work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Menaul, Julia, author. | João, Maggie, author.
Title: Coaching and supervising through bereavement : a practical guide to
working with grief and loss / Julia Menaul and Maggie João.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2023. |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Summary: “This book presents a pragmatic guide for coaches and
supervisors working with grief and bereavement, providing both useful
case studies and practical techniques to aid professionals in embracing the
complexity of working with these topics in a coaching context”‐‐ Provided
by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022009962 | ISBN 9780367540715 (paperback) | ISBN
9780367540708 (hardback) | ISBN 9781003087502 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Personal coaching. | Executive coaching. | Bereavement. |
Grief.
Classification: LCC BF637.P36 M3838 2023 | DDC 158.3‐‐dc23/eng/
20220509
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022009962
ISBN: 978-0-367-54070-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-54071-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-08750-2 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003087502
Typeset in Times New Roman and Gill Sans MT
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
For David Thomas Mountford
19.4.1933 – 13.6.2018
Julia Menaul, Coaching Supervisor and Accredited Master
Executive Coach
To all coaches and supervisors who help their clients
see the sun behind the clouds.
Maggie João, MCC and EIA Senior Practitioner
Contents
Acknowledgements xiii
Foreword by Eve Turner xiv
Introduction 1
Health warning 4
PART I
Coaching Through Bereavement 7
1 The Boundaries of Our Work 9
Defining coaching 10
Grief in executive coaching 10
Defining counselling 12
Defining bereavement, grief, and loss 13
Types of losses 15
Signs of bereavement 16
2 The Bereaved Coaching Client 20
How clients show up 20
A crisis of meaning 20
Signs of crisis 22
To coach or not to coach: What do clients need right now? 23
Showing compassion and empathy: Being a heart
with ears 23
Mind your language 26
A test of faith 27
What can you offer a client right away? 28
