Where do we go from here?
Many of our guests arrive at High Meadow Retreat after navigating challenging experiences that have brought significant – and often unwanted – changes to their circumstances. These disruptions might stem from shifts within their teams or organizations, upheavals in their marriages or family dynamics, or sometimes a combination of both. Whatever the source, these changes frequently leave them at a crossroads, grappling with difficult decisions about the path ahead.
For some, the need is to reframe their perspective on their situation and make adjustments that will allow them to continue working in a healthier way. For others, the reality is that returning to their previous roles or ministries in the same capacity as before is no longer an option. They come to us seeking a safe space to process their experiences, make sense of what has happened, and wrestle with the pressing question: What’s next?
This is where the coaching aspect of our work comes into play.
In this newsletter, we continue our series on what we offer at High Meadow Retreat, focusing on the future-facing support provided through coaching. Drawing on the analogy of Google Maps from previous updates:
- Debriefing is like an overview of the map, exploring the narrative of the story.
- Counselling zooms in on specific areas that feel stuck or blocked.
- Coaching is the process of bringing greater clarity to the destination or direction of travel, charting a path forward, and identifying practical next steps.
(You can find the earlier parts of this series on our blog.)
What coaching looks like
Coaching offers a structured space for purposeful dialogue, helping individuals gain clarity, overcome feelings of being stuck, and navigate the way forward. It helps them to make meaningful decisions and identify opportunities for personal and professional growth—whether by strengthening leadership skills, improving communication, enhancing relationships, or other key areas. Explore more about the coaching we offer here.
Typically, these conversations are saved for the final days of a retreat so that guests can bring the insights they’ve uncovered through debriefing and counselling into this process. Proverbs 20:5 says, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” The aim of a retreat is to create an environment where those deep waters can be explored, allowing discovery and understanding to guide the decision-making process.
Although guests rarely leave coaching sessions with a detailed long-term plan, they often gain a clearer sense of their overall direction. Many also find that the tasks or transitions ahead feel far less daunting or overwhelming than before. This shift typically happens because they’ve taken time to identify and map out their goals and break them into manageable action steps. At its best, the coaching process replaces a sense of overwhelm with clarity and motivation.
Immediate next steps might include:
- Continuing to explore the “deep waters” through further counselling.
- Planning how they will communicate their story and decisions upon returning home.
- Developing practical steps to restore health and foster intentional growth in specific areas of life, marriage and ministry.
We also provide a follow-up online coaching session 3–6 months after guests return home, offering an opportunity to check in and review progress and refine their plans. For some, this marks the start of a longer coaching journey through periods of transition, which often take more time than anticipated.