Sacred Recognition — Why Wanting Your Clients' Appreciation Isn't Shallow, and What to Do When You Don't Get It

Why do coaching clients get so excited about something new, then stall, start and stop, or never quite begin? If you've ever replayed a session wondering what you missed, this episode is for you. Very often, the cause isn't a lack of commitment, and it isn't you. It's the energetics and psychology of starting something new. In this episode, I share what's really happening underneath client resistance at the beginning of a new project, where skilled practitioners tend to miss it, and what to do instead. I also share the story of starting my own business before I knew what it would become, and what I had to learn about being a beginner. In this episode: Why new projects need to be coached differently than ongoing ones The four phases of my Sacred Rhythms Method, and why beginnings are planting season "I don't know it all yet": why new things start in the dark, and the risk of rushing to the how "It hasn't worked before": how to work with this limiting belief, plus my favorite coaching questions "It should be shiny and quick": how honest expectations build client resilience The hidden layer: why starting something new often means letting go of something old When to go deeper with belief rewiring, Befriend Your Fear, resistance work, or the Wheel of Self-Sabotage If you're a coach, therapist, or transformational practitioner who wants to see what's really happening when a client won't start, and walk out of your sessions knowing you handled it, this episode is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 80: 5 Signs Fear Is Quietly Limiting Your Clients Curious whether Sacred Depths is right for you? Book a conversation with me and my team.  And if you haven't yet, please follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode. Suggest a podcast topic: Email us at [email protected] with the subject line "podcast topic!" Learn about Advanced Depth Learn about The Sacred Depths Transformational Practitioner Training Hang out with me! On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/ On The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingfacilitationmastery Join our mailing community and get a copy of How to Help Clients Overcome Procrastination, Overwhelm and More  

Does it feel harder to fill your practice than it used to, even though you're good at what you do? You're not imagining it. In my annual State of the Coaching Industry episode, I share the latest coaching industry data for 2026: what's growing, what's shifted, and why so many skilled coaches and practitioners are struggling right now. There's a lot of hope in this one. The research shows a very clear pattern in who's thriving, and I share the story of a recent Sacred Depths grad who filled her group program with 14 people, with minimal social media and no email list. In this episode: The newest coaching industry statistics, including what the ICF's 2025 Global Coaching Study shows about experience and income The "trust recession," and why trust has moved to the people closest to us How many people are now using AI chatbots instead of coaches, and the one thing AI gets wrong Why clients have less capacity for action steps and homework, and what to do about it How to give white-glove care without overgiving or burning out Five things that will help your practice thrive in 2026 and beyond Why being extraordinary is your best marketing strategy If you're a coach, therapist, or transformational practitioner wondering what it takes to thrive in this industry right now, this episode is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 85: Why AI won't replace extraordinary coaches  Curious whether Sacred Depths is right for you? Book a conversation with me and my team.  And if you haven't yet, please follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode. Suggest a podcast topic: Email us at [email protected] with the subject line "podcast topic!" Learn about Advanced Depth Learn about The Sacred Depths Transformational Practitioner Training Hang out with me! On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/ On The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingfacilitationmastery Join our mailing community — Get a copy of How to Help Clients Overcome Procrastination, Overwhelm and More  

Have you ever ended a session and thought… that was fine? Nothing went wrong, exactly, but you're not quite sure you got anywhere, or that it was what your client really needed. In this episode, I share why so much of that starts in the first five minutes, and the one thing I do at the beginning of every session is to set a tight container so the rest of the session can be art, not science. I share the story of a skilled, caring coach whose client walked away feeling she'd wasted her session (it involves a family Thanksgiving dinner), what went wrong, and what to do instead. In this episode: Why I don't believe in templated coaching sessions, and why I do believe in tight containers Why "How are you?" and "What's new?" can quietly derail your sessions, and what to ask instead How a missing opening contributes to running overtime and accidentally rescuing your clients What to do when a client comes in overwhelmed or needs to be heard first What's often really going on when a client says "I don't know" (hint: it's often not a lack of clarity) What to do when a client's intention shifts mid-session A simple practice to try in your next three sessions Why the difference between a good coach and a masterful one often isn't a new modality, but precision in the moments most people gloss over If you've ever had sessions that meander, run over, or leave you second-guessing whether you gave your client what they came for, this episode is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 83 [How to Help Clients Overcome Fear: The Difference Between Soothing and Transforming It] And if you haven't yet, please follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode. Suggest a podcast topic: Email us at [email protected] with the subject line "podcast topic!" Learn about Advanced Depth  Learn about The Sacred Depths Transformational Practitioner Training Hang out with me!  On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/  On The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingfacilitationmastery Join our mailing community — Get a copy of How to Help Clients Overcome Procrastination, Overwhelm and More  

We don't talk enough in this industry about how much it matters to be truly seen for our work…and how much it can subtly unravel us when we're not. This episode is my soulful, personal, and slightly vulnerable exploration of what I call Sacred Recognition: the deep human need to be seen by another person for what's good, profound, or brilliant inside of us. I share my own lifelong relationship with wanting recognition (including an embarrassing admission about Tony Robbins), some research on why we need it, and the very real dangers of relying on it too much — including something I call "the well that can never be filled." In this episode: What Sacred Recognition actually is, and why wanting it isn't needy or shallow The shame so many practitioners secretly carry around wanting (or not getting) appreciation from clients The research behind why humans need external recognition, not just self-validation "The well that can never be filled": the danger of over-relying on outside praise Why chasing vanity numbers on social media will never satisfy the deeper need How to build the muscle of recognizing yourself, and actually take in recognition when it comes Why your clients need sacred recognition from you too — and what that requires of you as a practitioner If you've ever wondered why client praise means so much to you, or felt a pang of shame about wanting it or not getting it, this episode is for you. And if you haven't yet, please follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode. Suggest a podcast topic: Email us at [email protected] with the subject line "podcast topic!" Learn about Advanced Depth  Learn about The Sacred Depths Transformational Practitioner Training Hang out with me!  On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/  On The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingfacilitationmastery Join our mailing community — Get a copy of How to Help Clients Overcome Procrastination, Overwhelm and More  

If you're a coach, therapist, or transformational practitioner who's already put in real years — real training, real clients, real results — this episode is for you. Because there's a gap I've become fascinated by after 25 years in this field: the gap between being skilled and being masterful in the exact moment it counts. Not in the debrief. Not in your prep. In the room, when a client gets stuck, or activated, or says something you weren't expecting. That gap is the reason I've made some of the biggest changes to Sacred Depths since I created it. In this episode, I'm walking you through all of it — the personal story behind the timing, what's actually different, and why I no longer think of Sacred Depths as a certification at all. In this episode we cover: The real difference between being skilled and being masterful — and why more training usually isn't the missing piece for experienced practitioners The personal season that gave me the clarity (and the courage) to finally make this change Why Sacred Depths is now for experienced practitioners only, and the story behind that decision The three pillars I've come to believe every practitioner's mastery actually depends on: Transformation Skills, Energetics & Inner Work, and Ethical & Authentic Business How these three pillars directly drive your referrals, renewals, and reputation — my "3 Rs" of a sustainable practice A real client story showing how these three pillars work as a loop, not a checklist Why I no longer call Sacred Depths a certification — and what I call it instead What's changing inside the program, and why more content was never actually the goal A big shift in how Sacred Depths is enrolling going forward This is a big one. I cannot wait for you to hear it. Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Joanna and The Coaching Revolution!" If that resonates, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It helps me reach and support more practitioners — and helps us create a real revolution in the coaching and transformation industries. In your podcast app, rate with five stars and select "Write a Review." Let me know what landed most for you! And if you haven't yet, please follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode. Suggest a podcast topic: Email us at [email protected] with the subject line "podcast topic!" Learn about Advanced Depth  Learn about The Sacred Depths Transformational Practitioner Training Hang out with me!  On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/  On The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingfacilitationmastery  

If you're a coach, therapist, or transformational practitioner who's tired of feeling at the mercy of cold leads and unpredictable visibility, this episode is for you. Because here's what I want you to really take in: referrals are the one lever in your business that doesn't depend on the broader market cooperating. They come from the warm, trusting relationships you've already built, not from growing your audience from scratch. And yet most coaches were never actually taught how to do referral marketing well, so they either don't ask at all, or they ask in a way that feels awkward, transactional, or "salesy." In this episode, I'm telling you the real story of how I filled a workshop from 8 registrants to 55 in one week using nothing but referrals (no ads, no funnels), and then walking you through the five steps I now teach inside Become a Referral Magnet for turning referrals into a consistent, dependable, deeply relational part of your coaching business. In this episode we cover: The real story of how I turned 8 workshop registrants into 55 in one week, using nothing but referrals Why referrals are the one part of your marketing that doesn't depend on the economy or algorithm being on your side The inner blocks (the referral mindset and soul-set) that quietly keep skilled, ethical coaches from ever asking How to craft a referral request that actually activates people, instead of landing flat or feeling salesy Why your K.I.T. ("Keep In Touch") system is the difference between one-time referrals and referrals all year round How to design a Profitable Referral Event, like a workshop, circle, or open house, that brings warm leads directly into your world The one foundational skill that makes clients refer you without you ever having to ask This is such an important episode for anyone who wants their marketing to feel more relational and a lot less complicated. I cannot wait for you to listen. Links & Resources Learn about Referral Magnet, the 5-day referral marketing bootcamp for coaches  Join our mailing list — Get a copy of 55 Effective Breakthrough Coaching Questions Suggest a podcast topic — Email us with the subject line "podcast topic!" — [email protected] Hang out with me!  On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/  The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingfacilitationmastery  

If you're a coach, therapist, or transformational practitioner, referrals are almost certainly sitting inside your business right now, waiting to be activated. And fair warning: this episode might challenge a few assumptions you've been quietly making about why they're not showing up more. Because one of the most common gaps I see in genuinely excellent practitioners isn't a lack of skill. It's not knowing how to ask, and unconsciously operating from beliefs about referrals that quietly work against the results you're capable of generating. In this episode, I'm walking through the mistakes I see most often when it comes to referral marketing, and exactly what to do instead, so you can start bringing in ideal-fit clients who already trust you before they ever get on a call with you. In this episode we cover: -Why referrals are still the cheapest, warmest, and most effective way to grow a coaching or transformational business, especially right now -The real reason so many coaches don't ask for referrals, and it's rarely the reason you think -Writing referral outreach that sounds like you, not a sales script -What actually makes a coach or practitioner "referral-worthy," and why it's deeper than most marketing advice tells you -How to build a simple, repeatable referral system instead of a one-time push -How to create referral events that bring in ideal clients, even if your network feels small -Why your skill and your outreach both matter, and how to grow both at once This is a really important episode heading into a season where trust is harder to earn than ever. I cannot wait for you to listen. Links & Resources Join Referral Magnet: A Live Referral Marketing Bootcamp Learn about Sacred Depths Mastery, the Transformational Practitioner Experience — https://applieddepthinstitute.com/offers/sacred-depths Join our mailing list — Get a copy of How to Help Clients with Procrastination, Overwhelm and Self-Sabotage Suggest a podcast topic — Email us with the subject line "podcast topic!" — [email protected] Hang out with me! On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/ The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/206231209781760  

If you're a coach, therapist, or transformational practitioner who wants your clients to get real, lasting results, this episode is for you. And fair warning: it might challenge a few things you've been quietly believing about what makes you good at this work. Because two of the most common, unexamined beliefs I see in skilled, ethical practitioners are these: that being right is what makes you credible, and that keeping a client comfortable is what makes you caring. Both of those beliefs, left unexamined, can quietly work against the very results you're trying to create. In this episode, I'm sharing the second two of four coaching philosophies I hold closest;  the ones I consider foundational to everything else I teach inside Sacred Depths Mastery. In this episode we cover: Why it's okay, and sometimes even beneficial, to be wrong with a client, and the real skill and ethics behind offering a reflection without creating power inequality in the room  Why chasing "being right" can quietly hold back your marketing and your willingness to be seen  Why we sometimes want to lead our clients into discomfort, and the real difference between discomfort and pain  A story about a relationship coach who realized she'd been unintentionally protecting her client from the vulnerability they came to build  What it actually takes, on the inner-work and nervous-system level, to become comfortable with your own discomfort so you can hold your client through theirs This is a really important episode. I cannot wait for you to listen. Links & Resources Learn about Sacred Depths Mastery, the Transformational Practitioner Experience Join our mailing list — Get a copy of How to Help Clients with Procrastination, Overwhelm and Self-Sabotage Suggest a podcast topic — Email us with the subject line "podcast topic!" — [email protected] Hang out with me! On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/  The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/206231209781760  

If you're a coach, therapist, or transformational practitioner who wants your clients to get real, lasting results, this episode is for you. And fair warning: it might challenge a few things you've been quietly believing about what "working" is even supposed to look like. Because one of the most common gaps I see in skilled, ethical practitioners isn't a lack of knowledge or care. It's not having a clear, articulated coaching philosophy, and unconsciously operating from beliefs that quietly work against the results you're capable of creating. I have several of my own. In this episode, I'm sharing the first two of four coaching philosophies I hold closest — the ones I consider foundational to everything else I teach inside Sacred Depths. In this episode we cover: Why there's no magic pill, and what actually creates lasting client transformation, versus what just looks dramatic in the moment The hidden link between a practitioner's own energy and a client's pace of progress, and why "energy follows energy" is more literal than you might think Why your clients don't need fixing, and what it means to believe, all the way to your core, that nothing is missing inside of them How over-consulting and over-teaching can quietly work against a client's breakthrough, even when it comes from good intentions The real difference between ethically activating a gap in your marketing and slipping into fear-based marketing that treats a client as broken This is a really important episode. I cannot wait for you to listen. Links & Resources Learn about Sacred Depths Mastery, the Transformational Practitioner Experience  Join our mailing list — Get a copy of How to Help Clients with Procrastination, Overwhelm and Self-Sabotage Suggest a podcast topic — Email us with the subject line "podcast topic!" — [email protected] Hang out with me! On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/ The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/206231209781760  

If you're a coach, therapist, or transformational practitioner who cares deeply about doing right by your clients, this episode is for you. And fair warning: it might be a little uncomfortable. Because one of the most common patterns I see in ethical, skilled practitioners isn't pushiness or arrogance. It's the opposite. It's being too nice. So nice that it slowly undermines your business, your boundaries, and the depth of transformation you're able to create with your clients. I call it the Nice Practitioner Trap. And in this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what it really is, how it gets created, and exactly how it shows up: in your pricing, your marketing, your client sessions, and even in how you handle difficult situations with clients. In this episode we cover: What the Nice Practitioner Trap actually is — and why it's different from simply being kind or ethical The moment niceness stops being a value and becomes a defense mechanism The specific ways the Nice Practitioner Trap shows up in your business: undercharging, softened marketing, not following up, not asking for renewals, and allowing boundary violations to slide How it shows up inside your coaching sessions: pulling back from the bold question, rushing to resolution, circling the truth instead of naming it What shadow work actually has to do with this, and why intellectual understanding alone won't shift it What becomes available on the other side: aligned boundaries, real leadership, deeper client results, and a business that actually reflects your value This is a really important episode. I cannot wait for you to listen. Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Joanna and The Coaching Revolution!" If that resonates, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It helps me reach and support more practitioners — and helps us create a real revolution in the coaching and transformation industries. In your podcast app, rate with five stars and select "Write a Review." Let me know what landed most for you! And if you haven't yet, please follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode. Suggest a podcast topic: Email us at [email protected] with the subject line "podcast topic!" Learn about Advanced Depth Learn about The Sacred Depths Transformational Practitioner Training  Hang out with me!  On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna.lindenbaum/  On The Coaching Revolution on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachingfacilitationmastery