Mindful coaching
About
Hello, my name is Susanne, and I offer guided and mindful self-exploration for individuals based on Zen Coaching. Since January 2025 I am offering coaching sessions to the world - and invite you warmly to book your first 30 minutes for free, to get to know each other and see if it's a match :)
Please find more information about Zen Coaching, my learning journey, my own coaching approach below. I hope my FAQ help to answer your questions - if not, please to contact me!
How it all started
My journey into Zen Coaching started in January 2022 in Ängsbacka, Sweden. It was only a few weeks ago that I had moved to Malmö. Miraculously, that time I received a Christmas mail with a letter of thanks from the monks and nuns of the European Institute for Applied Buddhism (EIAB). The Buddhist centre in the middle of Germany was founded by the honored Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh in 2008 and had been my spiritual home since then. This place and many others I used to visit had been locked down, and the situation was almost similar in Switzerland where I used lived before.
Holding a personally signed greeting card from the munks and nuns in my hands was and still is a comfort and a precious gift! It motivated me to start looking for similar retreat centres in Sweden, even though I didn't understand the language yet. Fortunately, I found Ängsbacka kursgård, was able to register for my first Zen coaching workshop and was welcomed by open-hearted people and a dear teacher who put me back on the path to myself. It felt like I had found my lost home in a new place, and I decided to continue my inner journey in the country where life had led me.
The Zen Coaching training
The Zen Coaching training was developed by Kåre Landfald 20 years ago as a profound personal journey with a unique inner focus that consists of four modules of 5 days each. The highly integrative approach of Zen Coaching combines the traditions of classical Western coaching principles, Eastern Buddhist and Middle Eastern Sufi philosophy and practices as well as the theories and tools of modern Western psychology and communication models. During the training and between modules, regular practice is required to understand and apply the deep knowledge offered from such different schools.
Zen Coaching itself is based on the 5 principles of
My learning journey
In recent years, I have experienced first-hand how much support I have received from all Zen coaching teachers and groups in overcoming emotional challenges. My first intention was not to become a coach, but seeing others grow turned out as very rewarding and inspiring! My studies in psycholgy including trauma-awareness, own inner processes and a profession that focuses on uncovering user's needs in a business context made me feel confident to step in the coaching role. It took me a while to realise that my deep search for meaning, my ability to listen deeply and the joy I get from supporting others are pretty useful coaching skills :)
My Zen Coaching education:
My coaching approach
I see the coaching relationship as a partnership between a seeker and a guide, and myself more as a professional friend than a teacher that has all answers. I am not an educated therapist - but through mindful listening and empathy I aim to offer a safe space without judgmental analysis. As a coach I am responsible to ask the right questions and help you to uncover your own truth, both in the body and the mind, to invite your inner healer. I believe in lifelong learning, and get so much out of every session! I am fascinated to discover how other people think and feel, where our differences are, and how much we have in common despite everything.
According to your individual situation, right now in the present moment, I will choose and apply tools from traditions and teachers such as mindfulness in the tradition of Plum Village founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, Non-Violent Communication (NVC) according to Marshal Rosenberg, and Internal Family System (IFS) by Richard Schwartz.
FAQ
One session lasts ca. 60 minutes and includes: 1) some minutes to welcome, settle-in and re-cap the last session, 2) the main "work" part of ca. 45 min., and 3) some minutes to wramp up, feel the impact and say good-bye. If you bring a partner, we schedule at least 90 minutes, including time for warm-up and cool-down.
That depends - on what you want to explore, and how easy or difficult it is for you to look at the topic. Sometimes, one session can bring enough answers - maybe you have worked with the topic before. Sometimes, it's just a starting point for a deeper exploration - and that is not necessarily a straight forward journey, but might turn into a circular trip with some back and forth. Like other coaches recommend, I would opt for 5-10 sessions with 1 session per week. We can discuss on the best approach in our first meeting and adopt our decision later according to your needs.
Yes, it's also possible to do one or more sessions together with your partner, or even another person you want to clarify something with. Of course, they need to argree ;-) In that case we schedule a 90 minute long session so that both have enough time to explore and express themselves.
If we never met before, THE FIRST 30 MINUTES ARE ALWAYS FOR FREE: To get to know each other, the issue you want to explore, and to get a taste of the practice!
2) Once I am certified as a Zen Coach in the network each single full session à 60 min. will cost 1.000 SEK. An extended session à 90 min. with a second person (e.g. your partner) costs 1.500 SEK. I offer discounts if you book 5 or 10 sessions in a row, and if you are in a difficult financial situation, student or retired - just talk to me.
Sessions can take place at my apartment in Malmö, or online via video meeting e.g. in Jitsi.
Please sent an email to zen(at)susa-kreuz.de and I will get back to you asap.
You can also text me on Whatapp, Signal and Telegram - or just call me - on my German phone number +49 (0)160 7282547