Already Awesome – Sharon Crabbe

My coaching career evolved from my work within the equine industry. As an equestrian coach specialising in performance training, I was always interested in the psychological aspect of developing a successful human and an equine partnership, especially in the performance arena. Studying the psychology of the horse/human or prey/predator relationship took me into a whole new field and ultimately to train as Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator with TheHorseCourse. Working with people challenged with depression, anxiety, lack of confidence, and specialising with vulnerable young people struggling with SEN diagnosis, behavioural issues, autism, and many other complex needs.
Whilst the benefits of this work were apparent from the changes that I observed with my clients, and the work was immensely rewarding, I always felt that there was some thing missing. There is an ever-increasing number of people of all ages who are suffering with mental health issues, the question of whether we are facing a mental (ill) health pandemic is in the news all the time. Why? With all the modalities available, why is this getting worse? What are we not seeing?
In 2017 I stumbled across something that answered that question.
Subtractive psychology is a simple but profoundly effective approach to mental health, resilience, and success. It is different from other approaches because it works on the basis that human psychology functions perfectly; that every person is born with innate wellbeing: resilience, peace of mind, wisdom, natural motivation, the capacity to enjoy life, and navigate its ups and downs with ease.
Other approaches to improving wellbeing are additive; give tools, teach strategies and techniques, which must be remembered, practiced, and applied. These approaches maybe compelling, but they rarely yield the desired results, because they are based on an innocent misunderstanding, that we must work towards having good mental health or wellbeing. When in fact we have it already.
All the positive attributes and emotions that we aspire to are pre-existing capacities within every one of us.
Realising this alone has a massive impact, one’s levels of wellbeing and peace of mind increase, dramatically. Understanding how our psychological system works, through insightfully facilitated learning, results in more clarity, greater wellbeing, and resilience to navigate the challenges that life brings.
For the last 5 years I have been training with leading practitioners in this field. I qualified as a Certified iHeart Facilitator, work with adults and young people in schools and at home, remotely and in person. I have just completed a one-year apprenticeship with as Therapeutic Coach and I am currently enrolled as a Rewilding Guide, specialising in relationship coaching and mentoring.