Shadow Work & Imperfect Coaches: When Your Humanity Helps (or Hurts) the Session

In this powerful episode of Real Talk for Coaches , Dr. Dawn C. Reid and Coach William unpack a topic that doesn’t get discussed enough in the coaching industry: shadow work and the myth of the perfect coach . Does your shadow lead your coaching… or sabotage it? They explore the difference between being an imperfect (human) coach and being an unaware coach whose unhealed triggers show up in sessions. From dismissiveness and impatience to grief and emotional residue, this episode delves into how a coach’s internal world directly shapes client outcomes. You’ll hear a real-life story about a session that felt “off,” how it was repaired through trust and accountability, and why awareness—not perfection—is the true mark of professionalism. If you’re a coach committed to growth, integrity, and ethical practice, this conversation is essential. Episode Notes / What You’ll Learn What “shadow work” really means in coaching The difference between imperfection and unprocessed triggers How trauma, biases, and limiting beliefs can leak into sessions Why self-awareness is a core coaching competency How to recognize when your energy shifts in a session The role of coaching supervision, mentoring, and therapy How to repair a session when something feels off Why vulnerability builds trust with clients Signs you’re working with a coach who is doing their own work Best For Coaches working toward ICF, IAC, or other credentials New coaches navigating confidence and authenticity Experienced coaches refining presence and self-awareness Clients who want to understand what ethical coaching looks like Anyone interested in personal growth and emotional intelligence Visit or to learn more about Coach Dawn and her services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can listen to Shadow Work & Imperfect Coaches: When Your Humanity Helps (or Hurts) the Session online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Shadow Work & Imperfect Coaches: When Your Humanity Helps (or Hurts) the Session is an episode from Real Talk for Coaches by Reid Ready Life Coaching, LLC.

This episode is 25:26 long.

This episode was published on Mar 3, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Real Talk for Coaches when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.