1. info@abbessconsulting.co.uk
www.twitter.com/ChangeRisk
Using Talking Mats®
as a coaching tool
Eileen Abbess
me !

2. info@abbessconsulting.co.uk
www.twitter.com/ChangeRisk
Contents
• Talking Mats – background
• Wheel of life – overview
• Approach
• Symbols
• Further information

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What is a Talking Mat?
• A low tech communication
framework originally developed by
speech therapists to support people
with communication impairment.
• Now an established, award winning
communication tool which uses a
mat with pictures as the basis for
communication.

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How can a Talking Mat work with
coaching?
• It can provides an alternative to the traditional
questionnaire for assessment/ diagnosis
• It provides a structure where information is
presented in small chunks supported by
symbols.
• It gives your client time and space to think about
information and work out what it means in a
visual way that can be easily recorded.
• People using Talking Mats find it enjoyable and
easy to use, as it provides a simple and
effective, non-threatening way of expressing
themselves.

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Wheel of life
Personal
growth
Fun
Physical
environment
Money
Career
Health
Romance
People
The
Wheel
Of
Life

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Approach
• Break down wheel of life ‘segments’
into more detail (mind mapping is a
useful technique)
• Build picture/ symbol set
• Facilitate client in mat completion
(note for very quick analysis mat
can be completed with ‘top level’ 8
segments)

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Symbols – personal growth
• Supplementary
symbols might
include:
– Spirituality
– My contribution
– My development
– My growth
personal
growth
Possible top
level symbol

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Symbols - fun
• Supplementary
symbols might
include:
– Hobbies
– Energy levels
fun
Possible top
level symbol

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Symbols – physical environment
• Supplementary
symbols might
include:
– My house
– My town
– Neighbours
physical
environment
Possible top
level symbol

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Symbols - money
• Supplementary
symbols might
include:
– Income
– Spending
– Savings
money
Possible top
level symbol

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Symbols - career
• Supplementary
symbols might
include:
– My job
– My company
– Colleagues
– Work life balance
business/
career
Possible top
level symbol

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Symbols - health
• Supplementary
symbols might
include:
– Health
– Diet
– Fitness
– Exercise
health
Possible top
level symbol

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Symbols – people
• Supplementary
symbols might
include:
– Friends
– Family
– Neighbours
– Colleagues
Possible top
level symbol
people

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Symbols - relationships
relationships
• Supplementary
symbols might
include:
– Relationships
– Romance
– Partner
Possible top
level symbol

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Further information
• On Talking Mats at
www.talkingmats.com
• And all sorts of further reading (click
here)