More Than a Role: Why a Person-Centered, Holistic Approach Creates Real Change

When people come to work with me—whether they’re athletes, executives, managers, or teens—it’s often because they want to improve in a specific area or role. But what quickly becomes clear is this: we can’t truly grow in isolation.

Even if someone shows up wanting to "be a better leader," "be more consistent in the gym," or "feel more confident on the field," that goal doesn't exist in a vacuum. Every role we hold—parent, teammate, employee, student—is influenced by the others. Stress, mindset, relationships, and routines don’t stay neatly compartmentalized, even if we think we’re keeping them separate.

That’s why I take a person-centered, holistic approach.

What Does Person-Centered Actually Mean?

Originally developed by psychologist Carl Rogers, a person-centered approach means that the client is treated as the expert in their own life—not a passive recipient of advice. It’s collaborative, empowering, and focused on individual growth, not just performance outcomes (Rogers, 1951).

This doesn’t mean the coaching is unstructured. It means we honor the whole human—not just their “problem area.”

In sport psychology, this idea is echoed in the Humanistic Model of Mental Skills Training, which emphasizes that mental skills are most effective when they’re grounded in the athlete’s values, identity, and context—not just techniques for performance (Friesen & Orlick, 2010).

🌱 Mindset & Mental Skills That “Leak” Beyond One Role

A foundational shift in mindset—how you interpret effort, failure, and feedback—isn’t isolated to one corner of your life. In fact, developing mindset is deeply intertwined with mental skills like focus, emotional regulation, resilience, and self-awareness.

As Dr. Mary C. Murphy explains in Cultures of Growth (2024), mindset isn’t fixed—it’s context-dependent and shaped by our environments and interactions. While we can hold different mindsets in different areas of our lives (e.g., being growth-oriented at work but fixed in relationships), when we do the internal work to intentionally shift mindset, it’s hard for that not to leak into other areas.

When you begin responding differently under pressure—maybe viewing setbacks as learning opportunities rather than threats—that approach doesn’t stay confined to one role. You start showing up more consistently across settings: in the boardroom, on the field, at home, in the gym.

That’s a good thing.

Because real transformation isn’t about mastering one role—it’s about becoming more effective, grounded, and confident in who you are.

🧠 Why This Happens: The Research Behind the Ripple Effect

• Mindset as a Continuum: Murphy’s research (building on Dweck’s foundational work) shows that mindset exists on a spectrum and shifts based on situational cues. You can train it intentionally.

• Skill Repetition Builds Identity: Neuroscience shows that consistent repetition across environments helps the brain generalize new strategies. Practice in one area strengthens performance in others.

• Whole-Life Practice Embeds Growth: When you work on mindset and mental skills in diverse situations—not just during sessions—you accelerate learning and build deep confidence.

  
  

What This Looks Like in Practice

In our work together, I’m not just giving you strategies and hoping they stick. I’m helping you build systems, reps, and reflections that make those strategies second nature.

This includes:

• Practicing emotional regulation during workouts—not just in meetings

• Noticing self-talk during daily routines, not just under pressure

• Intentionally responding to setbacks across environments—not just in performance settings

  
  

You’ll be encouraged to apply what we cover across all areas of your life, not just the one you originally came in for. Whether your goal is improved leadership, confidence, performance, or lifestyle changes, it all starts with building consistency and quality reps outside of our sessions.

Because the habits you build outside of your “role” don’t stay outside of it—they shape how you show up everywhere.

✨ What Happens When You Take a Holistic Approach?

Result	Why It Matters
Integrated Confidence	You’re not just confident in one role—you’re confident in many.
Resilience Under Pressure	You respond with intention, not impulse, across environments.
Identity-Based Change	You grow into the person you want to be—not just a better version of your title.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're an athlete, director, manager, or just trying to get unstuck, your growth doesn’t start and stop with your “job title.” The work we do together honors the whole person—your values, your habits, your mindset, and your real life.

Because when you grow as a person, every part of your life benefits.

Ready to experience a coaching approach that builds confidence and clarity from the inside out? Reach out to schedule a free consult.

📚 References:

• Rogers, C. R. (1951). Client-Centered Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications and Theory.

• Friesen, A., & Orlick, T. (2010). A qualitative analysis of holistic sport psychology consultants’ professional philosophies. The Sport Psychologist, 24(2), 227–244.

• Murphy, M. C. (2024). Cultures of Growth: How the New Science of Mindset Can Transform Individuals, Teams, and Organizations. Simon & Schuster.

• Oyserman, D. (2009). Identity-based motivation: Implications for action-readiness, procedural-readiness, and consumer behavior. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 19(3), 250–260.