Integrating Narrative Identity and Social Presencing Theater in Coaching 

In 2024, approximately 50 coaches from Leadership Circle engaged in workshops on Narrative Identity in Coaching, where Social Presencing Theater (SPT) plays a pivotal role. This powerful synthesis of narrative and somatic practices offers a transformative approach to leadership coaching. 

Leadership Circle, a global leadership development organization, is committed to evolving conscious leadership. With a community of over 11,000 dedicated practitioners, the organization provides a space for deep personal and professional growth. The Narrative Identity workshops attracted practitioners eager to bring their executive coaching to a next level.   

The Power of Narrative Identity and Somatic Awareness 

Narrative Psychology is based on the idea that individuals construct their identities on the narratives shaped by their experiences and as a consequence, core meaning-making happens within the frame of that narrative. Much like ‘downloading’ in Theory U, our dominant narratives structure how we perceive the world around us and therefore, influence how we lead. These stories are not just cognitive constructs; they live in the body, influencing our neural pathways, emotions, and behaviors. 

By making the story an object, coaches help clients access profound personal insights, fostering shifts in perspective and identity. This process expands narrative range, deepens self-awareness, and builds the capacity for conscious self-authorship—a crucial skill for leaders navigating complexity. 

Embodying Change: the Stuck Practice 

A core element of the workshop is guiding participants to tell their personal narratives. They begin by sharing their dominant story—the familiar version of how they became who they are. Then, they identify a moment of stuckness, which is explored through Arawana Hayashi’s Stuck Practice from SPT. 

Through somatic movement, participants experience a different version of their story—one that emerges from the second sculpture, often a place of greater freedom and well-being. This exercise softens rigid self-concepts, revealing subordinate stories—often overlooked narratives that offer new possibilities for identity and leadership. 

State Influences Story 

It’s my experience that synthesizing Narrative Identity and the Stuck practice, brings out a softening in how we view our identity. When the mind and body synchronize, different stories about ourselves emerge.  We become more aware of subordinate stories, based on meaningful events that we forgot about or even suppressed. Through the stuck practice, participants realize how the physical state influences the story about themselves. In addition, bringing awareness to a stuck place in the dominant story, increases reflection on certain (unhealthy) patterns.   

Integrating Somatic Practices into Coaching 

On the second day, participants learn to incorporate somatic movement into their coaching. True transformation happens when the mind understands, and the body integrates. By resting the mind on the body, coaches facilitate a deeper sense of wholeness in their clients. 

Synthesis 

There are so many powerful elements in Social Presencing Theatre and the same is true for Narrative Identity. What both methodologies have in common is the realization that change comes from the margins of a system. In Narrative Identity, we look for integration of subordinate stories; those stories that often contradict the dominant stories and with that, transgressing social norms of societies. In SPT we let the soft and wise voice of the body step forward, giving it its rightful place in humanity. In addition, there is also the beautiful polarity of silence and story, which we play with in the workshop.  

Both methodologies increase inclusion, wisdom and wellbeing, which is so needed in today’s world. The synthesis of both methodologies is powerfully gentle and transformative.  

Expanding the Impact 

Given the profound impact, The Leadership Circle is expanding its Narrative Identity in Coaching workshops in North America and Europe in 2025 and Australia in 2026. 

For more information, visit: Leadership Circle – Narrative Identity 

With immense gratitude to Arawana and her team, for creating Social Presencing Theater, a true innovative contemplative movement practice that enhances inclusion, wellbeing and wisdom into the world.  

Here is to all SPT and LCP practitioners, let’s continue our wonderful work together. 

Warmly, 

Rixt Kuiper 

info@rixtkuiper.com 

Rixt Kuiper is a guest contributor to the Leadership Circle blog.