In transformative coaching, time is more than a ticking clock or a series of sequential moments—it’s a rich, dynamic interplay of past, present, and future that shapes how clients experience and navigate change.
While we often approach time linearly, as a forward progression, transformative coaching invites us to consider a non-linear perspective: how the past influences the present, how the present reshapes the future, and how the future reframes the meaning of the past.
This article explores time as a non-linear concept in transformative coaching, drawing on insights from Philip Zimbardo’s psychological stances toward time and Nick Bolton’s exploration of how time’s dimensions interact.
By viewing time holistically, coaches can help clients unlock new possibilities, reframe limiting beliefs, and embrace change with greater awareness and intention.
Zimbardo’s Time Perspectives and Their Role in Coaching
Philip Zimbardo’s work on psychological time perspectives offers a compelling framework for understanding how clients relate to time. He identifies five primary orientations:
Past Negative: A focus on regret, trauma, or pain from the past.
Past Positive: A nostalgic, affirming connection to positive memories and traditions.
Present Hedonistic: A focus on immediate pleasure and gratification.
Present Fatalistic: A belief that the present is dictated by fate, leaving little room for agency.
Future-Oriented: A focus on planning, goals, and delayed gratification.
In coaching, these perspectives can offer insights into how clients’ attitudes toward time shape their decision-making, beliefs, and emotional responses.
Recognising Dominant Time Perspectives
Clients often favour one or two time perspectives, which can illuminate both opportunities and challenges in their journey:
A client with a strong past negative focus may feel stuck in regret, making it difficult to embrace the present or envision a hopeful future.
Conversely, a future-oriented client may excel in planning but struggle to stay present or connect with the richness of their past experiences.
Balancing Time Perspectives
Zimbardo’s research suggests that a balanced time perspective—where clients draw on the strengths of each orientation—is key to wellbeing and growth.
Transformative coaching can help clients explore and rebalance their relationship with time, integrating positive aspects of their past, present, and future into their journey of change.
The Interplay of Past, Present, and Future in Transformative Coaching
In a video from 2015, I gave a lecture called Time and Timelessness in Coaching which I believe offers another valuable lens: how each dimension of time influences and reshapes the others.
Unlike the linear view of time, this approach recognises the dynamic, reciprocal interactions between past, present, and future.
How the Past Shapes the Present
Clients often bring stories, beliefs, and emotional patterns rooted in their past to coaching sessions. These narratives influence how they perceive themselves and the world today. For example:
A client with a past experience of failure may carry self-doubt into their current goals.
Positive past achievements may bolster a client’s sense of competence and resilience.
Coaching invites clients to revisit their past with fresh eyes, exploring how these narratives serve or limit them. Reframing past experiences can empower clients to release old patterns and embrace the present with greater clarity and possibility.
How the Present Reshapes the Past
The present isn’t just shaped by the past—it also reinterprets it. As clients gain new insights and perspectives, they can reframe their understanding of past events. For example:
A painful failure might be reinterpreted as a valuable learning experience.
A past relationship may take on a new meaning as the client grows in self-awareness and maturity.
This process of re-narrating the past allows clients to integrate their experiences in a way that fosters growth, resilience, and self-compassion.
How the Future Reframes the Past
Similarly, a client’s vision of the future can reshape how they relate to their past. Envisioning a hopeful future may soften the grip of past disappointments or regrets. For example:
A client working toward a meaningful goal may find new purpose in struggles they once viewed as pointless.
Imagining future possibilities can inspire a sense of agency, helping clients rewrite old stories in light of their aspirations.
How the Present Influences the Future
The choices clients make in the present moment lay the groundwork for their future. Helping clients tune into the “now” empowers them to take intentional steps toward their goals. Coaches might explore:
How current habits and mindsets support or hinder future possibilities.
What small, immediate changes can ripple outward to create long-term impact.
By grounding clients in the present, coaching bridges the gap between vision and action.
Coaching Practices for Working with Time Non-Linearly
Transformative coaching can integrate the non-linear nature of time into its approach, helping clients explore and align past, present, and future dimensions. Here are practical strategies:
1. Revisiting and Reframing the Past
Invite clients to reflect on formative experiences, asking:
“What meaning have you taken from this event?”
“What strengths or lessons might this experience hold?”
Use visualisation or journaling to help clients reimagine their past from a place of empowerment and growth.
2. Cultivating Presence in the Now
Use mindfulness techniques to bring clients into the present moment, helping them connect with their emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations.
Ask questions that anchor clients in the now:
“What’s happening for you in this moment?”
“What feels most important to focus on right now?”
3. Envisioning the Future
Support clients in creating a compelling vision of their future, exploring:
“What would a fulfilling life look like for you?”
“What small steps could you take today to move toward this vision?”
Encourage clients to connect their goals with their values and purpose, grounding future planning in meaning.
4. Exploring Time Interactions
Help clients see the connections between time dimensions by asking:
“How does your vision for the future change how you feel about your past?”
“How might being more present now impact what’s possible for your future?”
Challenges and Opportunities in Non-Linear Time Coaching
Challenges
Emotional Complexity: Revisiting the past or imagining the future can evoke strong emotions, requiring sensitivity and care from the coach.
Linear Thinking: Clients accustomed to goal-oriented, step-by-step approaches may initially struggle to embrace a non-linear perspective.
Opportunities
Deeper Awareness: Exploring time holistically helps clients uncover patterns, beliefs, and connections that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Transformative Reframing: By integrating past, present, and future, clients gain a sense of wholeness and possibility, fostering meaningful change.
Conclusion: Time as a Catalyst for Transformation
In transformative coaching, time is not a linear progression but a dynamic, interconnected web of past, present, and future. By exploring time through the lenses of Zimbardo’s psychological stances or my own approach to the interplay of time dimensions, coaches can help clients unlock new perspectives and possibilities.
When we embrace time as a non-linear concept, we create space for clients to rewrite their past, fully inhabit their present, and envision a future that inspires action and growth. In this way, time becomes not just a backdrop for change, but a powerful catalyst for transformation.
