Introduction to Immunity to Change (ITC)
ITC coaching is a unique method for change and self-development that empowers people to make any adaptive change in life. The principles of ITC form the basis of all of my coaching offerings. Created by Harvard professors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey, and based Kegan’s seminal research on human development across the lifespan, ITC coaching focuses on helping clients uncover deeply held beliefs and fears that work directly against their best efforts to change and meet meaningful goals. What was Kegan’s key discovery in his research on change and development? Just as the body develops immunities to pathogens to protect from disease, the mind develops immunities to change to protect the self from potential destruction. Similar to how the body’s immune system can misfire, overprotect, and malfunction, psychological immune systems that may have protected a person well in previous environments can become maladaptive and need to be consciously undone in order for them to thrive in new phases of life. In ITC, there are 9 exercises that a client progresses through on their way to facing their fears, disconfirming their limiting beliefs, and changing their behaviors. In doing so, they overturn their Immunity to Change. Below, I will describe what sets ITC apart from other methods of change.
The Three Factors That Make ITC Coaching the Best Method for Change.
1) The ITC method works for any adaptive change.
An adaptive change is defined by Haifetz as a situation where the “definition of the problem, the solution, and the implementation all require new learning.” This is the type of situation where you don’t know what information you will need until you get there. Solutions are impossible with your existing mindset, not to mention you don’t know which emotions will arise and from where, which disables your thought process. Most of life’s difficult challenges are adaptive changes. Changing careers, getting married or divorced, or raising children are common examples. Smaller but just as impactful examples include recovering from addiction, holding yourself accountable, delegating more, becoming a better listener, finding a partner, losing weight, developing more healthy relationships with family, being more assertive, etc. All of which I’ve helped clients with. See what they have had to say about it.
2) The person learns how to change.
My clients internalize the theories behind psychological change and master the skills for growth. In doing so, they learn a practice that can be applied to any change throughout the rest of their life. This is not an exaggeration. Once you have been coached through the method, you will be able to apply the concepts and skills to your next challenge independently. I welcome returning clients but my business is designed for the opposite. My #1 core value is for the client to develop cognitive liberty through coaching. I have internalized the main principles of Immunity to Change so deeply that I can now apply them in my head, and rapidly, to any situation. My goal is for you to be able to do the same.
3) A Non-Clinical Approach to Change and Healing.
The other thing about this work is that it is a completely non-clinical, faster, and more empowering than most therapeutic approaches to change. Although fear, sadness, or past traumas often come to the surface during a change, ITC empowers a person to quickly find the source of these emotions in their complex social world and develop a step-by-step plan for experiencing and moving through them. A person trying to achieve the same goal through therapy may be diagnosed with an illness and then become reliant on the therapist to change and become well again. In coaching, you are empowered to master the theory and the exercises. One of my core beliefs is that each person has the intelligence to understand psychological change, and the right to construct their self in their own vision. This is a person’s right to cognitive liberty and is the reason why I chose to become a developmental psychologist rather than a clinical psychologist.
ITC forms the basis of Adaptive Edge Coaching Programs
The principles of Kegan’s theory of Adult Development and Immunity to Change method, along with my own research in evolutionary psychology, biology, and social psychology, unite to form the basis of my methods. You can take a look at my general expertise and offerings, as well as Client Testimonials. Each of my specialty domains, Life Changes, Healing, Soft Skills, and Performance focuses on helping a person overcome their current habits to change certain aspects of themselves, their relationships, their environment, or all of the above. Email me at greg@adaptiveedgecoaching.com with any questions or to set up a free initial consultation to learn more.
