People tell me relentlessly that “Learners never choose a topic or goal for their sessions”. I acknowledge that it can be a long slog for some to feel safe/comfortable to do this. With some techniques though, it is exhilarating (for both ADI AND Learner) when they do naturally take that control.
That is what happened today – even though D does have substantial pre-existing anxiety issues, which does have a massive impact on her when discussing session topics and when giving me feedback and reflections. D was vocalising her Goals with ease (mini goals within the session).
She chose a route, telling me she would focus on her mirrors (even naturally chatted about what happened and her massive achievements).
I asked her which version of the route(s) she would take…. and she even volunteered for a hill and roundabout that has been her nemesis for some time!! She grinned at herself when naming her route!!
The thing that I had never mentioned (Risk agreed) during her ‘mirrors’ session was ‘blind spots’ [or “life saver” checks as I would prefer them to me named].
It would have been overload – and as it was, D expanded her initial Goal to include the mirror named Gertrude too!
Once all agreed and she prepared to move away – she did the most significant blind spot check announcing;
” I’m checking over there because I can’t see the alleyway in the mirror… and I know I’m supposed to do that anyway. All my other Instructors moaned at me about them…. but I never found the need until now!! Now I totally get it!!
It helps my anxiety to be honest!! To know what is happening around me! I feel so much safer!”
She was so efficient with her mirrors during the whole session and even added blind spots in almost every instance to boot!
Another part of her session was the Pull up/Reverse on the right which she had never attempted before… the observations were impressive too… so natural!!
She initiated an “action” to solve a safety risk.
She then voiced ways to “maintain” the new behaviour and cited a reduction in her anxiety levels which would help anchor the new behaviour because it made her feel safer and in control.
It is true, though – the learning was there because she initiated the action, the purpose and factualised the rewards!
What a day!
I loved it!
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