#11 The Reflective Lawyer: Strategies for Wellbeing and Professional Excellence
In episode 11 of season two of The Thriving Lawyer, hosts Kathleen Brenner and Carla Ferraz welcome guests Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh and leadership coach David Love.
The discussion centres around the value and integration of reflective practice and how it can be applied by lawyers.
Professor van Nieuwerburgh and Love draw from their extensive expertise in coaching and positive psychology to explain how structured reflective practice can enhance lawyers' performance and wellbeing.
The episode explores practical applications, leadership roles in fostering a supportive environment, and the complementary relationship between reflective practice and coaching.
This episode is a must-listen for lawyers and professionals aiming to improve their practice and personal fulfillment.
GUEST PROFILES
Prof. Christian van Nieuwerburgh (PhD) is an academic, consultant and executive coach. As Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology, he leads the Centre for Positive Health Sciences at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences (Ireland). In recognition of his contributions to the fields of positive psychology and coaching, he is Principal Fellow of the Centre for Wellbeing Science at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education of the University of Melbourne (Australia) and Honorary CollectivEd Fellow of the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University (UK).
Christian is a certified executive coach and is well published in the academic literature on the topics of coaching and positive psychology. He has authored, co-authored and edited numerous books in the field of coaching, most notably An Introduction to Coaching Skills: A Practical Guide (2014, 2016, 2020). His latest books are Your Essential Guide to Effective Reflective Practice (2025, with David Love) and Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection (2025, with Robert Biswas-Diener). Follow Christian on Instagram (@coachonamotorcycle), on his YouTube channel (@coachonamotorcycle) and on his website (coachonamotorcycle.com).
David Love is a leadership coach with over 20 years’ experience of working with senior andmiddle managers in UK public services (e.g. the NHS). He is also an experienced coachsupervisor, mentor and educator. Before becoming independent in 2013 he was PrincipalFellow at the Office for Public Management designing and leading projects with publicservice organisations focusing on organisational and leadership development. Previous rolesincluded teaching and senior leadership positions in the post-16 education sector.Reflective practice is at the heart of David’s approach to his work with clients and regular,planned reflective practice is a central feature of a commitment to his own lifelong learning.As an art-based practitioner he has established a habit of regular creative reflective practiceto explore his work and relationships with clients. In addition, David encourages clients tocreate images or cartoons to enable them to explore the challenges and successes theyexperience in their work.
David is an author and also contributes articles about coaching to journals and magazines,focusing for example on creative approaches and paying attention to neurodiversity. Hedescribes himself as a “management cartoonist”’, using humour to encourage reflectionabout the absurdities of organisational life. He is the resident cartoonist for the Associationfor Coaching’s “Coaching Perspectives” magazine.
You can find their book 'Effective Reflective Practice: Improving Practice through Self-Reflection and Writing here.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
01:08 Guest Backgrounds and Expertise
02:24 Reflective Practice and Its Importance
06:59 Defining Reflective Practice
23:57 The Cycle of Effective Reflective Practice
27:30 The Lawyer's Reflective Practice Experiment
29:52 Positive Psychology and Professional Wellbeing
31:48 Unique Challenges Faced by Lawyers
35:58 Implementing Reflective Practice in Busy Schedules
41:57 Creating a Supportive Organizational Culture
50:46 Reflective Practice and Coaching Synergy 55:45 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
--------
58:59
2.10 Finding Flow: Why it Matters
In this episode of The Thriving Lawyer, hosts Kathleen Brenner and Carla Ferraz discuss the concept of 'Flow' and its importance in the legal profession. They explore how physical environments can impact creativity and focus, share personal experiences, and offer practical tips on minimizing distractions to achieve a state of deep engagement.
The episode also introduces a new course designed to help lawyers reclaim their energy and improve their work-life balance through actionable steps and strategies.
00:00 Welcome to The Thriving Lawyer Podcast
01:01 Introduction to Flow
01:12 Creating a Productive Workspace
02:54 The Reality of Legal Work Today
05:08 Understanding Flow and Its Benefits
09:51 Barriers to Achieving Flow
12:59 Practical Tips for Lawyers to Achieve Flow
17:45 Introducing Our Course: Achieving Flow and Thriving as a Lawyer
Check out our on-demand seminar 'Achieving Flow and Thriving as a Lawyer' here.
--------
21:00
#2.9 Embracing a Growth Mindset: Essential Strategies for Lawyers
Embracing a Growth Mindset: Essential Strategies for Lawyers.
In Episode 9 of Season 2 of The Thriving Lawyer Podcast, hosts Kathleen Brenner and Carla Ferraz discuss the importance of adopting a growth mindset, specifically for lawyers. L
awyers often think they have a growth mindset, and that they understand the concept. However, misconceptions are common. Kathleen and Carla explore what a growth mindset REALLY is, and how lawyers can foster one.
They explore the transformation and change that can be locked by this single shift in mindset. They delve into the pressures and complexities of the legal profession and how a growth mindset can help lawyers navigate challenges and improve their practice.
With real-life examples and practical advice, they emphasize the role of self-reflection, experimentation, and resilience in professional and personal growth. The episode also highlights the importance of self-compassion and curiosity while offering tips for shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset. 00:00 Introduction to The Thriving Lawyer Podcast
00:55 Weekly Catch-Up and Mindset Reflection
03:46 Understanding Growth Mindset
05:48 Growth Mindset in the Legal Profession
08:32 Practical Tips for Developing a Growth Mindset
11:45 Overcoming Barriers to Growth Mindset
18:40 Course Introduction: Growth Mindset for Lawyers
20:40 Conclusion and Resources
The classic resource on growth mindsets comes from the work of Carol Dweck. We highly recommend her book 'Mindset: The New Psychology of Success'.
If you want to learn more about growth mindsets and how lawyers can foster them, you go deeper by exploring our one hour seminar 'The Lawyer's Growth Mindset'.
--------
21:58
#2.8 The Lawyer as Coach: Why Coaching Skills Can Transform Your Practice
In Episode 8 of Season 2 of the Thriving Lawyer Podcast, hosts Kathleen and Carla delve into why coaching skills are essential for lawyers.
Most lawyers think of coaching as something leaders and managers can use with their teams. This is of course very true - and coaching skills is most certainly an essential skill for legal leaders.
However, coaching skills can play a critical role far beyond team management. All lawyers can develop and use coaching skills to enhance client relationships, improve team collaboration, and foster personal growth - and wellbeing.
The episode highlights key coaching techniques such as active listening, powerful questioning, and maintaining a coaching mindset. Kathleen and Carla share their experiences and practical insights on how lawyers can integrate these skills into their practice to become more effective and trusted advisors.
If you enjoyed the episode and want to find out more, you can go deeper by completing our 1 hour seminar designed specifically for lawyers called 'Lawyer as Coach'. The training is designed to equip lawyers with essential coaching skills. Depending on the requirements of your jurisdiction, this may be able to be claimed as CPD. Find the 'Lawyer as Coach' here: https://www.thrivinglawyer.com.au/store
00:00 Introduction to the Thriving Lawyer Podcast
00:18 The Importance of Coaching Skills for Lawyers
02:17 Why Coaching Skills Matter in Today's Professional World
03:29 Applying Coaching Skills in Legal Practice
11:34 Key Coaching Skills for Lawyers
18:06 Introducing the Lawyer as Coach Course
19:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Resources mentioned
Michael Bungay Stanier, The Coaching Habit
You can get our Guide to Thriving here
--------
22:59
2.7 Turning the tables - an interview with Kathleen Brenner
In this episode, Carla Ferraz turns the tables on Kathleen, interviewing her about the changes she's made since discovering the power of coaching, and explores why she came up with the idea for the Thriving Lawyer.
Resources mentioned - Martin Seligman, Flourish.
Check out and join the waitlist for our signature course here.
Sign up to our newsletter here
España