Breakthrough Coaching is about going beyond surface‐level coaching to evoke moments of insight (“lightbulb moments”) that change how clients see themselves, their stories, their possibilities. Reynolds blends neuroscience, emotional intelligence, reflective inquiry, and psychological safety to equip coaches to help clients disrupt old mental frames, clarify what they truly want, and commit to authentic action. The book is arranged in five parts:

• Part 1: How to Embody a Coaching Mindset
• Part 2: Maintaining a Client-Centered Focus
• Part 3: What Is Their Desired Outcome, Really?
• Part 4: Debugging the Operating System
• Part 5: Turning Insights into Commitments

Each Part has several chapters with tools, examples, cases, and exercises. Below I dive into key points, action items, and questions raised from Part 2. 

Reynolds reframes client obstacles not as roadblocks to be removed but as signals pointing toward deeper truths. Often what clients label as a “problem” is a doorway to identity-level insights. Coaches should resist the urge to help clients “fix” obstacles quickly and instead explore the meanings and patterns beneath them.

Key Concepts:

• Obstacles often reveal hidden beliefs or unmet needs.
• The coach’s role is not to remove obstacles but to explore them.
• Reframing “problems” as learning opportunities builds resilience.
• Naming recurring obstacles can highlight patterns and blind spots.
• Curiosity about obstacles creates breakthrough insights.

Action Steps:

• Ask: “What does this obstacle say about what matters to you?”
• Notice language that signals deeper fears (e.g., “I can’t,” “I always”).
• Explore the client’s story of the obstacle before offering reframes.
• Track recurring themes across sessions for patterns.
• Celebrate obstacles as moments of growth, not failure.

Discussion Questions:

• How do you typically respond when a client brings up an obstacle?
• What risks arise when coaches try to remove obstacles too quickly?
• How can you help clients reframe obstacles as opportunities?
• What clues do recurring obstacles give about client values or fears?
• How do obstacles open doors to identity-level breakthroughs?

Clients often cannot see the assumptions, fears, or contradictions shaping their choices — these blind spots hold the key to transformation. Reynolds explains that breakthroughs occur when coaches skillfully bring hidden patterns to light. Doing this requires trust, courage, and the ability to frame observations without judgment.

Key Concepts:

• Blind spots are unconscious drivers of behavior.
• Coaches reveal blind spots through reflective observations.
• Breakthroughs often feel uncomfortable at first.
• Curiosity and compassion soften the impact of exposing blind spots.
• Clients must “own” the insight for it to stick.

Action Steps:

• Listen for contradictions in the client’s words vs. values.
• Share what you observe gently: “I notice you say X, but also Y.”
• Pause after surfacing blind spots — give space for reflection.
• Ask: “What do you see now that you didn’t before?”
• Normalize discomfort as part of breakthrough coaching.

Discussion Questions:

• How do you recognize a blind spot in a client conversation?
• What strategies help you bring blind spots to light without shaming?
• Why do breakthroughs often feel uncomfortable for clients?
• How can you ensure clients own the insight rather than resist it?
• What practices build your courage to surface blind spots?

Many clients confuse their social needs (approval, belonging, recognition) with their authentic values. Reynolds shows how breakthroughs occur when coaches help clients distinguish between external pressures and inner drivers. Clarifying core values enables clients to act with integrity and resilience, even in the face of social disapproval.

Key Concepts:

• Social needs often mask deeper core values.
• Values provide sustainable motivation; social needs do not.
• Living by chosen values creates freedom and alignment.
• Conflicts between needs and values create stuckness.
• Coaches support clients in discerning and choosing alignment.

Action Steps:

• Ask: “Whose voice are you hearing in this decision — yours or someone else’s?”
• Explore how pursuing approval may conflict with authentic desires.
• Use values-clarification exercises to identify what matters most.
• Invite clients to reflect on moments when they felt “most alive.”
• Encourage small experiments in living from chosen values.

Discussion Questions:

• How do social needs show up in your clients’ goals or obstacles?
• What helps clients distinguish between social approval and core values?
• What happens when clients act out of alignment with their values?
• How can values clarity empower resilience during challenges?
• What practices help clients live from their authentic values?

Please share your insights and comments related to this blog, particularly around the practice of helping clients pause for reflection and own their insights.