Wingwave® Coaching
Short-term coaching for calmer moments under pressure
Some situations affect us more than we would like: an exam, a presentation, a difficult conversation, or a memory that still weighs on us. In your head, you know you could handle it – and yet your body and your feelings react differently.
Wingwave® coaching is a short-term coaching method that works with exactly these moments. It combines quick eye movements, a simple muscle test and coaching conversation. Many people find that a stressful topic feels lighter and more manageable afterwards. How this works for you is individual.
What Is Wingwave® Coaching?
Wingwave® was developed in Germany by the psychologists Cora Besser-Siegmund and Harry Siegmund. I trained directly with the two founders and work as a Wingwave coach in my practice in Ravda.
The method combines three elements:
Bilateral stimulation. I guide your eyes from side to side with quick hand movements – this “waving” gave the method its name. Alternatively, we can use gentle tapping or music that alternates between your left and right ear. The idea is inspired by the rapid eye movements of REM sleep, during which the brain processes the experiences of the day.
The muscle test. A simple finger test (the so-called O-ring test) serves as additional feedback, helping us find out which situations, thoughts or images trigger stress for you.
Coaching elements. Methods from NLP help to clarify goals, strengthen your resources and anchor helpful thoughts.
Wingwave® borrows ideas from EMDR, a recognised method in trauma therapy. However, Wingwave® coaching is neither EMDR therapy nor psychotherapy. It is also not a scientifically recognised method: there are individual studies, mostly from the founders’ own institute, but independent research is limited. The muscle test is not a diagnostic tool – in coaching, it serves as an additional source of feedback alongside your own perception.
This short explainer video gives you a first impression of the method.
How Does a Session Work?
1. Initial conversation. We clarify what you would like to work on – for example, nervousness before presentations, stress after a difficult event, or a goal you want to approach more calmly.
2. Finding the stress points. Using the muscle test and your own perception, we explore which situations, thoughts or images are particularly stressful for you.
3. Wingwave phases. While you think of your topic, I guide your eyes with quick hand movements – or we use tapping or music. You remain fully awake and in control, and we can pause at any time.
4. Check and strengthen. We look at how the topic feels now and, where helpful, anchor a supportive thought or image.
A session lasts approx. 90 minutes. How many sessions make sense depends on your topic – we decide this together.
What Wingwave® Coaching Can Support
Wingwave® coaching can support you in reducing stress around specific situations – such as exams, presentations, competitions or difficult conversations. It can help you gain distance from stressful experiences, feel calmer and more confident in demanding moments, and develop new, helpful perspectives on yourself.
Many people value the fact that it works with a specific topic in a focused way. What you take away from it is individual – there are no guaranteed results.
Who Is It For?
Wingwave® coaching is for adults who want to work on a specific stress topic in a focused way: stage fright or exam nerves, pressure at work, a challenging change, or an experience that still preoccupies you. It also suits people who like to work with more than just words.
Important to Know
Wingwave® coaching is a coaching method, not medical or psychotherapeutic treatment. It does not replace a doctor or psychotherapist and is not used to diagnose or treat any condition – including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, phobias or depression. If you have experienced severe trauma or are currently receiving medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, please talk to your doctor or therapist before starting. In some cases, therapy is the right first step.
Please let me know beforehand if you have epilepsy or have ever had a seizure, have an eye condition or have recently had eye surgery, are pregnant, or take medication that affects the nervous system. In these cases, we will clarify together – if necessary with your doctor – whether and how the method is suitable for you.
Working with stressful topics can bring up strong feelings. You decide at every moment how far you want to go, and we can pause at any time. If you are in an acute crisis, please seek immediate support; in an emergency, call 112.
Find Out More
Would you like to find out whether Wingwave® coaching is right for you? In a free discovery call, we will talk about your topic and whether this approach could be a good fit. Sessions take place in person at my practice in Ravda and are held in German or English.