Coaching Cognitive Distortions: Resolving Erroneous Thinking One Mind at a Time for Cultural RenaissanceTijen Genco

Cognitive distortions are learned mental modeling that sit deep in our psyche and influence the way we experience and relate to the world. We often are unaware how this mental modeling distorts our experience. Cognitive distortions not only limit our choices, can also lead to incorrect assumptions hence unnecessary suffering.

Coach’s ability to recognize the cognitive distortions during a session may create a substantial opportunity to raise client’s awareness about the impact of these thought patterns in their life, and support resolving the self-identification with the thought patterning. This often leads freedom in choice making and distancing themselves from such distorted view of the world.

In this session I will cover the process of cognition, meaning making and how it gets to be distorted from the truthful thinking to a distorted thinking. We will collectively discuss most common cognitive distortions, how to teach recognizing them in a session and how to engage the client towards the resolution of such distorted view of the world. I will share a unique method I have developed and tested over the years with the clients combining mindfulness and evidence based coaching techniques. We will also discuss how neuro-linguistic patterns impact our model of the world.


Tijen Genco is a Master Certified Coach, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Master Black Belt in Lean/Six Sigma, Certified Mindfulness Teacher. Since 1998 Tijen has worked with Chiefs of Staff across wide variety of fortune 100 companies; regional leaders and country managers of non-profit organizations; and seasoned coaches globally. She is an International Coach Federation (ICF) certified mentor coach, developing coaches to establish themselves in the coaching profession. She served on the board of International Coaching Federation (ICF), Philadelphia Chapter, as the VP of Education and Professional Development and she provides Mentor Coaching at the academic environments such as University Texas at Dallas. Tijen is PCC Marker trained and, certified ACTP assessor and mentor coach for ICF.