Episode Description

What if your emotions weren’t roadblocks but guideposts? Dr. Aprilia West unpacks psychological flexibility—the ability to navigate emotions with clarity, agility, and purpose. Interviewed by Coaching Revealed hosts Austin Matzelle and Emily Terrani, this episode covers Dr. West’s Three M Model: Mindfulness, Mental Agility, and Meaningful Moves. Diving into Dr. West’s background of politics, music, and psychology, she illustrates how narrative shaping and psychological flexibility can help individuals align actions with their values.

Episode Summary:

How can coaches help clients break free from emotional reactivity and make choices that truly align with their values? In this episode of Coaching Revealed, hosts Austin Matzelle and Emily Terrani sit down with Dr. Aprilia West—psychologist, executive coach, and author—to explore the science and application of psychological flexibility.

Dr. West’s fascinating career journey—including speech writing on Capitol Hill, songwriting in the music industry, and psychology and coaching— showcases how narratives shape our lives and perspectives. Dr. West shares the contrast between the traditional psychological models that focus on pathology with positive psychology frameworks that focus on integration and growth.

At the heart of this conversation is Aprilia’s Three M’s framework for cultivating psychological flexibility:

• Mindfulness – Learning to sit with emotions rather than reacting impulsively.
• Mental Agility – Expanding perspectives and breaking free from rigid thought patterns.
• Meaningful Moves – Taking intentional, values-based actions despite emotional discomfort.

Throughout the episode, Dr. West offers practical tools for individuals. Functional tracking identifies if behaviors are assisting us towards our goals, or moving us away from them. Emotion surfing brings a mindset of awareness to the emotions you experience rather than suppressing them. She emphasizes that emotions are not obstacles to success but valuable signals that, when understood, can guide better decision-making.

Why does this matter for coaches? Because building psychological flexibility can enhance well-being, performance, and personal growth. Whether navigating emotions, or striving for long-term goals, this episode provides a roadmap for building psychological flexibility and reconnecting with one’s inner narrative.