2 day workshop (formerly the Introduction to Psychology of Coaching)

Many executive coaches are recognising the need to be more skilled in the psychological and emotional dimensions to coaching practice. It is generally accepted that certain kinds of coaching, eg developmental/transformational coaching which prepare the executive for future demands of the organisation, or personal growth over time, often focusing more on 'who the person is' rather than 'what the person does', requres a level of psychological competence and understanding, without necessarily requiring coaches to become psychologists or psychotherapists. Psychological competency enhances the coach's capability to work at a deeper, more psychological level which helps bring about powerful shifts in clients' perceptions of themselves and others. Alongside the capacity to be curious about and to fully understand the client from a psychological perspective, there is also the capacity on the part of coaches to have a willingness to be reflective about their own experience, history, thoughts, feelings, motivations.

In this practitioner based module the emphasis is on translating psychological principles into practical coaching applications. Such frameworks offer models, techniques and tools which enable the coach to make sense of the personal challenges faced by many clients, while also providing the conceptual base for developing and applying psychological literacy. 

The focus of this workshop is on the broad psychological principles drawing on the mainstream schools of psychotherapy - psychodynamic, person-centred, Gestalt, cognitive behavioural as applied to:

• Management of complex boundaries
• The nature of change and managing resistance
• Working with emotional and highly charged client material
• Understanding the impact of childhood experience on adult functioning
• Developing psychological mindedness
• Use of self as an instrument of change
• Differential use of psychological models
• Recognition and management of complex psychological conditions

All workshops contain a solid conceptual framework combined with experiential learning in pairs and small groups with opportunities to practice in triad groups (coach, client and observer).

Audio: The Psychology of Coaching

Marjorie Shackleton talks about this exciting programme (now called "The Psychological Dimensions of Coaching")

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