Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Coaching
Psychologist
Volume 1 No 2 November 2005
ISSN: 1748-1104
The Coaching Psychologist
Editor: Kasia Szymanska Centre for Coaching and Central Stress Management Ltd
Consulting Editors: Ho Law Empsy Ltd
Alanna OBroin City University
Stephen Palmer Centre for Coaching and City University
Manfusa Shams
Alison Whybrow The Vedere Partnership
www.coachingpsychologyforum.org.uk
Subscriptions
The Coaching Psychologist is distributed free of charge to members. It is available to non-members for 5 per
issue from The British Psychological Society, St Andrews House, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7DR.
Advertising
Advertising space is subject to availability and restricted to full members only, subject to the discretion of
the Editor.
The cost is:
Full page 50
Half Page 30
High quality camera-ready artwork and remittance must be sent together to the Editor, kasia.s@tinyonline.co.uk
or to
The Centre for Coaching, 156 Westcombe Hill, London SE3 7DH.
Disclaimer
Views expressed in The Coaching Psychologist are those of individual contributors and not necessarily of the
Special Group in Coaching Psychology or The British Psychological Society. Publication of conferences, events,
courses, organisations and advertisements does not necessarily imply approval or endorsement by the Special
Group. Any subsequent promotional piece or advertisement must not indicate that an advertisement has
previously appeared in The Coaching Psychologist.
Situations vacant cannot be accepted. It is the Societys policy that job vacancies are published in the
Appointments Memorandum. For details, contact the Societys Leicester office.
Copyright
Copyright for published material rests with the Special Group in Coaching Psychology and the British
Psychological Society unless otherwise stated. With agreement, an author will be allowed to republish an article
elsewhere as long as a note is included stating: first published in The Coaching Psychologist, issue no. and date.
Coaching psychologists and teachers of psychology may use material contained in this publication in any way
that may help their teaching of coaching psychology. Permission should be obtained from the Society for any
other use.
Chairs update
Interest in coaching psychology continues
about how you do it (Grant, 2004). Some goals, checking strategies, and so on, but it
coaching psychologists are discovering the emphasises the clients role in taking the
person-centred approach for themselves: lead and the coaches ability to follow,
Most of my coaching time is spent whereas the medical model emphasises the
tripping over myself. I can hardly wait to coaches role in taking the lead and the
explore the coachees issues before I am clientss ability to follow.
rushing in to get them ready to set goals, Thus, this article is not about what you do
or to analyse their lifestyle imbalance, do but how you do it. At the meta-theoretical
a cognitive checklist or evaluate their level, either we hold ourselves as the expert
own self-care strategies. I am learning to on our clients life and take the lead, or we
slow down I am arguing here for a hold our client as their own best expert and
fuller, deeper kind of listening we let them take the lead.
nowadays I follow more and lead less
that we bring ourselves fully into the Address for correspondence
relationship (Groom, 2005, 2122). Stephen Joseph
This quote from Groom (2005) exemplifies Department of Psychology,
the person-centred approach in action. University of Warwick,
Psychologists are beginning to understand Coventry, CV4 7AL.
that the person-centred approach is a meta- Tel: +44 2476 528182
theoretical approach to practice (Linley & Fax: +44 2476 524225
Joseph, 2004). It does not rule out setting E-mail: S.Joseph@warwick.ac.uk
References
Albee, G.W. (1998). Fifty years of clinical psychology: Maddux, J.E., Snyder, C.R. & Lopez, S.J. (2004).
Selling our soul to the devil. Applied and Preventive Toward a positive clinical psychology: Decon-
Psychology, 7, 189194. structing the illness ideology and constructing an
Grant, A.M. (2001). Towards a psychology of coaching. ideology of human strengths and potential.
Sydney: Coaching Psychology Unit, University of In P.A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychol-
Sydney. ogy in practice (pp.320-334). Hoboken, NJ: John
Grant, B. (2004). The imperative of ethical justifica- Wiley.
tion in psychotherapy: The special case of client- Rogers, C.R. (1951). Client-centred therapy: Its current
centered therapy. Person-Centered and Experiential practice, implications and theory. Boston, MA:
Psychotherapies, 3, 152165. Houghton Mifflin.
Groom, J. (2005). Effective listening. The Coaching Rogers, C.R. (1961). On becoming a person. Boston,
Psychologist, 1, 2122. MA: Houghton Mifflin.
Joseph, S. (2003). Client-centred psychotherapy: Sanders, P. (2005). Principled and strategic opposi-
Why the client knows best. The Psychologist, 16, tion to the medicalisation of distress and all of its
304307. apparatus. In S. Joseph & R. Worsley (Eds.),
Joseph, S. & Worsley, R. (2005). A positive psychology Person-centred psychopatholgy: A positive psychology of
of mental health: The person-centred perspec- mental health (pp.2142). Ross-on-Wye: PCCS
tive. In S. Joseph & R.Worsley (Eds), Person- Books.
centred psychopathology: A positive psychology of Wilkins, P. (2005). Person-centred theory and
mental health (pp.348357). PCCS Books: mental illness. In S. Joseph & R. Worsley
Ross-on-Wye. (Eds.), Person-centred psychopatholgy: A positive
Linley, P.A. & Joseph, S. (2004). Toward a theoretical psychology of mental health (pp.4359). Ross-on-
foundation for positive psychology in practice. Wye: PCCS Books.
In P.A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychol-
ogy in practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
References
Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. & Mckee, A. (2002).
The New Leadership. London: Little Brown.
Miller, W.R. & Rollnick, S. (2002). Motivational
interviewing: Preparing people for change (2nd ed).
New York: Guilford Press.
Passmore, J. (2003). Goal-focused coaching.
The Occupational Psychologist, August.
can be motivating for some but not for others. with high self-efficacy have been found to set
Research suggests that client participation in more challenging goals and to be more
goal setting is positively correlated with committed to them. (Bandura & Wood,
performance but is not essential. Regardless 1989; Locke et al., 1984; Taylor et al., 1984).
of effectiveness a participative approach is There is also evidence for the reverse
recommended because of its congruence relationship, that of goal setting influencing
within the ethos of coaching. Goal review self-efficacy. Bandura and Schunk (1981)
should include some self generated feedback compared the mathematical efficacy of
as this is more effective than reliance on an children who followed self-directed learning
external source. One means for facilitating programmes either with or without goal
this process is encouraging clients to maintain setting. They found that children who used
journals for self-reflection. proximal goal setting developed a stronger
An important internal factor is self-effi- sense of mathematical efficacy than children
cacy (the individuals belief in his or her own who followed the same programme but with
ability). Self-efficacy is a vital source of moti- either no goals or distal goals. It is hypothe-
vation. The belief that he or she can produce sised that attainment of proximal goals gave
desired results is a great spur to action. the children a sense of task mastery, which
Bandura (1977b, 1997) explains that self- bolstered their efficacy.
efficacy is concerned not with an individuals Other suggestions have been put forward
actual abilities but with an individuals as to how goals can help to build a sense of
perceptions of his or her abilities in a given self-efficacy. Here are three:
domain of activity. He construes it as consist- Goals structure activities and provide
ing of two components. The first, outcome markers for evaluating personal
expectations, is concerned with predictions capabilities (Bandura, 1986).
that given behaviours will yield certain Goal setting conveys the message that
outcomes. The second, efficacy expecta- performance is an acquirable skill not an
tions, applies specifically to the individuals inherent quality (Wood & Bandura,
beliefs about his or her abilities. Self-efficacy 1989).
is a dynamic construct and the coach has an Setting proximal goals makes a task
important role to play in helping the client appear more manageable (Stock, 1990)
to develop it. Bandura (1977b) proposes that There are some drawbacks to goal setting.
there are four ways: The coaching psychologist needs to be aware
1. Enactive, performance accomplishment of these. For example, quality may be
based on mastery of the skill. neglected in order to focus on quantity. It is,
2. Vicarious experience. therefore, crucial to specify quality require-
3. Exhortative or verbal persuasion. ments when formulating goals. Also a goal
4. Emotive, which involves diminishing may no longer be appropriate because of
emotional arousal. environmental changes. Both circumstances
Skill practice with feedback, role play, role necessitate that goals are reviewed regularly.
modelling, use of affirmations, empowering A further consideration is that goals may
metaphors, reframing, visualisation and conflict or compete with each other. Some-
stress management are some of the tech- times personal development goals may
niques which coaches can usefully employ to conflict with the goals of the employing
further develop client self efficacy. Choice of organisation. In such circumstances the
technique will depend on the situation and coach ing psychologist will need to help the
the clients individual needs. client address the conflict and decide whose
Self-efficacy plays a key role in moderat- goals are paramount.
ing both the goals people set and their In conclusion, goal setting remains one
persistence in achieving them. Individuals of the most important techniques available
References
Bandura, A. & Schunk, D.H. (1981). Cultivating Locke, E.A., Frederick, E., Lee, C. & Bobko, P.
competence, self-efficacy, and intrinsic interest (1984). Effect of self-efficacy, goals and task
through proximal self-motivation. Journal of strategies on task performance. Journal of Coun-
Personality and Social Psychology, 41(3), 586598. selling Psychology, 69, 241251.
Bandura, A. & Wood, R.E. (1989). Effect of perceived Locke, E.A., Shaw, K.N., Saari, L.M. & Latham, G.P.
controllability and performance standards on (1981). Goal setting and task performance:
self-regulation of complex decision making. Jour- 19691980. Psychological Bulletin, 90, 125152.
nal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 805814. OConnor, J. & Seymour, J. (1995). Introducing neuro-
Bandura, A. (1977b). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying linguistic programming. Thorsons.
theory of behavioural change. Psychological Stock, J. (1990). Proximal goal-setting and self-
Review, 84(2), 191215 regulatory processes. Cognitive Therapy and
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and Research, 14, 483498.
action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, Taylor, M.S., Locke, E.A., Lee, C. & Gist, M.E. (1984).
NJ: Prentice Hall. Type A behaviour and faculty research produc-
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. tivity: What are the mechanisms? Organizational
New York: W.H. Freeman & Co. Behaviour and Human Performance, 34, 402418.
Lewin, K. (1951). Field theory in social science: Selected Whitmore, J. (2002). Coaching for performance.
theoretical papers. D. Cartwright (Ed.). New York: Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
Harper & Row. Wood, R.E. & Bandura, A. (1989). Social cognitive
Locke, E.A. & Latham, G. (1990). A theory of goal theory of organizational management. Academy of
setting and task performance. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Management Review, 14, 361384.
Prentice Hall.
N THE FIRST ISSUE of The Coaching Opportunities Policy Statement and Policy.
Human Rights 1948. The European Court of the development of a flourishing human
Human Rights in Strasbourg now covers 41 rights culture in the public sector.
countries and nearly 800 million people. Provide power to support cases involving
This indicates its wide impact and it should combined equality and human rights
affect most of us and our practices. issues, including a power to support cases
The Human Rights Act 1998 incorpo- where equality issues fall away so that
rates the European Convention on Human only freestanding human rights issues
Rights (ECHR) 1950 directly into UK law. It remain.
allows UK courts and tribunals to apply Provide conciliation services in relation
Convention rights directly. However, Parlia- to disputes with both an equality and
ment remains sovereign. Courts can strike human rights issue.
down incompatible decisions and regula- Translating the above guiding light to our
tions but not legislation. Amongst many of ethical principals in coaching psychology
the articles and protocols within the Conven- implies that coaching psychologists should:
tion Rights, Article 14 and Protocol 12 Promote our clients awareness and
(which came into force on 1 April 2005) are understanding of their rights as basic
most relevant to our legislation of discrimi- human beings.
nation laws. Article 14 states that: Incorporate human rights values, such as
The enjoyment of any right set forth by privacy and dignity, in promoting good
law shall be secured without practice in the delivery of our coaching service
discrimination on any ground such as sex, through codes of practice.
race, colour, language, religion, political or Our coaching psychology situation might
other opinion, national or social origin, demand us to conduct professional
association with a national minority, property, (psychological) inquiries into issues of
birth or other status. public interest including human rights,
Under the Equality Bill, ECHR functions to develop and promote improved
include: practice in response to particular areas of
Promote public awareness and under- concern. To ensure that we develop
standing of human rights. competence to act as the third party
Incorporate human rights values, such as intervention to provide expert
privacy and dignity, in promoting good knowledge and understanding which can
practice in public service delivery assist courts in making decisions. For
through codes of practice; including example, the Society has a register of
those arising from the international psychologists who act as expert witnesses.
agreements on human rights to which Provide intervention that would support
the UK is a signatory (e.g. not just HRA); the development of a flourishing human
and including private sector bodies rights culture in our coaching practice
carrying out public functions and within the organisation.
services. Develop ability to resolve conflicts that
Conduct general inquiries into issues of could support cases involving combined
public interest including human rights, equality and human rights issues.
to develop and promote improved Develop our competence to provide
practice in response to particular areas of conciliation services in relation to disputes
concern. Third party interventions to with both an equality and human rights
provide expert knowledge and issue.
understanding, which can assist courts in The above ethical principles are consistent
making a decision. with the ECHR Human Rights bill. Our next
Provide intervention in human rights challenge is about how to translate the prin-
cases that would be intended to support ciples into practice. These issues will be
explored further at the workshop at our first diverse areas, including social psychologists,
SGCP Annual National Conference this clinical psychologists as well as occupational
December. psychologists. My initial reaction is that it has
At the time of writing, we are being asked not yet included coaching psychologists and
to comment on the draft report written by the new area of positive psychology. I would
Peter Kinderman and Frances Butler: Creat- welcome any comments on the report and
ing a culture of respect for human rights: Psycho- any contributions from the readers on these
logical evidence on changing behaviour and topics.
attitudes A Report for the Department for Consti-
tutional Affairs. The report documents Address for correspondence
detailed contributions in terms of theories ho.law@empsy.com (www.empsy.com)
and practices from applied psychologists of
References
EMF (2005). Embracing Diversity cross-cultural Law, H.C. (2005). The role of ethical principles in
coaching and mentoring. MentforReview. EMF, coaching psychology. The Coaching Psychologist,
Spring. 1(1), 1920.
People with disabilities may face a number of challenges in becoming employed, seeking relevant guidance
and support once they are employed and ensuring that their employers adhere to the Disability
Discrimination Act. This paper considers the possible uses of coaching within this client group.
1
It is worth noting that the Disability Services and Financial Services Team provide an advice and assessment
service for people with disabilities and employers. They are based in some job centre offices and offer help and
support, and may do an assessment of employment prospects, retraining possibilities if recently disabled, and
help to find work (see National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, 2003).
References
Bardasi, E., Jenkins S. & Rigg, J. (2000). Disability, Gyllensten, K. & Palmer, S. (2005). The relationship
work and income: A British perspective. Institute for between coaching and workplace stress: A corre-
Social and Economic Research Working Paper lational study. International Journal of Health
200036, University of Essex. Promotion & Education, 43(3), 97103.
Burchardt, T. (2003). Being and becoming: Social exclu- National Bureau for Students with Disabilities,
sion and the onset of disability. ESRC Centre for (2003). Help for disabled people from Jobcentre Plus.
Social Analysis of Social Exclusion, London Information leaflet. London: National Bureau for
School of Economics, Case Report 21, London. Students with Disabilities.
Cabinet Office (2005). Improving life chances for Playforth, S., Price, J. & Hodge, T. (2004). Final report
disabled people. London: Cabinet Office. of a disability assessment and survey of disabled
Disabilities Rights Commission, (2004). Disability employees carried out for East Sussex County Council
Discrimination Act, 1995. Code of Conduct: Employ- in June to November 2004. Lewes: East Sussex
ment and Occupation. London: The Stationary County Council.
Office. Supple, S. (2005). Getting our house in order.
Bunt, K., Shury, J., Vivian, D. & Allard, F. (2001). The Psychologist, 18(7), 418420.
Recruiting benefit claimants: A survey of employers in Wright D.J. & Eathorne, V. (2003). Supporting
ONE pilot areas. Research Report 139. Leeds: students with disabilities. Nursing Standard,
Department of Social Security. 18(11), 3742.
approach, which takes no cognisance of the This is precisely what it wrong with the
way in which people at different levels of volume here discussed. In chapter after
consciousness experience the various chapter it reduces a genuinely interesting
concepts. The gratitude of someone who has topic to scales and measures designed and
been given a favour is different from the interpreted by the researcher, without much
gratitude of someone who experiences a regard for the people on the ground who are
breakthrough in therapy, which is different supposed to be the source of the answers.
from the gratitude of someone who loves This seems to me a sad betrayal of the
Nature even when it is unpleasant, which is promise of Positive Psychology: it is not OK
different from the gratitude of someone who to try to study important topics like these by
thanks ultimate reality no matter what reducing people to the scores on a psycho-
happens. metric scale.
It would be tedious to go through every Coaching psychology need to do better
one of the 55 chapters in this big, heavy book. than this, and to adopt a more humanistic
But enough has been said to indicate that the way of doing research. There are plenty of
present authors mostly avoid the challenge good arguments for this, and if we read a
which is offered by a positive approach to very middle-of-the-road research text like
psychology. In particular, they avoid the chal- that of Donna Mertens (1998), we find many
lenge so well expressed in another Handbook, warnings against too great a reliance on
the one on Action Research edited by Peter empiritist methods, and a great respect for
Reason and Hilary Bradbury. There we find qualitative approaches, such as those dealt
statements like this: Research is usually with in excellent texts like Denzin and
thought of as something done by people in Lincoln (2000).
universities and research institutes. There is a
researcher who has all the ideas, and who Address for correspondence
then studies other people by observing them, John Rowan
asking them questions, or by designing 70 Kings Road Hill, North Chingford,
experiments. The trouble with this kind of London E4 7LY.
way of doing research is that there is often E-mail: johnrowan@aol.com
very little connection between the
researcher s thinking and the concerns and
experiences of the people who are actually
involved (Heron & Reason, 2001, p.179).
References
Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. (2000). Handbook of qual- Mertens, D.M. (1998). Research methods in education
itative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage. and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative
Heron, J. & Reason, P. (2001). The practice of co- and qualitative approaches. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
operative inquiry: Research with rather than Reason, P. & Bradbury, H. (Eds.) (2001). Handbook of
on people. In P. Reason & H. Bradbury (Eds.), action research: Participative inquiry and practice.
Handbook of action research: Participative inquiry and Thousand Oaks: Sage.
practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Snyder, C.R. & Lopez, S.J. (Eds.)(2002). Handbook of
Linley, P.A. & Harrington, S. (2005). Positive positive psychology. New York: Oxford University
psychology and coaching psychology: Perspec- Press.
tives on integration. The Coaching Psychologist,
1(1), 1315.
tative methodologies, citing papers from the idiographic nuances that are often valued by
Journal of Humanistic Psychology. John, we the practitioner. Practitioners are interested
agree with you! And clearly, we havent in findings that they can apply, immediately
avoided the challenge which is offered by a and appropriately, in their work. This
positive approach to psychology, as we hope demands an idiographic approach that
we have demonstrated here, and as a consid- offers great depth about that individual, but
eration of our forthcoming overview article is arguably not generalisable more broadly.
on positive psychology should amply indi- The two agendas are divergent, leading to
cate further (see Linley, Joseph, Harrington the much lamented academic-practitioner
& Wood, in press). divide.
But lets also be clear that qualitative John argues for coaching psychology to
methodologies are not the only good way of do better than this, and to adopt a more
conducting research. There is a place for humanistic way of doing research. Indeed,
quantitative, statistical analysis, even based such idiographic approaches would likely
on self-report questionnaires. The debate serve the coaching practitioner well, and we
continues on the triangulation of qualitative support this call. But let us also recognise
and quantitative methods, and although we that the marginalisation of humanistic
acknowledge the different epistemological psychology within the academic world has
and ontological assumptions of these often left it without a voice, no matter
approaches, we argue that it is misleading to whether we, as individuals, subscribe to and
assume that they are mutually exclusive. An support its central tenets. Thus, in closing,
appropriate combination may enhance we suggest that coaching psychology can best
productive and practically applicable prosper through the appropriate use of both
research through complementary methods qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
of data collection, analysis and interpreta- To lock out one or the other is a sad betrayal
tion, depending on the overall purpose of of the researchers repertoire, which would
the research. be better served by a methodological eclecti-
We suspect that one of the cores issues cism guided by the needs of the research
here is the disjunction between the needs of question.
the psychological scientist (e.g. academic)
and the needs of the psychological practi- Address for correspondence
tioner (e.g. coach). Academic pressures P. Alex Linley
dictate publication in premier research jour- School of Psychology,
nals, which in turn demand large Ns and Henry Wellcome Building,
tight experimental, statistical methods. The University of Leicester,
result is nomothetic research that may Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 9HN.
generalise across people, but loses the subtle E-mail: PAL8@le.ac.uk
References
Allport, G.W. (1955). Becoming: Basic considerations themes, and person-centered rehabilitation.
for a psychology of personality. New Haven, CT: In P.A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive
Yale University Press. psychology in practice (pp.581597). Hoboken, NJ:
Bretherton, R. & rner, R. (2004). Positive psychol- Wiley.
ogy and psychotherapy: An existential approach. Jrgensen, I.S. & Nafstad, H.E. (2004). Positive
In P.A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychol- psychology: Historical, philosophical and episte-
ogy in practice (pp.420430). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. mological perspectives. In P.A. Linley & S. Joseph
Delle Fave, A. & Massimini, F. (2004). Bringing (Eds.), Positive psychology in practice (pp.1534).
subjectivity into focus: Optimal experiences, life Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Joseph, S. & Linley, P.A. (2004). Positive therapy: Linley, P.A. & Joseph, S. (Eds.). (2004b). Positive
A positive psychological theory of therapeutic psychology in practice. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
practice. In P.A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Linley, P.A., Joseph, S., Harrington, S. & Wood, A.M.
Positive psychology in practice (pp.354368). Hobo- (in press). Positive psychology: Past, present, and
ken, NJ: Wiley. (possible) future. The Journal of Positive Psychology.
Linley, P.A. & Harrington, S. (2005). Positive May, R. (1994). The origins and significance of the
psychology and coaching psychology: Perspec- existential movement in psychology. In R. May,
tives on integration. The Coaching Psychologist, E. Angel & H.F. Ellenberger (Eds.), Existence
1(1), 1314. (pp.336). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson. Origi-
Linley, P.A. & Joseph, S. (2004a). Toward a theoreti- nal work published 1958.
cal foundation for positive psychology in prac- Snyder, C.R. & Lopez, S. J. (Eds.) (2002). Handbook of
tice. In P.A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive positive psychology. New York: Oxford University
psychology in practice (pp.713731). Hoboken, NJ: Press.
Wiley.
This paper introduces SPACE, a comprehensive psychological model that can be used within cognitive
behavioural coaching, therapy and stress management to aid assessment, explain the cognitive model to the
client, and assist in the development of a coaching, therapeutic or training programme. Other models,
coaching processes and acronyms will be briefly covered to put SPACE into a coaching context.
For illustrative purposes this paper will focus on coaching.
VER THE PAST COUPLE OF ing centres throughout the UK. It is rela-
Unlike some of the other coaching models adapted to coaching, therapy, training and
Lee does not conceive LASER as a rigid stress management (Palmer & Burton, 1996;
linear journey. Palmer, 1997a, b; Neenan & Palmer, 2001a,
b). Once the client becomes adept at using
POSITIVE model the seven-step model, Neenan and Palmer
Vincenzo Libri (2004) suggested the POSI- (2001a, b) suggest that the client may want
TIVE model developed from the GROW and to use a shorter model to quicken the
ACHIEVE and influenced by psychological problem-solving process. For example, STIR
contributions that produce an optimum and PIE:
coaching relationship. Examples of key Select a problem Problem definition
questions in each phase are provided below: Target a solution Implement a solution
Purpose, e.g. what is it you want to Implement a Evaluate outcome
achieve? solution
Observations, e.g. what have you tried so Review outcome
far? They assert that shorter models of problem-
Strategy, e.g. what does success look like solving are usually used for rapid processing
for you? of a problem in order to deal with a crisis or
Insight, e.g. how committed are you in make a quick decision. However, with these
achieving this goal on a scale of 1 10? shorter models, deliberation is exchanged
Team, e.g. who will you share your goal for speed, so a less satisfactory outcome may
with? be experienced by the client.
Initiate, e.g. when will you start to act on
this? ABCDE cognitive model
Value, e.g. how will you celebrate your The problem-solving models or frameworks
success? described above form an integrated part of
Encourage, e.g. how are you going with the cognitive or cognitive behavioural coach-
your goals? ing approach. If the issue or problem can be
Libri (2004) provides a useful list of key addressed by focusing on the practical
questions at each stage. aspects of the problem then the problem
solving models are sufficient. However, if the
Traditional problem-solving models client experiences a psychological or
Wasik (1984) proposed a seven-step prob- emotional block largely caused by unhelpful,
lem-solving sequence and accompanying goal-blocking or performance interfering
questions that practitioners and more impor- thoughts (PITs), then the practitioner uses
tantly their clients can ask themselves at each the well known ABCDE model (Ellis et al.,
step of the process as below. 1997). Often this need becomes apparent
Steps Questions/Actions when the client cannot successfully complete
1. Problem What is the concern? Step 5, of the seven-step problem-solving
identification model:
2. Goal selection What do I want? A Activating event stops working on the
3. Generation of What can I do? solution chosen at step 5.
alternatives B Beliefs or PITs, e.g. I cant stand all this
4. Consideration What might happen? hard work. Ill never reach the deadline.
of consequences C Consequences: emotion anxiety;
5. Decision making What is my decision? behaviour procrastinates; physiological -
6. Implementation Now do it! palpitations.
7. Evaluation Did it work? D Disputing I dont like it but in reality
Even though it does not have a convenient I can stand it. If I start work NOW then Im
acronym, this seven-step model has been more likely to reach the deadline.
PACE Model
Red face
Heart rate up
Respiration rate up
Adrenaline flow
P
C
This isnt right
He should not behave this way
He shouldnt be allowed to get away with it
It has to be stopped
Its down to me
Ive got to stop him
Pictures a successful outcome
To further understand a persons reaction to With the addition of the Social Context
a situation it is often helpful to understand to our model it becomes a Bio Psycho
the Social Context that the person is operat- Social model that will help practitioners and
ing in. This can be displayed as a circle their clients to understand a persons reac-
surrounding the PACE model. tion in a Social Context. The Social Context
can include sets of beliefs about social roles,
customs and rules.
Red face
Heart rate up
Respiration rate up
Adrenaline flow
Social context
School teacher
witnessing a petty
Physiology
theft from a
students bag.
Shout at him
to stop
Hostile
non-verbal
Anger Emotions Actions
display
Wave
clenched fist
at him
Cognitions
References
Beck, J.S. (1995). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond. Neenan, M. & Palmer, S. (2001b). Rational emotive
New York: Guilford Press. behaviour coaching. Rational Emotive Behaviour
Boyle, C., Callaghan, A. & Stokes, C. (2005). Coach- Therapist, 9(1), 3441.
ing, commitment and collaboration. Down- Palmer, S. & Burton, T. (1996). Dealing with people
loaded on 9 October 2005. problems at work. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.
http://www.uk.hudson.com/documents/ Palmer, S. (1997a). Problem-focused stress coun-
uk_article_coaching.pdf selling and stress management: An intrinsically
First published in the Law Society Gazette, Decem- brief integrative approach. Part 1. Stress News,
ber, 2004. 9(2), 712.
Dembkowski, S. & Eldridge, F. (2003). Beyond Palmer, S. (1997b). Problem-focused stress coun-
GROW: A new coaching model. The International selling and stress management training: An
Journal of Mentoring and Coaching, 1(1), Novem- intrinsically brief integrative approach. Part 2.
ber. Stress News, 9(3), 610.
Ellis, A., Gordon, J., Neenan, M. & Palmer, S. (1997). Wasik, B. (1984). Teaching parents effective problem-
Stress counselling: A rational emotive behaviour solving: A handbook for professionals. Unpublished
approach. London: Cassell. manuscript. Chapel Hill: University of North
Lee, G. (2003). Leadership coaching: From personal Carolina.
insight to organisational performance. London: Whitmore, J. (1996). Coaching for performance (2nd
CIPD. ed.). London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
Libri, V. (2004). Beyond GROW: In search of Whitmore, J. (2004). Coaching for performance:
acronyms and coaching models. The International GROWing people, performance and purpose
Journal of Mentoring and Coaching, 2(1), July. (3rd ed.). London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
Neenan, M. & Palmer, S. (2001a). Cognitive behav-
ioural coaching. Stress News, 13(3), 1518.
AIM
These six-day programmes provides delegates with an underlying philosophy of coaching
together with a range of practical skills required to be able to undertake coaching with
individuals.
KEY OBJECTIVES
During the six-day Programme delegates will:
Be able to define coaching
Understand the difference between coaching and counselling
Become knowledgeable about types of clients and their problems
Understand the concept of the life audit and how to structure initial meetings
Develop and have an opportunity to practise a range of relevant skills
Become proficient in using a coaching assessment form
Explore four learning styles and relate these to the learning cycle
Explore and resolve difficulties impeding goal-attainment
Understand the importance of keeping a time log to improve time keeping
Troubleshoot obstacles to action plan implementation
OTHER COURSES
Certificate in Psychological Coaching (CBC & REBC based): 2731 Mar 06; 1115 Sept 06
Certificate in Stress Management and Performance Coaching* (modular)
Certificated Correspondence Course in Life Coaching: A Cognitive-Behavioural Approach
DIPLOMA COURSES (modular programmes)
Coaching; Psychological Coaching; Coaching Psychology
T HAS BEEN a hectic year for all of the coincide with bigger events such as confer-
by Liz Campbell, Chair of the Societys a very new Society subsystem we are already
Training Board, as well as Graham Powell, making a significant impact within the
our President, is testimony to the fact that as Society. The full response is included below.
A letter was sent to Mr Tim OBrien, Director of Development, ENTO, by our President, Dr Graham Powell,
and Dr Liz Campbell, Chair, Membership and Professional Training Board, regarding the National
Occupational Standards (NOS) for Coaching and Mentoring (in a Work Environment).
The NOS for coaching and mentoring interfaces between existing NOS and the
need to indicate a clearly defined newly proposed NOS for coaching and
professional qualifications route for mentoring are to be applied with an appro-
coaches/mentors wishing to acquire priate degree of awareness and sensitivity.
psychological knowledge, theory and In conclusion, the Society would like to
practical skills or to develop advanced or express disappointment that it has been
specialist skills within their coaching necessary to deal with these important issues
practice. Owing to the central role played at so late a stage in the process. If the Society
by psychological theory and practice had been consulted appropriately at the
within coaching and mentoring contexts, earliest stages of the project then these issues
we feel it is possible that coaching and could have been addressed in ways that
mentoring could become a foundation support both the need of the emergent
career for those wishing to develop profession of coaching and mentoring and
advanced skills to support professional the psychological profession. We also note
practice in workplace learning and with some concern the absence of a psychol-
development. Some coaches and ogist on the project steering group from the
mentors may wish to do this through very beginning.
formal entry to the profession of With statutory regulation of the profes-
psychology and this potentiality is sion of psychology likely in the near future,
welcomed by the Society. However, in ensuring that boundaries and interfaces are
order for this to be achieved as an adequately addressed within NOS is an
explicit career progression for coaches important and pressing concern that must
and mentors, clear linkages between the be addressed to fulfil the aims of regulation
NOS for coaching and mentoring and which is protection of the public. We would,
those for psychological practice need to however, like to reiterate that the Society is
be made. supportive of the development of profes-
ENTO have responded to the concerns previ- sional standards for coaching and mentoring
ously raised by the Society in an e-mail dated in the workplace. As such the Society
31 August 2005, stating that riders have been welcomes any further opportunities to take
added to the existing standards and that part in the consultation process either via
these would ensure that boundaries between ENTO or the QCA both to ensure that
counselling and psychotherapy were psychological theory and practice is applied
respected. As the professional body in the UK appropriately within the context of work-
representing Psychology we did not feel reas- place learning and that recipients of coach-
sured by this statement. The way ENTO has ing and mentoring services are provided
responded to our previously stated concerns with a structured source of on-referral to
by referring to counselling and psychother- qualified psychological practitioners when
apy services suggests that ENTO may not appropriate.
understand either the breadth or depth of
the professional domain of psychology or Yours sincerely.
how psychological theory and practice is rele-
vant to the delivery of professional services in Dr Graham Powell
support of personal and professional learn- President, The British Psychological Society.
ing and development in the workplace. This
is of significant concern because an under- Dr Liz Campbell
standing of the professional domain of Chair,
psychology is essential if the continuities and Membership and Professional Training Board.
Other Courses
Correspondence Course in Stress Management
Limited numbers only on each course. The Centre also offers stress audits, consultancy & research,
counselling, therapy supervision; in-house courses, seminars and workshops; staff counselling for
organisations. Full details from:
CENTRE FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT 156 WESTCOMBE HILL LONDON SE3 7DH
Course details 020 8293 4114 (24hr answerphone) Course admin 020 8293 4334
Fax 020 8293 4114 Course availability 020 8318 4448
Website http://www.managingstress.com Email dawn.cfsm@btopenworld.com
HE SGCP WEBSITE provides useful News page here you will find a link to a
coaching by the manager of a client serves Sociality: to improve how well you listen
both to highlight individual change and also credulously to the client, to simply
to help the manager see how he or she sees appreciate just how he/she makes sense
others. of her situation and of constructs he/she
uses to do so.
Experiential elements of the Workshop: Dichotomy: to gently enquire about the
An example implied pole of constructs he/she uses,
Self-characterisation in order to flesh out with him/her what
Language is generally taken to be free from the situation means for him/her.
bias, including such forms of language as 4. In light of this, consider how you might
psychological tests and companies Annual phrase feedback or questions and what
reports. Writing a self-characterisation barriers may get in the way of fruitful
reminds us that we choose the language. The communication during conversational
self-characterisation of oneself as a coaching learning.
psychologist was written in the third person as
if describing the principle character in a play. Where next?
Twelve minutes work on this exercise Kieran Duignan briefly touched upon the
produced some telling commentaries with question as to why the PCP Repertory Grid is
wide-ranging points of focus from the group not at present considered for inclusion in
of three in which I was working. Kieran Duig- Level B Psychometric Testing qualifications.
nan was a helpful role model in setting up the PCP can be said to encourage qualitative and
exercise with minimal cueing: the introduc- quantitative engagement and brings the
tion to this task does not speak of constructs; skillful coach to be candid about their own
the client is not encouraged to acquiesce. bias.
There is, therefore, a risk on both sides.
SGCP events will be reported regularly
One practical tool or idea you could adopting a similar format, enabling readers
take forward to pick up on some of the essential elements
Applying the fundamental postulate and conveyed. Feedback would be welcome to:
selected corollaries to your self-characterisa- SGCPevents@pip.co.uk
tion
1. Sketch out a self-characterisation (above). Useful websites
2. Explore how Kellys fundamental The following sites offer software for
postulate (see above, under Theoretical conducting repertory grid interviews.
roots) may throw some light on what the www.enquirewithin.co.nz/
coaching psychologist in your self- www.gridsuite.de
characterisation anticipates. http://repgrid.com
3. Explore applying Kellys corollaries to
the coaching psychologist in your self-
characterisation, with reference to a
specific client, past or present. For
example:
References
Fransella, F., Bannister, D. & Bell, R. (2004). Kelly, G.A. (1955/1992). The pychology of personal
A manual for repertory grid technique. John Wiley & constructs. Vols. 1 & 2. Routledge.
Sons.
Why would a coaching psychologist want to analytic, driver, amiable, expressive (Merrill
read a book on negotiating, and if they did, & Reid, 1960s!!), could well be useful for
why this one ? coach style analysis. However, the books
Coaching psychologists, from my consult- limitations are again emphasised by the
ing experience, usually have to negotiate: books brief (two pages) on T.A. Little could
contracts with clients, associates, and with be gained from this very short piece. A simi-
those who clients might be referred to. lar comment would be made about the para-
Therefore, negotiating skills would appear to graphs on motivation. Maslow, McClleland
be important. Does this book provide them ? (wrongly spelled as Maclleland), Marshall,
The book commences with an explo- Pavlov, Freud, Veblen and Hobbes. It would
ration of what negotiation is. This explo- provide very little additional knowledge, for
ration, five pages of 130, seems redundant, most coaches.
as do the two pages of definition. The explo- The structure and strategy of negotiation
ration of models of negotiation, completed should be a chapter that those who are not
in five pages, is overly brief and not very experienced negotiators would gain from,
helpful. It is difficult to perceive what the but, as with other parts of the book, it is so
three pages on the background, attitudes short, that additional knowledge is small. An
and profile of the negotiator are supposed to example would be the input on cultural
achieve; but for me it provides little new differences where an outline is contained in
knowledge. less than a page.
The chapter on preparation is rather The chapter on body language could
better than the initial one, but unfortunately spark an interest in what, for me, is an
for the coach, the case study or Honsang important subject. However, as with the rest
Motors, offers little except to emphasise the of the book, it is too short to give more than
need for preparation. the briefest of introductions.
The section on Psychological Prepara- Overall, not a book for the coaching
tion, brings us to Chapter 3, where Morse psychologist, but it does identify the need for
draws on TA and social (behavioural styles). the development of entrepreneurial skills,
With no references, it is hard to understand, however, there are other negotiating skills
in any exact way, where the, consistent books which provide much more for 90
patterns of actions that a person uses when minutes reading.
in the presence of other people (p.39),
comes from. However, the paradigm, Christopher C. Ridgeway
SGCPM Committee
Professional Training.
Professional Practice
Development and
and Research
Events Management
Sub-committee
Sub-committee
Competencies Training
Standards CPD
Ethics Events
Research Newsletter
Publications
Sub-committee
Newsletter
The Coaching Psychologist
International Coaching
Psychology Review
(ICPR)
Ethics
Representatives
Special Group in
http://www.coachingpsychologyforum.org.uk
Authors of all submissions should follow the Societys guidelines for the use of non-sexist language and all
references must be presented in APA style (see the Code of Conduct, Ethical Principles and Guidelines, and
the Style Guide, both available from the British Psychological Society).
Articles will generally be reviewed by the Editor and the Consulting Editors. In addition, the Editor and the
Consulting Editors reserve the right to reject submissions that are deemed as unsuitable for The Coaching
Psychologist..
Graphs, diagrams, etc., should be in camera-ready form and must have titles. Written permission should be
obtained by the author for the reproduction of tables, diagrams, etc., taken from other sources.
Three hard copies of papers subject to refereeing should be supplied, together with a large s.a.e. and a copy
of the submission on disk or CD-ROM (if possible save the document both in its original word-processing
format and as an ASCII file, with diagrams in their original format and as a TIFF or an EPS). Two hard copies
of other submissions should be supplied. Subject to prior agreement with the Editor, however, items may be
submitted as e-mail attachments.
Proofs of papers will be sent to authors for correction of typesetting errors, and will need to be returned
promptly.