The challenge of helping people to help themselves

Many of my friends and colleagues know that I have a strong interest in the prevention of drowning.  While this is less of a problem in the UK than it is in many other places, it remains a significant cause… Continue reading

Positive psychology

For a decade or so, there has been a fairly dramatic shift in the way in which psychologists look at the human condition. For the last hundred years or more, they have based most of their understanding on our problems…… Continue reading

BOOK REVIEW- The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Coaching and Mentoring

The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Coaching and Mentoring Jonathan Passmore, David B Peterson, and Teresa Freire Wiley-Blackwell 2013 ISBN 978-1-119-99315-5 £117.36 The style and price (£117.36 today on Amazon) make it very unlikely that many practicing coaches are… Continue reading

Should coaching focus firstly on beliefs or behaviour?

Do good coaches focus first on helping their clients behave differently or on helping them to evaluate, and possibly change, their beliefs? Some recent research has shown that coaching changes teaching practices without changing teachers’ beliefs; “Implementing instructional coaching using… Continue reading

The origin of the term “integrative” in a psychotherapeutic (and by extrapolation, coaching) context

It seems that the term, integrative, is being very wildly thrown around by a number of coaching practitioners who draw on a number of different disciplines in their work. This article, by the Integrative Psychotherapy Association, nicely explains the meaning… Continue reading

When bullying is just a part of the tool-kit of senior executives

This is Anti-Bullying Week.  Although I often encounter it, this probably wouldn’t have hit my radar if it wasn’t because I’m teaching some relatively young students at The Oxfordshire Business and Enterprise School (TOBES) right now. There’s a very thought… Continue reading

Is there such a thing as a false anticipation?

Elisabeth Loftus is a highly respected psychologist. Her work on false memories wins no votes! Psychotherapists are fearful of her because they think she will accuse them of making people hate their parents. People who find some comfort in their… Continue reading

Towards a definition of coaching

WARNING – Slightly longer post than usual As some of you know, I am currently ‘executive lead’ for research within my professional body, The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy – Coaching Division (BACPC). I was recently asked to provide… Continue reading

What does science have to offer coaching?

Someone called me yesterday. They had read one of my posts and wanted to question something I’d said. That’s great. It makes it hard for others to follow (and learn from) any dialogue, but once in a while it’s good… Continue reading

Elevator pitches – engaging others in social talk

“I never know quite how to introduce myself…” “People never seem prepared to listen to me when it’s my turn to explain what I do…” “Well, I’m just one of those boring…” “I come away thinking that they haven’t really… Continue reading