Cognitive behavioural coaching

29/6/2012

People sometimes become stuck and struggle to find ways forward in their work and relationships because of how they perceive and respond to people and situations. I ran a workshop recently to help managers develop insights and skills in cognitive behavioural coaching (CBC). CBC is based on cognitive behavioural psychology. It is interested in how a person’s thinking influences his or her feelings and behaviour. It aims to improve a person’s effectiveness by reducing stress and opening fresh possibilities for the future.

Cognitive refers to mental processes: what we are thinking and what we believe.
Behaviour refers to what we do: how we act in relationships and other situations.
Coaching refers to helping a person enhance their life quality and effectiveness.

CBC aims to help a person surface, examine and challenge limiting or self-defeating thoughts and beliefs. It is not just about positive thinking but more about reality-orientation. It focuses on what’s happening ‘here and now’ and on helping the person approach the future differently. A CB coach invites a person to talk about an issue, a challenge or something they are experiencing. Often, it is something that is causing the person frustration or stress. Sometimes, however, it could be simply that a person feels limited by a way of working or is struggling to find a way forward.

In order for the person to be honest, the coach needs to demonstrate genuine interest and trustworthiness. The person needs to feel free to be open, without being judged, and to know the coach has the person’s best interests at heart. Listening and confidentiality are very important. If the person is feeling anxious, stressed or highly emotionally-charged, it’s unlikely that he or she will feel able to engage in a conversation about thinking patterns without calming down first. Creating the right cathartic space, perhaps over a coffee, can help the person relax and engage.

A CB coach will allow a person to introduce an issue or situation he or she is dealing with and listen out for indicators of ‘cognitive distortions’, that is, ways in which the person is thinking about the issue or situation that are out of synch with reality or proving counterproductive. Common examples include polarising issues into extremes; over-generalising from specific experiences and ignoring all evidence to the contrary; predicting the future and excluding all alternative possibilities; assuming what other people are thinking or feeling; anticipating the worst possible outcomes.

The coach will draw attention to these thinking patterns, invite the person to examine them, and offer supportive challenges that help the person think in new ways (e.g. ‘what assumptions are you making?’, ‘how far is what you’re thinking supported by the facts?’, ‘what are you not noticing?’). Finally, the coach will help the person plan a way forward to deal with the issue or situation differently. This could involve e.g. conversation, vividly imagining new scenarios or role playing to practise and reinforce new ways of thinking and behaving.

84 Comments

John Hook

1/7/2012 03:34:45 am

Clever stuff Nick.

Nick Wright

1/7/2012 03:35:03 am

Thanks John. I've found CBC very helpful, both as a coach and as a client. With best wishes. Nick

Anders

1/7/2012 04:27:05 am

Hi.
CBC is Very useful and effective in so many different areas of life. And You and the client can in à short time have good proof if it works or not.
So, More of good stuff, Nick.

Cyril Dunworth

1/7/2012 04:49:56 am

Great piece Nick.

The power of communication is what differentiates human beings as a species. However it is incredible how much we take for granted in communication and how little effort we put into to perfecting it. We often fail to actively listen and to truly take into account all of the perspectives available to us.

Artful coaching is a truly rewarding and powerful skill. Inviting our clients to examine all of their options and to think before responding is something that we much teach.

Recognise your own behaviour and character traits.
Understand those of others.
Adapt your style for better communication.

Keep up the good work Nick

1/7/2012 04:52:40 am

Hi Cyril and thanks for your encouraging feedback. I like your emphasis on listening, inviting, thinking before responding etc and the three principles you listed at the end of your note. With best wishes. Nick

1/7/2012 04:58:00 am

Hi Anders and thanks for your note. Yes, it's one of the reasons CBC is often used for brief coaching. You may be interested in 'Brief Cognitive Behaviour Therapy' (2000) by Curwen, Palmer and Ruddell which outlines and explains similar principles. With best wishes. Nick

1/7/2012 05:40:10 am

Ty for the tip, Nick.
Got it already.........and working active with CBC ( and CBT ). Must say that Mr. Palmer is a big inspiration for me. Teaching coaching at at univerisyt and CBS are very popular among the students in tasks as choosing a method in specifik coaching chellenges.
Will follow whaat u produce. Ty...

1/7/2012 06:14:40 am

Hi Anders. I would love to hear more about your own insights, ideas and experiences in the CBC/CBT fields. You may be interested in a couple of CBC-based articles on this website: http://www.nick-wright.com/fresh-thinking.html (2010) and http://www.nick-wright.com/gestalt-meets-cognitive-coaching.html (2012). I would be interested to hear what you think. With best wishes. Nick

1/7/2012 05:55:21 am

I'm CBT qualified Nick - My clients can't believe the change in the perception of things - Aaron Beck is a genius

1/7/2012 05:57:03 am

Hi John. I would love to hear some examples from your practice if you'd be happy to share them, particularly in terms of how you/your clients achieved a chance in perception and what difference it made for them. With best wishes. Nick

1/7/2012 07:17:41 am

Phew - that's a biggy lol - it depends on the client and the trauma?

For example - A male going through a traumatic divorce might "automatically" have thoughts of never finding anyone again.

Isn't this fortune telling Nick?

Keith Bamwell

1/7/2012 06:00:24 am

I am a huge fan of CBC and use it a lot. I find it amazing how many people's current world perspective is almost totally rooted in the past personal life experiences and is so often skewed by this. I really like the concise way you have outlined the process and value Nick - good effort.

1/7/2012 06:04:00 am

Hi Keith and thanks for the encouraging feedback. I would be very interested to hear some examples from your own experience of using CBC, if you would be happy to share them. Your comment about the influence and distorting effects of past personal life experiences reminded me of transference in the psychodynamic tradition and scripts in the transactional analysis field. With best wishes. Nick

Heather Graz

1/7/2012 06:27:44 am

Hi Nick. would I be correct in assuming that CBC parallels CBT, but with application in a work-based arena rather than a therapeutic arena?

1/7/2012 06:36:11 am

Hi Heather. That's a good question. My impression is that CBC has grown out of insights and practices developed in the CBT therapeutic arena. It's often applied to work contexts but could equally be applied to other life situations too.

The answer to your question partly depends on where you draw lines between coaching and therapy, especially in the psychological coaching field. CBC could look like CBT, although the latter in contrast would have an explicit therapeutic focus and intention.

You may be interested to have a glance at this article which aims to show what CBC looks like applied in an organisational context: http://www.nick-wright.com/fresh-thinking.html. I would be interested to hear any further thoughts you have on this.

With best wishes. Nick

1/7/2012 06:45:45 am

Thanks for that, Nick. I'll certainly have a look at the link and get back to you.
Have a fabulous day. Regards, Heather

Ed Nottingham PhD

1/7/2012 07:06:56 am

Nick, great blog entry. I met Stephen Palmer at the Amer Psychological Assoc Division of Consulting Psychology Mid-Winter Conference last Feb when my colleagues and I were delivering a workshop on Cognitive Behavioral Coaching. I am so glad I need and learned more about the ISCP.

Your blog entry is such a nice, concise description of CBC. In my work (I am internal with FedEx Services) I deliver programs to help leaders become "leader coaches" who provide excellent performance and development coaching. I include a section on EI and the self-management portion is REBT-based. While one small goal of including some CBC content for leaders so they can better "coaching for emotional muscle" when attitudes derail direct reports, more recently it has occurred to me that the real benefit of including CBC content in my programs is that leaders do a better job of coaching themselves so in turn are better able to be exceptional leader coaches.

I have a handout I created called "Becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Leader: Attitude and Leadership" that I would be happy to share if I can figure out how to upload files. I work on that or would be happy to send you a copy if you're interested. And, I look forward to checking out some of the articles you make available on your website.

1/7/2012 07:14:45 am

Thanks for your encouraging feedback, Ed, and for your comments.

I was interested to hear how you've been using CBC/REBT. I've drawn similar conclusions from my own practice; that is, that leaders often benefit from developing their own cognitive-behavioural insights and skills as well as using insights from CBC to develop others.

You may be interested to glance at this article: http://www.nick-wright.com/fresh-thinking.html and I would be interested to hear whether it resonates with your own ideas, approach and experiences. I would love to see a copy of the handout you mention. My email address is [email protected].

With best wishes. Nick

Rehmat Ebrahim

1/7/2012 07:19:19 am

sounds very interesting... I think most of us run into this kind of real-life propblem get bogged down and seem to mess up. Will you share some of your guiding principles with us?

1/7/2012 07:21:16 am

Hi Rehmat and thanks for your note. You may be interested to have a glance at these articles which explore CBC principles in greater depth: http://www.nick-wright.com/fresh-thinking.html (2010) and http://www.nick-wright.com/gestalt-meets-cognitive-coaching.html (2012). Let me know what you think? With best wishes. Nick

2/7/2012 01:32:03 pm

Thanks..enjoyed reading it... now I need to mull over it...thanks for sharing

Regards

Rehmat Ebrahim

Catherine Leonard

1/7/2012 08:05:41 am

I'm coaching a woman who hates her job but depends on the income, I'm challenging her to find ways to be happy now until she can see her way to another position..

1/7/2012 08:07:28 am

Hi Catherine. Thanks for sharing a concrete example. Could you say more about how you are bringing the challenge in practice? With best wishes. Nick

1/7/2012 09:30:59 am

She is exploring things that she would love to do if given the opportunity but she is really stuck and when asked what she is passionate about - can't come up with an answer!

1/7/2012 10:11:01 am

Hate is a strong word and is probaply not true. Explore that and modify her own "story" to a more realistic version. Then, go for control and influence to the most chengeable factor in the hating. Hers selfesteem will grow and the possibilitys to make a move in a another direction will increase.

felino 'phil' goto link

1/7/2012 09:26:52 am

Beautiful Posting Nick. Beyond CBC for sure are TWO OTHERS in the taxonomy of Social Endeavor ; Psycho-motor aspects that is fulfilled in Competency and the Appraisal/Moral Aspects for Feedback ; All these comprehensively rolled into one = a truly the eements of Ideal Coaching.A coach can blend well any competent PRIOR LEARNING with the RECENT COMPETENT ONES.

1/7/2012 01:31:37 pm

Hi Felino and thanks for the encouraging feedback. I guess the competency aspects you refer to are linked to the behavioural (B) aspects of CBC. With best wishes. Nick

1/7/2012 01:28:57 pm

Hi, I just read this blog and want to thank you.

Your compassion and concise summary were really helpful for a struggle I'm dealing with, and will help with my coaching clients as well. Your website looks great, and I plan to happily explore it.

Thank you again for sharing your insight and gifts.

1/7/2012 01:29:34 pm

Hi JD and many thanks for such kind feedback. I'm delighted you found the summary so helpful and thanks for your encouraging comments on the website. I hope you find other things there helpful too. With best wishes. Nick

Julio Alberto Llerandi

1/7/2012 01:47:59 pm

Thanks Nick, very good article, I appreciate it and, think it can be very good tool in my work as a coach.

1/7/2012 01:50:27 pm

Thanks for your encouraging feedback, Julio. I would be interested to hear how you find using CBC in your coaching practice. With best wishes. Nick

Lizzie Pawsey

1/7/2012 01:50:55 pm

Hi Nick
Can you suggest a good traiing course for CBC? There seem to be very few short courses around.
Thanks
Lizzie

1/7/2012 01:56:22 pm

Hi Lizzie. That's a good question and I'm not sure what to suggest. I had a quick glance on Google just now and this one looks like it could be interesting, run by the Association of Executive Coaching: http://www.aoec.com/Individuals/Workshops/CognitiveBehaviouralCoaching. There may be other similar programmes around too. Hope that helps. With best wishes. Nick

Ranald Hendriks

2/7/2012 05:16:04 am

Hi Nick

Really like your website, visited it before :)

Sounds great! It is just the sort of training and work I do - using behavioural models.

The only difference is, I created an online system to go with such training, to help people stay focused on what is important and to ensure that the behavioural work is specifically aligned to the job they have.

I suppose for me, because all human are so complex, there is a real possibility that this sort of coaching can become really personal and lose sight of the organisations goals. When people awaken, that awakening may lead to a change in job!

So personal therapy in the workplace should be aligned to the organisation....Or I've found it can end up a bit like a competion between the organisation's and one's own values heirachy...

I've just learnt to respect the organisation investing in the development of the person and focus on developing them aligned to the job they have agreed to do. To do that, it can be an administrative nightmere and costly so far as transactional cost economics (all the structure/admin to keep such work aligned to goals). That way, they exceed there own expectations by modifying their beliefs and decarding patterns that no longer serve them, toward goals they are agreed to.

I may have made such simple stuff sound complex, sorry, but I think you'll know what I mean...

4/7/2012 04:42:32 am

Hi Ranald. Thanks for the note and for your encouraging feedback on the website. I think you raise an interesting point about alignment between personal development and organisational goals, especially when clients are sponsored by their organisation to engage in coaching.

A couple of thoughts come to mind. Firstly, it raises the question of what the individual's and sponsors' intentions and goals are for the coaching relationship. In my experience, the better these are discussed, agreed and contracted in advance, the more likely a mutually beneficial coaching outcome,

Secondly, it raises questions about what change at an individual level is of greatest personal and organisational benefit. Where coaching goals are tightly prescribed (e.g. to enable specific behaviour change in the workplace), it's quite different to a wider personal development agenda.

In the latter case, an individual may decide to change job as a result of issues that emerge and changes that occur through coaching. Although it may be an unexpected outcome for the organisation, it could release the person in new directions and release the organisation to bring in fresh people.

So I guess the issues you raise are partly a matter of perspective - itself a CBC-related issue that can be worth exploring and individual and organisational levels. When coaching is sponsored by an organisation, perhaps there's something about learning to capitalise on whatever outcomes emerge?

With best wishes and thanks again for raising this point. Nick

Susan Grandfield

2/7/2012 07:08:02 am

I have started using CB approaches in both my coaching and training solutions and I'm finding that they have a powerful impact on people. It has really helped many people I have been working with to get "unstuck" in ways that other approaches have not been able to.

4/7/2012 07:37:00 am

Hi Susan and thanks for the note. Would you be willing to share any specific examples of how you have used CB approaches in coaching and training, e.g. any particular insights or techniques? I would be interested to hear more. With best wishes. Nick

Angela Rizzo

2/7/2012 01:30:40 pm

I have found using the Living Your Strengths assesment test and book to be very helpful in guiding my clients to an understanding of what their strengths are and then begin conversation about how they can use those strengths in a new career or even their current career.

4/7/2012 07:39:25 am

Hi Angela. I haven't come across the Living Your Strengths assessment test. Is that the same as StrengthFinder? With best wishes. Nick

4/7/2012 07:56:28 am

Hi Nick - yes I believe it is - we are doing it at our parish and there is a catholic edition we are using but I do believe it is the same as StrengthFinder but this edition gives more detail into how to use your strengths in ministry. Enjoy the 4th!

Sharman Jeffries

4/7/2012 05:26:11 am

Hi Nick, I am very glad I noticed your post and followed up on your other articles. I find your writing to be not only articulate and professionally sound, but also very readable -and I do struggle with reading some folks articles being, like many of clients, neurodiverse (having dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD). I was on an assessment course some time back with some lovely people from World Vision so it was interesting to see you are now with that organisation. Thanks for your sharing your skill and knowledge base. Sharman

4/7/2012 05:28:39 am

Hi Sharman and thanks for such encouraging and heartwarming feedback. I'm pleased you have had such a positive encounter with people from WV. I've worked there for 7 years and it's a great organisation. I'm currently moving on to start in a new post at Action on Hearing Loss, commencing in August. With best wishes. Nick

4/7/2012 08:35:02 am

Hi Nick, I wish you well in your new post – I am sure you will benefit the
organisation and I hope you enjoy this new stage in your life journey. I
shall continue to keep an eye on your LinkedIn posts and your website: its
full of great information. Best wishes, Sharman.

4/7/2012 09:19:36 am

Sure Nick....I am really just getting going with using CB approaches so I'm still learning but I have noticed the biggest impact when I can help people recognise the relationship between their beliefs and their behaviour. For example, I have been working with an organisation which is trying to improve their health and safety record and change the culture with regards to H&S and I have been working with their management and leadership teams using the belief cycle.

What I have found is that by using every day examples of how our beliefs impact our behaviour (e.g. if you wake up and think you are going to have a bad day, you often do!), they can understand where they need to concentrate their efforts in order to achieve the culture and behaviour change they are seeking. Meaning, if they change their beliefs, their expectations change, which impacts on their attitude which in turn alters their behaviour for the better.

So, CBC in a group setting is enabling them as leaders to find a new approach to talking about safety with their team based on a genuine belief that keeping people safe is an important part of what their role is!

4/7/2012 09:27:12 am

Thanks for sharing such a tangible example, Susan. I've had similar experiences that touch on the issue of 'genuine belief' that you mention. For example, I worked with the leaders of an organisational change process. The first question I posed was, 'As you think about the people in this organisation - picture the real individuals in front of you now - what do you believe about them?'. After a pause, I explained, 'If you believe they are fantastically gifted and committed people that you deeply care about and want to retain for the future, it will guide your behaviour and decision-making. If you believe they are abstract assets or resources that you can utilise or dispense with as you see fit, that too will guide your behaviour and decision-making. 'So, what do you believe?' The impact in the team was quite remarkable and fundamentally shaped the whole change process that followed. The thing it taught me is that beliefs, values and behaviours are closely linked and that each influences the others. With best wishes. Nick

Mike McCarthy link

4/7/2012 10:30:54 am

Hi Nick:
I have read several of your blogs. I really like how you take a potentially complex idea and express it in a totally clear understandable way with great practicality.....Great job! I will be continuing to follow your blogs and website.....VERY REFRESHING.
Best thoughta and wishes, Mike McCarthy

4/7/2012 11:09:10 am

Hi Mike. Thanks for such incredibly affirming feedback. I really appreciate it! Please do feel free to add your own comments, ideas and experiences too. With best wishes. Nick

Jo Higgins-Cezza

11/7/2012 04:53:08 am

I incorporate CBT techniques in my Resilience Training, and as you both point out, the change in thinking is amazing. One opening exercise I do is to give out cards to pairs with "common beliefs" on them and ask the pair to argue for and against the belief. The group then decides which of the beliefs on the cards is most helpful to them in their personal and professional life. Generates a fantastic discussion.

11/7/2012 04:54:57 am

Hi Jo and thanks for sharing the 'common beliefs' cards idea - sounds like a very energising technique. Could you share some examples of the common beliefs that you include on the cards? With best wishes. Nick

John T Miller II, MSc

30/10/2012 08:39:35 am

This is exactly the information I am looking for to explain my interest in this area of psychology. Thank you.

30/10/2012 08:40:22 am

Thanks John. I'm pleased you found it helpful. With best wishes. Nick

Eileen Peterson CHRP MSW RCSW

30/10/2012 09:31:39 am

The original term for this is CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The process you outlined is precisely what happens in therapy with CBT. Does simply relabeling it CBC mean that you aren't stepping into therapeutic territory? I am concerned about the increasing use of processes and methodology that are very much part of the licensed therapist's tool box being adopted by "coaches" who will insist that what they do is not remotely related to therapy. This is a great example of blurring the line, in my opinion.

30/10/2012 09:46:47 am

Hi Eileen. I think you raise a good point and an important question. The framework and approach adopted by cognitive behavioural coaches is, as you say, derived largely from CBT. The question of how and where to draw the line between coaching and therapy is interesting and controversial, especially in the psychological coaching field where some coaches are also qualified and experienced therapists.

I believe the coach needs to be very clear about his or her own intention, focus and boundaries in order to avoid inadvertently straying into a deeply therapeutic issue or arena. This is one reason why professional supervision for coaches is so essential. I once co-wrote a short article with an occupational psychologist to illustrate cognitive behavioural insights applied to organisational coaching or consulting: http://www.nick-wright.com/fresh-thinking.html.

I would be interested to hear what you think and whether anything in that approach helps to allay some of your concerns. With best wishes. Nick

Ed Nottinghman PhD

30/10/2012 09:48:49 am

Eileen, interesting points and ones I also emphasize. While I am a licensed clinical psychologist and Board Certified (American Board of Professional Psychology) in Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy, when I coach and suspect issues needing therapy, I refer. My concern is also that those without a solid background may "blur" the waters and start delivering services which by law (in many jurisdictions) are limited to those licensed or certified to practice social work, psychology, medicine, counseling, etc.

I do think that leaders can increase EI competencies of self-awareness and self-management and use some CBT/REBT principles to "coach themselve." In fact, I have been delivering programs in the corporate world for about 10 years, and still hear from leaders who say that recognizing and challenging their derailing beliefs (I know use Dr. Palmer PITs to PETs and love that!) helps them be better leaders, etc. When they detect PITs (performancinterferingng thoughts) on the part of their team members, they can also use simple Socratic challenges to help them choose a different attitude, e.g., "So, how does that attitude help you be more effective and efficient as you work on the project?"

I believe coaches and therapists benefit by being ever mindful of boundaries, competencies, etc. I do think that by incorporating cognitive behavioral components in coaleadershiprhip development, training, etc. we have a higher likelihood of have a positive impact. And, certainly, Rational Effectiveness Training outlined by Dom DiMattia many years ago looked at how REBT principles could be used without moving into therapeutic arenas.

30/10/2012 09:53:58 am

Interesting comments in response to Eileen, Ed. I agree with your view that cognitive behavioural insights and approaches can increase the likelihood of a positive impact. I think you raise some interesting points too concerning legislative or other regulatory requirements, which vary from country to country and context to context. It raises related issues about professional liability, especially if a coach is perceived by the client or other contracting agent to have moved outside the proper scope (however that is defined) of 'coaching' into a more explicitly therapeutic arena.

Dimos Kyritsis

30/10/2012 09:58:13 am

Hi there Nick! That's an informative and powerful post! I'm interested to CBT coaching as well! Feel free to connect with me so as to team up!

30/10/2012 09:59:39 am

Hi Dimos and thanks for your encouraging feedback. I would be interested to hear more about your cognitive behavioural coaching insights and experiences. With best wishes. Nick

W Leon Naufahu

2/11/2012 08:42:42 am

There can be no clear demarcation between therapy and coaching. It depends. If we try to draw lines in the sand we may protect our liability but the price we pay is our ability to deeply connect with our clients. If the conversation comes up what is the coach to do? Stop the client and tell them "Hey I don't do therapy?" When you are seeking an understanding of your client you have to let the space be available for them to bring up issues which might be considered in the realm of therapy. But how you handle this complexity once it arises is the issue. The coach must truly understand if their own skills really match the needs of their client. If not, then of course they must refer on. Any coach with good supervision will have the contacts to refer to, and will have considered how to handle that situation. For example, as earlier posts alluded to, cognitive behavioural coaching can often assist in the day-to-day practice of restructuring automatic negative thoughts while the client is in therapy. Other personality types, however may not react so favourably to such a referral.
So really, it isn't about the coach, it's about the client.

2/11/2012 08:50:55 am

Hi W Leon. Thanks for your helpful comments. I agree with your view that there is no absolute demarcation between therapy and coaching, especially in the psychological coaching arena, and that the coach needs to be aware of boundaries. As a general principle, if I find the coaching conversation moving towards complex deep issues that call for mental or emotional 'healing', rather than a relatively straightforward shift in perspective or behaviour, I would raise this explicitly with the client and suggest that he or she explores therapeutic opportunities to work on those issues, rather than attempt to address them through coaching. How does that sound? With best wishes. Nick

5/11/2012 12:22:29 pm

Coaching, despite what our egos and wallets would like us to believe, cannot help everyone, and understanding when not to coach is a vital skill. Whether your approach is a categorical one to diagnosis, such as that proposed by Dr Michael Cavanagh, or a psychosocial model such as Andrew Buckley’s, knowing how to recognise the signs and what to do is part of good coaching practice. I believe you can simultaneously ask “Is the client mentally ill?” and “Can my coaching help?” as long as your approach is cautious, non-malfeasant and ethical. Leon.

Amanda Cunningham

5/11/2012 12:20:45 pm

I agree Leon. This reminds me of Jenny Rogers comments in The Handbook of Knowledge Based Coaching.

'Disputes over how to define coaching are a distraction. Our obsession with definition betrays our immaturity as a profession. We should get on with the coaching and worry less about the exact words we use to describe it. I believe we are overly concerned with boundaries, especially between coaching and therapy. The difference between some kinds of therapy and some kinds of coaching can be so thin as to be invisible. I welcome this. Rather than trying to erect stout walls between ourselves and therapists, we need to learn from therapy and to be bolder. Inexperienced coaches often seem to live in terror of getting in too deep, or doing harm, and may make a point of avoiding working with feelings. To me it is obvious that no issue worthy of attention by client and coach is without an emotional element. All coaches should feel confident of working respectfully with clients in the 'being' as well as the 'doing' domain.

5/11/2012 12:31:59 pm

Thanks for posting such a challenging response, Amanda. What struck me as I read some of the comments on this therapy vs coaching debate is how often the cognitions/beliefs a person holds about 'therapy' or 'coaching', including definitions, boundaries, overlaps etc. as well as beliefs about an approrpriate role, training, accreditation etc. of 'therapist' or 'coach' influence how that person feels about the issues and how he or she is likely to act in practice. In other words, the debate is itself an illustration of cognitive behavioural principles at work. I'm interested too how such beliefs are often socially as well as personally constructed, e.g. the mirror the views of a wider professional body or study programme. With best wishes. Nick

Felicity O'Hanlon

8/11/2012 02:52:08 am

If I may belatedly join the discussion I would like to say as a coach who is training to be a therapist that at the outset I believe they are very distinct skills. However coaching psychology is in a way straddling both fields. CBT is also used in a therapeutic setting but is also very different to psychodynamic counselling/therapy as is Gestalt or person centred counselling/therapy. So therapy in itself is not a homogenous entity. My understanding is that as coaching psychology is a relatively new profession the need to deliniate and define is inevitable but as is often the case in psychology (or any 'science' of human behaviour) absolutes are seldom reached.
As Ed suggested, experience plays an important role in referring a coaching client for therapy. Being trained at the moment in the very specific skills of therapy I would say that therapy should not be attempted without the specific knowledge and training of the skills. The therapeutic framework is different to coaching and has different aims as it were, although there are overlaps and similarities between the two.
Amanda raises a good point that coaching issues are also going to be sometimes about emotional issues but not necessarily needing therapy. Perhaps this answer cannot be reached by debate but instead is dealt with individually according to the reality of each client's situation and what they present. Then as someone said, supervision and consultation becomes important in clarifying each individual case.
In my experience, sometimes even psychiatrists don't have therapeutic skills needed to counsel someone as it is not required in their training which is essentially medical, yet they are often seen as having more professional status than a psychologist or a counsellor, both of whom might have better therapeutic training.
I suspect that if a coaching client has the need for therapy it will become apparent and my guess is that coaching alone will appear to not be resolving all the issues presented or other issues will be getting in the way of coaching. The client might be accepting of coaching in a work related environment but have all sorts of thoughts and feelings about being referred for therapy. This would need to be handled professionally and sensitively. Therapy could carry a stigma for them in their workplace which coaching might not. Just because a coaching client uncovers the need for therapy does not make them 'mentally ill' either, as someone mentioned.
In a professional need to compartmentalise skills and specialise I would also suggest that we need the wisdom and humanity to remember that we can't compartmentalise people and only deal with a section of an individual as matches our skill set. Professional ethics demand attention to the physical and psychological wellbeing of the client and so a supervised referral is important.
And my parting shot is that once a client is in therapy does not mean that they cannot be in coaching for other life issues at the same time, although this would depend on each individual case. Felicity

8/11/2012 02:59:36 am

Welcome to the conversation, Felicity, and thanks for such thoughtful comments. I was particularly struck by your point that, 'if a coaching client has the need for therapy it will become apparent... coaching alone will appear to not be resolving all the issues presented or other issues will be getting in the way of coaching.' I think that's a helpful pragmatic way of thinking about boundaries between coaching and therapy and points to the need for the coach to be aware of what's happening in the process (which is where supervision can help) and what other types of support or intervention could benefit the client. With best wishes. Nick

8/11/2012 03:02:16 am

Great discussion! One of the issues may be the statutes and ethics associated with practice in our various areas/regions/countries/states. At times, this may be more of a guiding principle than even putting the client's / coachee's interests first.

Example: I had the good fortune of serving on the American Psychological Association Ethics Committee as a non-Voting Associate, serve on and as Chair of the State Ethics Committee for many years, and as a consultant for the Board of Psychology in my state. I heard examples of practitioners who were licensed as both psychologists and as marriage and family therapists. In those rare occasions when complaints were filed with the psychology board the defense was, "but I wasn't practicing psychology, I was doing marital therapy." At least in some jurisdictions if licensed as a psychologist, can't just say "but I was doing marital therapy/counseling" since many states in the US have "practice acts" so if it looks like the practice of psychology, it is.

For me and as Felicity suggested, it often comes back to wisdom as well as following ethical and legal guidelines and doing the right thing as coaching psychologists, therapists, coaches, etc.

Just my thoughts and again love this discussion and so happy to be a member of this group.

8/11/2012 03:06:24 am

Hi Ed and thanks for the note. I think you emphasise well how the requirements of different professional bodies, regulatory authorities, standards and codes of practice in different contexts are important factors to bear in mind in the coaching-therapy debate. With best wishes. Nick

Eileen Peterson

8/11/2012 03:08:07 am

Lots of interesting points have emerged:

Nick: "The question of how and where to draw the line between coaching and therapy is interesting and controversial, especially in the psychological coaching field where some coaches are also qualified and experienced therapists."

Ed: "when I coach and suspect issues needing therapy, I refer. My concern is also that those without a solid background may "blur" the waters and start delivering services which by law (in many jurisdictions) are limited to those licensed or certified to practice social work, psychology, medicine, counseling, etc."

Amanda: Quoting Jenny Rogers:
"Disputes over how to define coaching are a distraction. "

Leon: "I believe you can simultaneously ask “Is the client mentally ill?” and “Can my coaching help?” as long as your approach is cautious, non-malfeasant and ethical."

Felicity: "would like to say as a coach who is training to be a therapist that at the outset I believe they are very distinct skills."

I will agree that Coaching and psychodynamic therapy are quite different approaches. But I still haven't seen it explained how CBT and its offspring are wholly "different skills" from coaching. I'm not a psychodynamic therapist, but I respect those who choose that route for their professional work. However, "coaching" is a technique which is developed, just like any other approach. It is not a distinct skill that only some are capable of mastering, and it is not radically removed from therapeutic approaches. ICF and other coaching bodies have held on to making this distinction without a difference I can only speculate for a profit-motivated reason for the coach training schools. The idea that licensed/ registered therapists with a minimum of a Master's level education and 3000 hours of supervised training, along with X years of independent practice need to start at the same place as a high school drop out attending a coach training program is ludicrous.

I prefer more solution-focused and thought-changing approaches in my work as a therapist. Having also coached in the corporate sector for almost as many years as I've been a licensed clinician, I've seen very little difference in the issues that present in therapy or at work.

Truly, how do these boundaries get sorted in an ethical, competent way? A distraction? We are invited into the most intimate corners of our clients' lives. It seems to me that defining boundaries in a crystal clear way is crucial to be worthy of a client's trust. Hardly a distraction.

For licensed therapists (PhDs, Master's degrees), there exists a body of knowledge of psychology/human and systems behaviour that provides a foundational understanding with which to work with the coaching client. Mental health is nothing if not nuanced and I am perplexed as to how someone with only Coach training has the comprehensive knowledge that is sufficient to know if/when there is underlying mental health issues. I do this for a living, and it can take quite a while in some cases to identify what is taking place beneath the surface, when there is a clinical issue. And, in my corporate gigs, I have encountered some mental health issue (depression, anxiety, alcohol or drug dependence, family distress, etc) in 1 in 3 clients.

8/11/2012 03:15:27 am

Thanks again, Eileen for stirring the proverbial waters with such challenging and thought provoking comments. I think you raise some very interesting points, particularly vis a vis respective levels of insight, knowledge and skill required to practice ethically and effectively in different personal-professional spheres. With best wishes. Nick

8/11/2012 03:17:05 am

Hi Eileen and Ed, I really appreciate your thought provoking points you raise and examples shared, especially the concern over underqualified and inexperienced people straying into the mental health arena. This can be the result of disingenous marketing of lightweight coaching courses that promise to deliver expertise for a small time investment. This would hopefully not be the case with people undergoing coaching psychology training at reputable institutes. I would expect that any worthwhile coach training programme would address the distinctions between therapy and coaching.
As for CBT my limited understanding is that it is a generic form of therapy which can be adapted to specific settings e.g. SIT (Stress Innoculation Therapy), so perhaps that is how CBC has evolved? It appears appropriate for use in a coaching setting because of its focus on conscious cognitions to bring about a desired change in behaviour or performance. I believe many coaching skills/tools bring about a therapeutic result/effect but are distinct from psychodynamic therapy for example which deals so much more with the subconcious.
I think rather than having a clear boundary there is perhaps a useful junction area of overlap which experienced and qualified clinicians as yourself could easily negotiate but not someone who had very little psychological training. Well trained coaches with a commitment to CPD would also be able to negotiate this overlap.
I agree that a coach who has a foundation of psychological knowledge is better set up to understand a client and that mental health issues are hard to identify without training and experience. I am interested from what you share of your corporate experience that 1 in 3 clients present mental health issues. That is not so surprising and reassuring in a way of the fact that when you are working with a client they do not present neatly separated facets of themselves dependent on the arena you are working in. Even thought there are distinct approaches, theories, therapies, they are all tied up and interconnected in each individual.
I am personally interested in the junction between therapy and coaching, how they can fit together. For example I know a therapist and coach who found that post therapy, coaching skills and tools were very useful when clients wanted to move on in other areas of their lives. Best wishes Felicity

8/11/2012 03:20:38 am

Hi Felicity. It occurs to me, reading yours and Eileen's notes, that a whole new debate concerning diagnoses of 'mental health' could emerge here, especially when notions of 'mental health' are viewed from a social constructionist perspective... With best wishes. Nick

James Henman, Ph.D. link

27/2/2013 09:09:59 pm

Felicity,
I very much agree with you that both Therapy and Coaching have as a goal healthy change and integrating them seems natural. As a psychologist I describe myself as a Therapeutic Coach in my clinical practice. I wrote a book "Who's REALLY Driving Your Bus?" in 2003 where the reader is sitting across from me in a Therapeutic Coaching session. It reflects the general theoretical orientation of my coaching - Cognitive/Perceptual Reconstruction. The focus in on the process of making healthy changes and taking the power out of the resistances to that change. It is an active, participation process! My web site is packed with free tools and resources - video, audio downloads, and written material.

I would love to be part of a discussion of integrating Therapy and Coaching. I'm new to the group but ready jump in.

Shmaya David

8/11/2012 03:22:45 am

The coaching method I mastered, called "Results Focused Coaching" is very much behavioristic and very far from therapy. It is not difficult to steer away from being therapeutic if you address observed behaviors and not motives, actions rather than perceptions.

8/11/2012 03:27:11 am

Thanks for the note, Shmaya. Could you say something more about what 'results focused coaching' looks like in practice? You raise an interesting point about whether a focus on behaviours and actions avoids moving in a theraputic direction, especially since some therapeutic approaches (e.g. Gestalt) have a similar emphasis on observed behaviours. Let me know what you think. With best wishes. Nick

8/11/2012 10:58:59 am

Shmaya, what do you say is "staying far from therapy?" What do you see as the differences between what you do with Results Focused Coaching and what happens in therapy?

Justin Kennedy

8/11/2012 10:31:49 am

This is a great group! Well done all - how do I join up here?

8/11/2012 10:32:44 am

Hi Justin and welcome to the conversation! With best wishes. Nick

Robert Wilcox

8/11/2012 10:34:32 am

I have been using CBC for more than 15 years. It works very well with my high net worth clients.

8/11/2012 10:36:49 am

Hi Bob and thanks for the note. Would you be willing to share any examples of how you have used CBC in practice? For example, what the issue was, how you approached it using CBC, what happened as a result. Would love to hear more. With best wishes. Nick

Heather Simington

10/11/2012 03:07:29 am

Everyone, lets break this down. CBT is the using 'Cognitions' and 'Behaviours' and the underlying causality to understand the client; to be on the same page to achieve successful and supported goal setting. Whether you call it a technique or a therapy is pure semantics and as such no one owns it. The big issue is whether the person presenting is taking a soft line for problems which are better served by seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. How one assesses? This is a tricky situation and referrals can be upsetting for the client who often knows deep down that it not really about resetting the goal posts. Mental health education should be a part of every coaches fundamental education. Liking the discussion, thank you everyone, Regards Heather

10/11/2012 03:23:51 am

Hi Heather and thanks for the note. I agree with your comment that, in effect, 'cognitive' and 'behavioural', within a cognitive-behavioural framework, are ways of thinking about and understanding the client and what influences client change.

In that sense, such a way of perceiving the client and client situation is independent of any therapy or coaching application. I guess it begs the question, as some have alluded to in this conversation, of how such a framework is used to influence change in practice.

I like your phrase about what serves the best interest of the client...and the associated question, 'how one assesses?'. It's complicated. The practitioner's 'diagnosis' and resulting intervention strategy will be influenced by a number of factors.

For example, whether the practitioner believes the client is experiencing a therapeutic or coaching issue, whether therefore the client would best benefit from a therapeutic or coaching intervention, what the practitioner's professional boundaries dictate.

These perspectives are influenced by a number of factors such as personal and professional experience, training and study programmes, professional bodies' perspectives and requirements, relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks etc.

I would be very interested to hear of any examples you could share from practice that illustrate how you have navigated the therapy-coaching divide, or continuum (depending on how you see it). With thanks and best wishes. Nick

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