Sam Farmer

NZPsS ConferencePalmerston North28 August 2009

The Future Shape of the Coaching Psychology Special

Interest Group in New Zealand

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

Breaking out

Coaching Psychology in NZ: Questions more than answers

Breaking out and breaking in – my journeyDiscovery: coaching involves engaging people

to reflect and be more conscious of the impact of their decision making. Tell me more!

This presentation: Is framed within my own bias (executive-related

coaching) Considers that coaching psychology encompasses a

wide client/need range Intends to raise, rather than answer, questions about

the place of coaching psychology in NZ

Overview

1. Two definitions

2. An application Coaching Psychology

3. Background to the establishment of CPSIG

4. The future of the CPSIG – your viewCPSIG - for psychologists who coach

Definition (i)

Executive coaching: is a helping relationship between a client

[with] managerial authority and responsibility … and a consultant

uses a wide variety of behavioural techniques and methods

[involves] a mutually identified set of goals [aims] to improve … professional

performance and personal satisfaction and … the effectiveness of the client’s organisation

[occurs] within a formally defined coaching agreement

(Kilburg, 2000, p67)

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

Definition (ii)

Coaching Psychology is: an applied positive psychology draws on and develops established psychological

approaches the systematic application of behavioural science [aimed at] the enhancement of life experience,

work performance and well-being for individuals, groups and organisations

[for those] who do not have clinically significant mental health issues or abnormal levels of distress.

(Interest Group in Coaching Psychology, Australian Psychological Society)

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

Applications of Coaching Psychology (i) Matching Service to Need?

Service – proportion of coaches with at least Masters in business or social sciences: In US - 90% In NZ - 33.9%

[Brooks & Wright, 2007]

Need - top 3 motivations for seeking a coach: To increase self confidence

(41%) Greater work-life balance (36%) Explore career opportunities

(27%)[ICF Survey 2009]

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

Ponder point(from de Haan, 2008)

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

What of themselves does the Coach bring

into the session?

What are the expectations and demands from my

profession

What are predictables and unpredictables of

the session?

What is the client bringing into the

session in relation to the organisation, as well as themselves?

What is the support or competition from

others/colleagues; view of other clients?

Applications of Coaching Psychology (ii)A Case Study

“Chas” was referred through word of mouth and initiated contact by email: Senior manager in small private educational establishment Goals:

Kick start my job search/clarify direction – where I want to be in my professional life and where

Manage the team – enrich their life and mine Manage up

Presentation Pakeha male in mid-40’s Husband of ex-patriot Father of two Organisation is paying for up to 10 sessions, but is not asking for a report “I sometimes experience panic attacks”

Considerations1. What might the coach need, and the coach invite Chas, to consider prior to the first meeting?2. What key questions and processes need to be addressed in your first meeting?3. What is the focus of the coaching sessions?4. What might be my intervention considerations throughout the sessions? (approaches & models)5. How might I review progress?6. What and to whom are my key accountabilities?7. What might be some models for supervision?

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

CPSIG background (i): It started with questions

Who knows how to do this properly?How do they know how to do this properly?What is the formal pathway to establishing coaching

credentials?Where are the professionally relevant training opportunities?Why aren’t more psychologists delivering relevant training

events?Who can provide appropriate professional supervision (why don’t

many psychologists who coach receive relevant supervision)?How can we establish, inform and enhance an identity for

coaching psychology in NZ (both for our own profession and for

purchasers of coaching services provided by psychologists)?IE – is there a need for a professional identity for coaching

psychology in New Zealand?

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

CPSIG background (ii): YES! There is a need for a professional

identity?

What/how should it be Contribute to informing continuous professional

development, including training and education, supervision

Development/adoption of a definition for coaching psychology

Open to psychologists from all scopes Development of standards Contribute to awareness within and outside the

psychology profession Contribute to recognition of need for accreditation Keep up with national and international developments

and network with other professional associations

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

The future of CPSIG (i): Does coaching need psychologists?

An ex-psychiatrist on coaches: [they do not need to] be trained as mental health

professionals to be successful the majority of therapists could [not] work

successfully as consultants or coaches in organizational contexts

[their] attitudes, values, behavioural patterns, and personality traits … would make it difficult for them to adapt their ideas and methods to the typical corporate setting

[however,] the average consultant can benefit greatly from an increased knowledge of the unconscious dimensions and processes that influence behaviour regardless of the setting

(Kilburg, 2000, p. 17).

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

The future of CPSIG (ii)What is the nature of the need?

Skills coachingCareer coachingLife coachingSpiritual coachingTeam coachingPeer coachingExecutive coachingSports coachingMinority coaching

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

The future of CPSIG (iii): What do psychologists bring to coaching?

Professionalism Systematic assessment and formulation Applied understanding of psychology Scientist-practitioner approach Effective intervention programmes for

individuals, groups and organizations Supervision Training and education

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach

CPSIG’s future in your hands

The questions that remain for you to consider relate to how you see the CPSIG in 12 months’ time:

Is there a professional imperative for psychologists to enter the coaching arena?

What is unique about their contribution to coaching?

What will CPSIG be doing?

How will CPSIG be run?

Who will be CPSIG’s members?

CPSIG - for psychologists who coach