Working with coaching
Defining integrated therapy-coaching practice.......is this possible, how can it be done, and why do we need to do it anyway?

This event is hosted by the BACP Coaching division explores some key insights emerging from their qualitative research, completed in collaboration with University of Chester, into ‘Developing a working definition of therapeutic coaching’.

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This session reports on the initial findings from a recent study exploring how dual qualified (therapy and coaching) practitioners thought about and defined their practice. Four focus group meetings were held with 35 practitioners. The meetings were transcribed and were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. We will talk through the initial findings of this analysis and consider what this might mean for practice, marketing, meeting client need, professional development, as well as thinking about our next steps for research.

The aims of the session are:

1. provide delegates with an overview of the initial findings which consider what is meant by the term 'therapeutic coaching'
2. an opportunity to discuss with delegates what these findings might mean for their practice when utilising counselling and coaching practice with diverse client groups
3. to consider what the next 'best steps' might be for ongoing research, and the implications for BACP in their development of coaching as a discrete, but also integrated discipline

In this session we will consider how we equip ourselves as dual-trained practitioners to notice, and respond, to the risks when a client suggests suicidal thoughts, or talks explicitly of ending their life.

How can we prepare for something that often arrives suddenly and unpredictably?

Whilst we may not be able to rehearse the exact scenario, there are many ways in which we might support our agility as practitioners – our ability to notice what we notice, and quickly respond in the moment to a disclosure.

The sessions aims to:

• open a discussion on contracting, competence and confidence in relational to risks associated with suicidal thoughts presenting in an integrated coach-therapy practice
• raise areas for further professional and personal development of dual-trained practitioners

Session learning outcomes: 

1. gain insights in identifying and responding to risks associated with suicide, presenting in a coaching or integrated practice
2. gain understanding of the critical nature of contracting in coaching and integrated practice situations
3. gain an insight into individual further developmental requirements to increase competence and confidence

This session brings the benefits of integrated therapy-coaching practice to life through a client case study and aims to:

• showcase how the practitioner describes their approach to clients
• outline the initial client challenges/goals, the therapeutic coaching process, and eventual client outcomes/evaluation of success of the work
• highlight the benefits and impact of an integrated approach, as well as any other interesting factors (which could be risks, challenges for supervision, unexpected processes or outcomes, etc)
• touch on how an integrated approach may be different to working with this client as a separate counsellor/therapist or coach

Panel discussion between our presenters Andrew Reeves, Anne Calleja & Lucy Myers. Joined by Deputy Chair of the Coaching Division Executive Committee Belinda Joseph-Pirame and BACP Director of Professional Standards Policy and Research Lisa Morrison-Coulthard.