What is Coaching Psychology?
There are a number of different definitions of coaching psychology. This can vary around the world depending upon the definition developed by the national psychology or coaching psychology professional body. We list a number of definitions below.
International Society for Coaching Psychology
The practice of coaching psychology may be described as a process for enhancing well-being and performance in personal life and work domains underpinned by models of coaching grounded in established adult and child learning or psychological theories and approaches. It is practised by qualified coaching psychologists who have relevant qualifications, and have undertaken suitable continuing professional development and supervised practice. As an international professional body the Society acknowledges that pre-requisites for the status of qualified psychologist are based on regionally or nationally recognized qualifications. See: https://www.isfcp.info/what-is-coaching-psychology/
Australian Psychological Society, Coaching Psychology Interest Group
Coaching Psychology can be understood as the systematic application of behavioural science to the enhancement of life experiences, work performance, the wellbeing and potential of individuals, groups, and organisations. See: https://groups.psychology.org.au/igcp/
British Psychological Society, Division of Coaching Psychology
Coaching Psychology: The scientific study and application of behaviour, cognition and emotion to deepen our understanding of individuals’ and groups’ performance, achievement and wellbeing, and to enhance practice within coaching. See: https://www.bps.org.uk/member-networks/division-coaching-psychology
The APA Society of Consulting Psychology (SCP) and APA Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)
The following definition was developed and refined by a project* initiated in 2012 by the Society of Consulting Psychology (SCP) and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP):
An area of professional practice and research within psychology, coaching psychology is a process of professional development in which a psychologist works with individuals and/or groups to help themenhance their performance and effectiveness in their organizational roles and/or develop their potential for future roles.
Grounded in scientifically established psychological theories, principles, frameworks, and methods, coaching psychology is designed to benefit individuals, their teams, and their organizations. Qualified coaching psychologists have graduate degrees in a psychology discipline from a regionally accredited university and relevant psychological training in coaching/coaching psychology, and they regularly undertake relevant continuing professional development.
Citation: *Vandaveer, V. V., Lowman, R. L., Pearlman, K., & Brannick, J. P. (2016). A practice analysis of coaching psychology: Toward a foundational competency model. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 68(2), 118–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpb0000057
New Zealand Psychological Society, Coaching Psychology Special Interest Group
Coaching Psychology is a science-based approach combining the established principles of professional psychological practice with more recent findings regarding the efficacy of the positive psychology focus in promoting wellbeing, personal values and individual achievement. The fundamental objectives of coaching are to enable and enhance a client’s capability to reach desired personal and professional goals, often within a complex environment with multiple influences and challenges. Applying the knowledge-base of psychology with scientific rigour within the framework of the profession’s Code of Ethics provides a robust foundation for assisting coaching clients to achieve their goals. https://www.psychology.org.nz/members/networking/interest-groups/coaching-psychology-special-interest-group-cpsig
Swiss Society for Coaching Psychology
Coaching psychology is associated with psychologically based consultation and support for mentally healthy people who want to master demanding professional or personal challenges in their life.
Coaching psychologists are able to provide scientifically sound support for clients who want to determine and achieve their goals. See: https://www.coaching-psychologie.ch/en/coaching/coaching-psychologie
Dr Siobhain O’Riordan & Prof Stephen Palmer
A recent definition of coaching psychology, published in the Routledge book, Introduction to Coaching Psychology (O’Riordan & Palmer, 2021: 6) defines it as ‘the application of psychological theory, research, and evidence-based practice to encourage the coachees’ learning, resourcefulness, and self-insight in a non-directive collaborative way to enhance their goal-striving and achievement’.
Citation: O’Riordan, S., & Palmer, S. (2021). Introduction to Coaching Psychology. Routledge.
