Q: What is Coaching?

A: Coaching can be defined as “unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them” (Whitmore, 1992, based on Tim Gallwey, a tennis expert).

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Q: What is Coaching Psychology?

A: Coaching Psychology is “for enhancing well-being and performance in personal life and work domains underpinned by models of coaching grounded in established learning theories and psychological approaches” (adapted from Grant and Palmer, 2002). Essentially, Coaching Psychology brings the evidence base to ensure that coaching is successful.

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Q: What is Positive Psychology?

A: For many years, psychologists have sought to understand what is ‘wrong’ with people. Positive Psychology, established as a new domain of Psychology in 1998 by Martin Seligman, seeks to understand what is ‘right’ with people. It is, fundamentally, “the scientific and applied approach to uncovering people’s strengths and promoting their positive functioning” (Snyder et al., 2000).

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What is Positive Psychology Coaching?

Positive Psychology Coaching is coaching that incorporates approaches that seek to improve well-being using evidence-based approaches from positive psychology (Oades & Passmore, 2014).

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Q: Why is it important to use evidence-based techniques in coaching? 

A: In the UK, life coaching isn’t regulated, so coaches don’t have to have qualifications to begin practising. This means they could be using techniques that haven’t been proven to be effective. It also means they may not be adhering to an ethical code of conduct.  As Whitmore (1992) says: “In too many cases [coaches] have not fully understood the performance-related psychological principles on which coaching is based. Without this understanding they may go through the motions of coaching, or use the behaviours associated with coaching, such as questioning, but fail to achieve the intended results.”

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Q: What is the difference between coaching and counselling?

A: Coaching is a non-therapeutic intervention intended for individuals who wish to enhance their performance or improve their work or personal situation. Counselling is a therapeutic intervention that aims to eliminate psychological problems and dysfunctions.

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Q: Why should I choose The Flourishing Mother as my coach?

A: We understand first-hand the myriad pressures motherhood can bring, and we know evidence-based ways to support mothers to overcome their challenges and flourish.

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Q: What style of coaching do you use?

A: We incorporate elements of evidence-based (behavioural, cognitive behavioural and humanistic) coaching approaches, adapting as necessary for each client, and, where appropriate, augmenting with evidence-based positive psychology interventions.

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Q: What if I decide after starting that coaching isn't for me?

A: According to the terms of the coaching contract, you are free to exit the coaching relationship without giving any reason, subject to appropriate notice being given.