The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Short training courses

Content of The Psychology of Coaching - harnessing psychological theories

Day 1

Introduction and learning outcomes

Psychological traditions and emerging trends that contribute to coaching


  • psychoanalysis/psychodynamics
  • cognitive psychology
  • transition psychology
  • humanistic psychology
  • social psychology
  • organisational psychology
  • systems thinking
  • port psychology
  • positive psychology

Core psychological models used in coaching and coach development

  • cognitive: theory, techniques and practice
    • cognitive-behavioural
    • solution-focused
    • neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).

DAY 2

Review of Day 1

  • cognitive approaches (continued)
  • humanistic: theory, techniques and practice
    • Gestalt
    • existential
    • person-centred

Integrating psychological models in coaching practice

  • case study

Boundaries and ethics in the application of psychology in coaching: coaching psychology v psychology of coaching

Review and action planning

  • developing your own emotional, cognitive, systems intelligence (the coaching meta-competencies)