Diploma in Psychological Coaching (Option 2)

INTRODUCTION
These courses are accredited by Middlesex University.

These three new modular Diploma in Coaching, Diploma in Psychological Coaching and Diploma in Coaching Psychology programmes provide opportunities for participants to become knowledgeable about the theory and practice of coaching. Course participants can choose to demonstrate in their written and recorded coaching assignments either coaching or a psychological model of coaching depending upon which Diploma option they are enrolled on. The programmes provide over 100 hours of training plus a distance learning component. The Diplomas consists of three certificate programmes. In the Certificate of Psychological Coaching module, students will be expected to be seeing coachees, clients or staff. The programme includes coaching in particular forms of coaching: life/personal, performance, business,
executive, stress management.

CONTENT
The Diploma consists of three modular certificate programmes:

a) Certificate in Coaching (Option 1 or 2) (6 days or 5 intensive days)

b) Certificate in Stress Management and Performance Coaching (6 days)

c) Certificate in Psychological Coaching (5 days)

In addition, students may choose to complete the following optional modules, fees for which are payable separately upon application:

• Primary Certificate in Anger Management

• Primary Certificate in Developing Psychological Resilience: A Coaching Perspective

• Primary Certificate in Health Coaching, Counselling and Training

The training will provide a broad-based understanding of the theory and practice of coaching and will take a cognitive-behavioural and rational emotive behavioural approach to psychological coaching and its application to life, performance, business and executive coaching. Module c) includes training-related coaching supervision. Students are expected to make short group presentations, undertake skills practice and read course books/material. It is recommended that module c) is taken at the end of the programme
whereas modules a) or b) are taken at the beginning of the programme.

NB. Exemptions are given towards module b) if the primary certificates have been previously undertaken. All three modules include seen take home assignments that must be successfully passed. Whilst undertaking the programme, participants are actively encouraged to attend conferences/workshops and networking groups run by the Association for Coaching. Students who are online will be able to use the internet student forum group which has a range of facilities such as a real time discussion room (emailor voice), useful links section, polls, and an automated calendar of course events. Online forums can be held in the discussion room.

SELECTION
Selection is a threefold process which includes: application form, reference from a professional who knows the applicant and their work, and a personal interview with a course tutor to ascertain suitability for the course. The potential attributes looked for in the selection process are evidence of: the ability to reflect upon life experience and use it to enhance self-awareness and maturity; the ability to form a coaching relationship; the ability to build upon self-criticism; the capacity to cope with the emotional, intellectual
and practical demands of the course and of providing coaching. The course is not an opportunity to work out personal issues which may need the support of personal coaching or counselling but a commitment to self-disclosure in relation to course learning and personal awareness will be expected.

NB. Only BPS members who have GBR are eligible to join the Diploma in Coaching Psychology (Option 3) programme.

ASSESSMENT
In addition to passing the written assignments for the modules (a to c), students are expected to submit:

• One 45 minute audiocassette recording and transcript of coaching with a critical analysis of the transcript
  
• One tape of work with a different coachee or client with a written review of the coaching
  
• Short report of completed coaching with one additional coachee or client
  
• A 5000–7500 word extended essay or piece of research on an aspect of coaching or the psychology of coaching for the Diploma in Coaching OR a 7500–10,000 word extended essay or piece of research on an aspect of coaching or the psychology of coaching for the Diploma in Coaching Psychology or the Diploma in Psychological Coaching
  
• Five book reviews for the Diploma in Coaching OR eight book reviews for the Diploma in Coaching Psychology or the Diploma in Psychological Coaching

Overall, the submitted client work should demonstrate that the student has seen coachees/ clients with a range of different issues. Participants on the Diploma in Psychological Coaching and the Diploma in Coaching Psychology programmes will need to demonstrate a cognitive-behavioural psychological model of coaching in their coaching practice and the assessed work for the programme (see above). Their 7500–10,000 word written assignment and choice of books to review will reflect psychological coaching models, in particular although not exclusively, those taught on the programme. Participants on the
Diploma in Coaching programme have to demonstrate facilitative or adult learning models of coaching in their coaching practice and the assessed work for the programme. This will be reflected in the 5000–7500 word assignment and their choice of books to review. Full guidance on choice of books to review and possible essay titles will be provided during forums.

Students will be expected to maintain a training and learning log which must specify the length of study, number of taught hours, and a record of the lecturers participating in the training. In addition, it will include a log of their experience on the course i.e. lecture notes, handouts, assignments, essays, a link between the work and learning on the course and its application to the participant’s coaching and work context. The student will also keep a record of those aspects of personal growth and self-awareness, which inform coaching practice and relate to the ability to understand course material as well as their personal views of the course. The learning log is presented during Forum sessions. The Forums are also an opportunity for students to share information together as well as commenting on the courses. Reading recommended books and other work undertaken at home is likely to take at least another 400 hours over the course of the programme for the Diploma in Coaching and 500 hours over the course of the programme for the Diploma in Psychological Coaching or the Diploma in Coaching Psychology.

Students are expected to submit the majority of their course work within eight to twelve months from the end of the formal training programme for the Diploma in Psychological Coaching or the Diploma in Coaching Psychology or six to twelve months from the end of the formal training programme for the Diploma in Coaching. However, this can be extended by negotiation with a Course Director.

SUPERVISION
Module c) provides training-related supervision. However, it is essential that regular supervision of coaching work be provided at the place of work or privately from an experienced coach. This additional supervision is the financial responsibility of the participant. If necessary, guidance will be given regarding how to obtain a suitable supervisor.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Participants must be members of one or more approved independent professional coaching bodies or other related organisations e.g. Association for Coaching, European Mentoring & Coaching Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, British Psychological Society and abide by their code of ethics.
Course attendance should be for a minimum of 90% per module.

COURSE RECOGNITION
Successful completion of the Diploma programme provides sufficient training for eligibility for
Full Membership of the Association for Coaching, subject to relevant coaching experience.

STAFF
The course Co-Directors are Professor Stephen Palmer, Gladeana McMahon, Michael Neenan and Kasia Szymanska. Both Stephen Palmer and Kasia Szymanska are Chartered Psychologists.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Students who have successfully passed a course/programme at the Centre for Stress Management may gain exemption(s).