What is Coaching?

Coaching is a relatively new profession that had its start between 1996 and 2000.

The International Coaching Federation was founded in 1992 but they did not have a real presence until their convention in 1996.

There are theories that it came out of human resource development in large organizations but also from psychotherapy termed “possibility counseling”.

Whatever the true source, it is has developed as a helping profession that the world has evolved into.

It is truly not counseling nor consulting. It is a profession, philosophy, and way of being   that is based on empowering the client to listen to their own “inner knowing” to find solutions for bettering their future.

Unlike counseling where the past is looked at, dissected and attempted to be understood, coaching takes the client from the present into the desired future.

Unlike consulting the coach is not the one with the answers; the client is encouraged and supported to use their own answers.

The client in coaching is honored for their own ability and knowledge of how to make change in their lives. Wherein in counseling and consulting the client is looked at as “needing help” or “needing to be fixed”.

The International Coaching Federation accredits schools throughout the world in keeping with the curriculum, philosophy and procedures of Coaching set by them.

ICF helps people find the coach most suitable for their needs. It supports and fosters development of the coaching profession; has programs to maintain and upgrade the standards of the profession; conducts a certification program that is the gold standard for coaches worldwide; and conducts the world's premier conference and other educational events for coaches .

For more info on the federation and accredited schools go to www.coachfederation.org/default.asp

Coaching occurs in most cases in a One on One basis although group coaching does also occur. Many of the client/ coach meetings occur on the phone for a half hour to one hour.

The sessions occur typically two to four times a month.

The relationship is set up between the client and the coach as an agreement between the two.   The Coach/Client relationship and agreements can differ from case to case.

This is another example of how the coaching relationship differs from consulting or counseling. Because the individual client is seen as a unique individual, the agreements, commitments and expectations differ from one to the next.

Coaching is the helping profession of the future where the human being is treated with honor and respect and seen as having the knowledge on how to change and create their own future.

Welcome to this Brave New World!!!!