What is coaching?

“Coaching is…a form of helping relationship, where one person builds a relationship with another (or team or group) with a view to supporting them to make positive changes in their life and situation.”

Adams (2015)

How can coaching be used with pupils or in the school setting?

• Coaching to enhance professional practice (e.g. supporting NQTs or those new to role);

• Supporting classroom teachers to develop e.g. behaviour management skills, skills for supporting teaching and learning;

• Coaching for student success and wellbeing. This could include direct coaching with young people, either individuals or in groups;

• Specific short-term coaching engagement to address needs in relation to aspects of performance, development and wellbeing;

• Coaching for parents;

• Leadership coaching including termly coaching for staff/leaders to support performance, development and wellbeing; and

• Building capacity (supporting others to developing their skills in coaching).

Evidence suggests that coaching can be used to:

• Reduce anxiety and depression in young people;

• Support classroom teachers to reduce stress, improve performance and enhance wellbeing;

• Help staff/leaders to support performance, development and wellbeing;

• Teach young people coaching skills (which then provides them with the skills required for them to support to each other and/or enhance the quality of their interactions).

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

ACT is an approach used to manage difficult feelings or emotions where the client is supported to ‘drop the struggle’ of pushing these emotions away and instead focus on following their values and thus living their best life.

All too often when coping with difficult emotions, we spend all our energy/ attention on trying to ‘push them away’ (which never works!) and this often results in engaging in ‘away moves’ (e.g. avoidance or harmful behaviours) as opposed to acknowledging them and utilising ‘towards moves’ (therefore using alternative approaches to manage these emotions and thus a healthier way of coping). This results in a cycle that is hard to break, an increase in the difficult emotions that were problematic in the first place, and a failure to live the values that are true to us and the outcomes we want.

Next Steps

Coaching and ACT can complement each other as an intervention to support the wellbeing of all.

Although I am based in Sussex, I am able to offer sessions online for those who are further afield.

Please contact me for a further information and prices.