Dorothy Spry

 Cognitive Behavioural Coaching or C.B.C. brings together elements of psychology (cognitive behavioural therapy) with regular coaching practice and is well suited to coaches, managers and HR professionals who want to understand more about the way people’s thoughts affect their decisions and actions. After all, in a working environment, this is at the core of the employer and employee relationship. Cognitive Behavioural Coaching involves thinking about thinking, about the impact your thoughts can have on your personal and professional life.

There are many coaching models that are widely used today such as the popular GROW model. Goals, Reality, Options and Will provide a framework for a coach to start a coaching conversation and then follow an action plan, setting goals, and encouraging the client to take ownership and move towards realising their goals.
For many, this approach may be sufficient but it will not be enough if a client is experiencing a psychological or emotional barrier which is causing unhelpful goal blocking, or performance interfering emotions, thoughts, feelings and actions. This is where C.B.C. can play an important part.

Cognitive Behavioural Coaching takes a two sided approach. The first is psychological and the second is practical. These approaches tackle the self-defeating emotions, thoughts, feelings, philosophies and beliefs as well as using tried and tested practical and reflective techniques to help change behaviour.

C.B.C. focuses on the here, now and future and is about the client having positive thoughts, feelings, behaviours and healthy attitudes and assists in setting goals using the SMART approach (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based).

So, how can Cognitive Behavioural Coaching help? It can help in a variety of areas such as anger management issues, unhealthy temper tantrums, anxiety, impatience, self-confidence, assertiveness and communication problems.

By using a CBC approach, the coach can help a client to identify, examine and change unhealthy thoughts, feelings and beliefs, and start them thinking in ways that are more realistic, positive and workably effective.

As well as helping develop healthy and productive behaviours, C.B. coaching contributes to the individual’s overall emotional development.