This month CPJ explores the world of lifecoaching. Word has it that a few years ago someone who suggested that BACP should look at a possible membership category for coaching was laughed out of the room. But, as our three contributors show, things have moved on apace since then and the British Psychological Society already has such a category. Courses which offer therapists the opportunity to convert to become lifecoaches, are frequently advertised in this journal. Curious to know what actually happens on these courses, I commissioned Clare Pointon to attend one. Her experience makes interesting reading - she concedes that there is much that appealed to her about coaching – the money, for one thing! – but ultimately she has serious concerns about the boundaries between her work as a therapist and potential work as a coach.

These sorts of issues are picked up by Philip Channer who has done some research in the area of therapists who become coaches. For Philip, who is himself an executive coach and a psychotherapist, the transition from therapist to coach is far from straightforward. For example, the therapeutically trained coach working with a client whose goals are solely business orientated may be confronted with dilemmas if his therapeutic antennae pick up on other emotional problems: How deep should the work go? What to do about the client’s defences? Whether to refer on for therapy?

Michael Carroll has a different perspective again. He sees coaching as a threat to the counselling profession. Lifecoaches, executive and business coaches are literally flooding the market and demand for their services, both within and outside the workplace, is high. For Michael the solution to both this problem and the dangers posed by coaches who lack psychological training, is for counsellors and psychotherapists to become coaches. As with the continuing debate on fees, stimulated by Kevin Friery’s article, I would be interested in your thoughts and responses to this issue.

I would also like to wish all readers a fulfilling and peaceful New Year.

Sarah Browne Editor of CPJ