In this issue
Features
The reflections of a surprised supervisor
Michelle Lucas
Lying on the ‘couch’: where coaching and counselling meet
Sue Houghton
Thinking global
Crossing cultures: using our bodies as a doorway to wisdom
Karen White
Regulars
Message from the chair
On the coach
Gladeana McMahon in conversation with Linda Aspey
A day in the life
Embodiment specialist coach and trainer Mark Walsh
In focus: Stepping into the future
Chair of BACP Coaching, Jo Birch
Research
Articles from this issue are not yet available online. Divisional members and subscribers can download the pdf from the Coaching Today archive.
Editorial
I find it hard to believe, but this edition marks our first anniversary. Yes, our journal has been in circulation for exactly a year – so happy birthday to us!
For a journal representing those of us working at the intersection of coaching and counselling/psychotherapy, what better topic for our cover feature in this issue than one that explores this very area? In ‘Lying on the “couch”’, Sue Houghton presents an honest account of her initiation into coaching practice and the difficulties she experienced in adopting a purely solutions-focused approach that at first appeared to be in conflict with her counselling background. They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and Sue describes how her discomfort led her to an innovative solution – and the creation of her own particular approach to integrated practice.
Our cover article in July by Clare Myatt on ‘Coaching through the body’ has inspired further reflections on an integrated mind–body approach and this issue features more on embodied practices, explored by contributors Mark Walsh, an embodiment specialist coach and trainer, and Karen White, Regional Director for Leadership Embodiment International in Africa.
Elsewhere, coaching supervisor Michelle Lucas describes her experience of supervising internal coaches within an organisation after a career of supporting independent coaches – and shares some of her surprising discoveries. The subject of coaching supervision is becoming increasingly significant as we move towards parity with the counselling and psychotherapy professions in terms of training, accreditation, registration and CPD. For those of us who take an integrated approach as coach-therapists, thinking about the importance of supervision in both areas is particularly relevant. I’m keen to hear your thoughts on this, so please do get in touch with your letters and ideas for contributions on this topic.
In looking back on the past year as editor of this new journal, I cannot help but reflect on the changes that have taken place even in the short period since we launched. We have seen changes to our executive team, including the appointment of a new Deputy Chair, who within a matter of weeks found herself Acting Chair of the division. We now have a number of regular series in the journal, including our Chair Jo Birch’s ‘Thinking global’ series, which came about as a result of her work in Mongolia, and a regular column from our Executive Specialist for Research Barry McInnes. On the subject of change, this will be Barry’s last column for us in his role as Executive member, though I am very pleased to announce that he will continue to write for us as an independent contributor. In this edition, he asks you, the reader, to get in touch with your ideas and feedback on the column, and how you would like to see it develop.
Barry’s request for feedback comes at an important juncture: as we have now been in print for a year, it seems timely to invite you all to feed back on Coaching Today. This journal was created for you – so what do you think? What features do you particularly enjoy, and what would you like to see more of – or less? To this end, we will shortly be publishing an online reader survey – visit the BACP Coaching website for details.
Diane Parker
Editor
editorial@bacpcoaching.co.uk