Coaching
At Integrative Psychology we provide three types of coaching: personal, organisational/executive, and sports.
Personal
Personal coaching (otherwise referred to as life coaching) can assist with identifying and promoting change in a range of personal domains of life. Examples of life domains in which we may want to create change include: career, social, romantic, health and weight, financial, and humanitarian. Coaching can assist with feeling that life in general or a specific part of one’s life has become stagnant, somewhat meaningless. Coaching can help when we feel we need a change but do not know what that change should be or when we have a specific goal or set of goals already in mind but require assistance in achieving their desired outcome.
Steps towards change:
Coaching can include the following steps towards change: (1) identify and refine personal goals, (2) promote and enhance motivation, (3) identify actual and potential resources available for achieving identified goals, (4) identify self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviours that act as barriers to achieving goals, (5) develop action plans for achieving goals, including short-term and long term milestones, and (6) strategies for maintenance of positive changes.
Personal coaching helps the individual to identify and maximise their own unique resources, including personality attributes, past experiences of success and failure, and external supports. Using a positive psychology approach that draws on existing strengths an individual can feel they are achieving their goals in a sustainable and personally fulfilling manner.
At Integrative Psychology we work collaboratively and creativity with the individual to support their personal development.
Organisational/Executive
Coaching within organisations can be directed to various levels of organisational interaction and effectiveness. Organisational coaching is more frequently referred to as executive coaching. Coaching can be implemented at the group level or with an individual. The emphasis of coaching may differ significantly depending on which aspect of the organisation and who within the organisation is taking part.
At Integrative Psychology we use reliable and validated assessment measures to evaluate a variety of staff and organisational characteristics. Survey results can inform group level coaching or individual coaching.
The first step is to assess the functioning of the organisation overall and/or the sector within it that is being addressed. Organisational structures when functioning efficiently can promote high staff performance and staff satisfaction, a sense of commitment to the organisation and stability of working teams. Alternatively, frequent, poorly explained and non-negotiated change, limited staff development opportunities and poor management styles can result in staff anxiety, high absenteeism, high staff turnover, and bullying.
Specific areas that can be addressed by coaching include:
- Change processes
- Clarity of change process
- Personality and experience matching for job roles and working partnerships
- Support and feedback structures
- Dispute resolution
Self-esteem, goal setting and evaluation processes, building competency, and anxiety management.
Role of professional mentoring:
- Training to be a mentor
- Processes for suitable matching of staff to mentor
- Development of learning objectives for mentoring experience
- Effective and supportive feedback processes
Sports
At Integrative Psychology we offer sports related coaching with a difference. Our sports coaching approach is lead by Tra-ill Dowie, a former professional athlete, who competed at a national and international level in combat sports. Mr Dowie has also coached many successful combat athletes. Through his extensive experience Mr Dowie understands not just the demands of high level competition but also the mindset that drives the athlete. At Integrative Psychology our psychologically focused sport coaching involves using theory and research in psychology and related fields in order to allow individuals and teams to increase performance and satisfaction in a board range of endeavors. At Integrative Psychology we can provide a wide range of support and assistance. Including performance support and helping athletes with matters such as:
Management of Anxiety in competition:
This can assist athletes who have difficulty regulating central nervous system activation and arousal in stressful settings.
Attention and Concentration Control:
Mental intensity and concentration is a hallmark of all great athletes. Attention and concentration skills can create strong gains in performance for athletes who struggle to maintain focus or need to expand awareness.
Communication:
The relationship between teammates and coaching staff is often an under examined element to athletic performance. Communication can improve group cohesion and individual relationships, trust and understanding.
Goal Setting:
Goal setting a skill commonly employed to enhance motivation, and direct focus and attention on the aspects of performance that are most in need of improvement. Whilst being extremely useful this is often under utilised by athletes and coaching staff.
Imagery, Visualization, Mental Practice:
Mental practice allows for athletes to work through competition and performance by utilising imaginary to generate practice effects through psychological repetition.
Holistic and integrative aspects of athletic pursuits:
Sometimes in athletic pursuits people can experience non-ordinary states and anomalous events. Such experiences often require some room for discussion and normalisation.
Post Injury Depression:
A consequence of serious competition can be serious or career ending injury. A normal part of dealing with such injuries is the psychological distress and difficulty that can often follow. At integrative Psychology we can support you through this difficult time.
Grief and Loss of Career and Identity:
Grief and loss can be a common experience following the end of one’s sporting career. Seeking assistance can help with the adjustment to a new career and in establishing a new found sense of identity