009: How can I become a coaching psychologist?

In this episode, Dr Natalie Lancer and her hand-selected panel comprising Alison Clarke, Professor Sarah Corrie and Dr Marie Stopforth, explore a variety of pathways to become a Chartered Coaching Psychologist.  We consider the importance of Chartership by discussing:

• The distinction between coaching, clinical psychology, coaching, counselling and therapy
• How the profession of Coaching Psychology evolved
• The areas in which Coaching Psychologists work
• How Coaching Psychology contributes to improving coaching standards and other types of Psychology

• The importance of considering the scope and limitations of our knowledge through regular supervision and Continuing Professional Development
• How Coaching Psychology is well-placed to challenge psychological assumptions and boundaries
• The two different types of accreditation offered by the British Psychological Society

Coaching Psychology can be described as the scientific study and applied understanding of individuals’ and groups’ performance, achievement and wellbeing in a coaching context.  As the profession of Coaching Psychology has evolved, new routes to British Psychological Society Chartership have been developed. Today’s panel of experts are amongst the pioneers of Coaching Psychology. Our guests are:

Alison Clarke is a Coaching Psychologist specialising in transforming anxiety and restoring confidence. She has decades of experience in training and development, coaching individuals and groups, and management consulting and service innovation. As Chair of the BPS Practice Board, she hopes that the accredited training pathways for Coaching Psychology will shift the balance of the influence of Psychology away from ‘What’s wrong with you?’ to ‘What’s possible for you?’. 

Professor Sarah Corrie is a Chartered Psychologist, Registered Coaching Psychologist and Consultant Clinical Psychologist. She was the recipient of the British Psychological Society’s Achievement Award for Distinguished Contributions to Coaching Psychology. Sarah has authored over 80 articles for academic journals, professional journals and trade magazines, and nine books including The Art of Inspired Living: Coach Yourself with Positive Psychology. Sarah is a Founder Member and former Chair of the British Psychological Society's Special Group in Coaching Psychology. She has a particular interest in how coaching might contribute to emotional well-being and mental health. 

Dr Marie Stopforth is a Chartered Psychologist, HCPC Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, and BPS Registered Coaching Psychologist.  She is the Professional Development lead in the BPS Division of Coaching Psychology. Marie spent 20 years working in Higher Education, including as Programme Leader of the Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology programme at the University of East London. She now runs her own coaching business where she provides coaching to individuals and training to organisations, as well as offering Coaching Psychology courses and supervision.

Your host, Dr Natalie Lancer, is a Chartered Psychologist, coach and supervisor. She is the Deputy Chair and Secretary of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Coaching Psychology and an accredited member of the Association for Coaching. She is the host of this podcast series and invites you to email any comments to [email protected]

https://www.bps.org.uk/member-microsites/division-coaching-psychology/podcasts

© British Psychological Society 2022