1st International Congress of Coaching Psychology: UK Event, London, UK, 14-15 December 2010

Citation

Liston-Smith, J. (2011), "1st International Congress of Coaching Psychology: UK Event, London, UK, 14-15 December 2010", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 10 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/shr.2011.37210cae.001

1st International Congress of Coaching Psychology: UK Event, London, UK, 14-15 December 2010

Article Type: Event reviews From: Strategic HR Review, Volume 10, Issue 3

HR professionals interested in evidence-based coaching practice will be interested to hear of developments in the international dialogue on coaching psychology. The British Psychological Society Special Group in Coaching Psychology (SGCP) hosted 280 delegates in London in December, to launch the 1st International Congress of Coaching Psychology, which continues around the world during 2011 and 2012.

The congress was developed as a consequence of collaborations between global coaching psychology bodies in the UK, Australia, Denmark, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The UK event covered wide-ranging themes in coaching psychology, including working with complexity and change; wisdom; adult development; leadership; health, wellbeing, happiness and motivation; diversity and sustainability; coaching psychology models and psychometrics; supervision and corporate case studies.

An award for Distinguished Contribution to Coaching Psychology was presented to Dr Siobhain O’Riordan, with special commendations to Dr Tatiana Bachkirova and Dr Jonathan Passmore. Keynote speakers included Julie Allan, Prof. Michael Cavanagh, Dr David Drake, Prof. David Lane, Dr Ho Law, Prof. Alex Linley, Dr Siobhain O’Riordan, Prof. Stephen Palmer, Dr Jonathan Passmore, Dr Alison Whybrow and Peter Zarris. Delegate feedback suggests participants particularly valued the blend of rigorous evidence-based practice and research with an upbeat, accessible, open-minded atmosphere.

Continuation of global discussions

A world café event during the closing stages enabled face-to-face international dialogue to round off the event. Conversations explored taking coaching psychology forward in the global context with topics such as professional standards, visibility of psychology in the field of coaching, and defining the strengths of coaching psychology. Giving symbolic shape to the intention to “think globally, act locally,” the café summary was handed to Swedish delegates to continue the conversation around the world.

Further planned events are:

1. 1.

   2011:

   • •

     Switzerland – March;

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     Sweden – April (date tbc);

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     South Africa/Southern Hemisphere event – May;

   • •

     Ireland – June; and

   • •

     Spain – October.

2. 2.

   2012:

   • •

     The Netherlands – January;

   • •

     Australia and New Zealand – February;

   • •

     Italy – May 2012; and

   • •

     Israel and also the Nordic countries are planning events with dates to be confirmed

Prof. Stephen Palmer and Prof. Michael Cavanagh, the UK and Australian coordinating editors of the International Coaching Psychology Review, called for more research and knowledge sharing through the publication, which is published by The British Psychological Society with an International Editorial Advisory Board.

Jennifer Liston-Smith Co-chair of Publications and Communications at The British Psychological Society.

For more information

Details of events hosted by the Special Group in Coaching Psychology, and details of SGCP publications, can be found at www.sgcp.org.uk Details of ongoing international events of the 1st International Coaching Psychology Congress can be found at www.coachingpsychologycongress.org