Special Group in Coaching Psychology News

Ho Law

Hello. As the new Chair for the Special Group in Coaching Psychology (SGCP), I would like to welcome you to the first edition of the International Coaching Psychology Review for 2010. It still seems like only yesterday since I met many of you at our annual conference - the 2nd European Coaching Psychology Conference at the Royal Holloway, University of London in the UK. Having just become the Chair, within 24 hours, I received many heart felt congratulations from the participants at the conference. Many of you told me how wonderful the conference had been and that you had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thank you for your feedback and support. The conference was a great success; it is likely that we shall have our next annual conference at the same venue in December. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at our next conference.

Before I set out my vision for 2010, I would like to pause for a moment to reflect on and celebrate the coming of age of the SGCP as a community, and coaching psychology as a profession. On reflection, SGCP would not have existed or become what it is now without many selfless contributions from the past Chairs and Committee members.

As part of honouring their work, I would like to mention the significant work that the past Chairs achieved during their terms of office. There is a long list of significant contributions from our former Chairs; I shall name a few here:

• The setting up of the Coaching Psychology Forum and then the formulation of the proposal for the SGCP (Stephen Palmer, 2005).
• The setting up of The Coaching Psychologist and the International Coaching Psychology Review publications (Stephen Palmer, 2005).
• The establishment of our profession and community of coaching psychologists (Siobhain O’Riordan, 2007).
• The inclusion in the British Psychological Society Directory of Chartered Psychologists for those who provide coaching psychology services (Pauline Willis, 2006, and Alison Whybrow, 2008).
• The continuous improvement of the website (Vicky Ellam-Dyson, 2009).
• The introduction of the peer practice groups as a means of engaging our members. (Vicky Ellam-Dyson, 2009)

Many congratulations to Dr Alison Whybrow for getting the Award for her distinguished contribution to the discipline of coaching psychology in 2009.

All of these achievements have provided us with a firm foundation to move forward. Now we can be more externally focused, more outward looking, beyond the current membership and look at how we can start to spread the word far and wide. Looking ahead for the year 2010, my vision for the SGCP is to aim to:

• Engage our wider communities that are beyond coaching and coaching psychology.
• Raise the public awareness of the SGCP and coaching psychology, about the benefits that coaching psychology can bring to our everyday life, be it about personal development, career progression, business performance, community cohesion, social or climate change. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRWx_3YnBfE

The above is an integral part of our strategy for next year and I am delighted to know that we have a ‘Fresh’ and ‘Engaging’ committee. Vicky Ellam-Dyson and I are very proud of the work of the Committee and how engaged they have been in supporting the extensive work of the SGCP. The achievements of the SGCP would not have been possible without your support and hard work.

For many organisations, the start of the new year is usually the away-day season for corporate bonding and strategic planning. SGCP had its strategy away-day on 22 January. My vision was shared and supported by all the Committee members. Our strategic plan was discussed, debated and re-drafted. The overall strategic aim (in draft) was translated as: To promote, develop, encourage and support coaching psychology in a way which engages and is responsive to both our current membership and the wider community. We aim to translate the above vision into our business plan for this year and beyond. I will announce the achievement and progress of our plan in the next edition.

The above strategic aim resonates with Peter Zarris’, IGCP (p.90) enthusiasm in supporting the first International Congress of Coaching Psychology (ICCP). I too hope that SGCP will help jumpstart the International Congress as part of our annual conference in December 2010 with the aims to ‘promote and advance coaching psychology’ and engage the international community. Year 2010 is truly an exciting time. Watch this space.

We strive to continuously promote the benefits of our members. In 2010 we are offering many new features; resources and continuous professional development events. Please do visit our website www.sgcp.org.uk and you will notice the new design and updates.

The International Coaching Psychology Review (ICPR) represents one of our distinguished achievements; and I thank you - the editors, contributors and readers for your support. Through the publication of ICPR and various other means, we shall continue to build a relationship with other professional bodies to achieve our aims. I welcome your ideas and feedback - please e-mail me.

Ho Law
Chair, British Psychological Society, Special Group in Coaching Psychology.
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sgcp.org.uk

Interest Group in Coaching Psychology News

Peter Zarris

Dear IGCP Members

On behalf of the National Committee of the IGCP I would like to wish you all a successful, healthy and interesting 2010. We look forward to continuing our relationship with each of our members and continue to build our alliance with our good friends and partners at the British Psychological Society Special Group for Coaching Psychology.

Over the last couple of years we have been successful at maintaining a solid membership base and also in providing what I believe to be outstanding professional development events. This has been a credit to the local state committees and I would like at this stage to express my gratitude to the State Convenors of the east coast, namely Nic Eddy, David Heap and Patrea O’Donoghue and the various local committees. I would also like to acknowledge and pass on my thanks and support to the rest of the National Committee, including the National Executives Aaron McEwan and Henry McNicol who are the Secretary and Treasurer respectfully. And finally my sincere thanks to Rebecca (South Australia) and Vicki (ACT) for taking over and initialising groups in those areas. Obviously Perth still remains one area of focus for us.

The next 12 months
The next 12 months of course will be crucial for the IGCP, as we seek to move away from merely a group that provides professional development to also seeking to have a stronger impact in defining the role of Coaching Psychology and in accreditation for Coaching Psychology skills and experiences.

Nonetheless the key things to look out for over the next 12 months will be:

1. The International Coaching Psychology Review (ICPR)
   The ICPR will continue as a bi-annual publication in partnership with the SCGP. This will be made available online and the National Committee will be considering the options and possibilities in making printed versions available for purchase.
2. The fourth National Symposium
   The fourth National IGCP Symposium will occur in Melbourne later this year. The head of the Symposium Subcommittee is Nic Eddy who is also the State Convener. Details of the National Symposium will be made available and this event continues to be one of the cornerstones of the IGCP professional development focus.
3. 1st International Congress of Coaching Psychology
   Whilst we are very much in the early stages of discussion, the IGCP is hoping to play an important role in the first International Congress of Coaching Psychology, which may be held late in 2010 through to 2011. The aim of this will be to promote the development of the Coaching Psychology profession and to bring together the Coaching Psychology community among other positives. The IGCP hopes to be an active participant and partner in this event.

In addition to this there will be other initiatives including encouraging and creating incentives for members to contribute to the ICPR and other coaching publications and also continuing our local state based events on an ongoing basis.

Looking forward to continuing working with all of you and continuing to develop Coaching Psychology, particularly in these changing times.

Peter Zarris
National Convenor, IGCP.
E-mail: [email protected]