Sarah Corrie

AT THE TIME OF WRITING my first letter for The Coaching Psychologist, the SGCP has just agreed the theme for the 4th European Coaching Psychology Conference - ‘Enhancing Well-being and Performance through Coaching Psychology’. This will be held in Edinburgh at Heriot-Watt University on 12-13 December and I am very much looking forward to welcoming you there. Deciding on each year’s conference theme always generates some stimulating discussions as we sift through multiple possibilities and attempt to gauge what might meet the needs of our members most effectively.

This year, however, a clear ‘winner’ emerged early on. It is not difficult to appreciate the appeal of enhancing well-being and performance as a conference theme. Just listening to the news headlines is enough to be reminded of the many challenges faced by individuals, organisations and communities on both national and global levels. In our austeritydriven climate, where opportunities to flourish all too often feel eroded or even absent, threats to ell-being and performance can seem rife. And yet, the memory of last year’s Olympics and Paralympics still lingers, serving as a reminder of how much we can achieve when we work together.

As we began to develop ideas for the European Conference, the conversation was charged with an enthusiasm and energy that was almost palpable. When I reflected on the meeting afterwards, it struck me that this was no coincidence. If ever coaching psychology had a role to play in improving the lives of individuals and communities, it is now. And if ever there was a theme upon which coaching psychology was well-placed to comment and contribute, it is well-being and performance.

Full article: The Coaching Psychologist, Vol. 9, No. 1, June 2013 Page 3-44