Coaching

COACHING FOR CHRONIC ILLNESS AT WORK

Coaching for Chronic Illness at Work

  Occupational Therapy enjoys an important relationship with the domain of work, with work being a primary occupation for human beings and one which gives identity, meaning, security and wellbeing. In the UK the role of OTs in vocational settings has grown alongside a general growth in vocational rehabilitation services as a whole. Work has been a significant interest of mine both personally and professionally. Professionally, my last regular OT jobs were in vocational settings including a role as an…

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Cowboys of OT

Cowboys of OT

This short musing was inspired by Bob Garvey who wrote a paper on the “Cowboys of Coaching” a few years back and it prompted me to consider what might mean in relation to OT. Having spent the last 10 years working, not only independently, but also in a “new” area of practice  and one that is not regulated (coaching), I often wonder if I might be considered a bit of a Cowboy…. Whilst I maintain my HCPC registration (worked hard…

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BELIEFS, COACHING AND RECOVERY

Beliefs, coaching and recovery

  I had planned to start exploring my new health coaching book, but I lent it to Maggie so I won’t see that for a couple of weeks! However, one theme I am sure will be covered is the relationship between health beliefs and self-management/recovery. In the coming years, I think stronger and stronger evidence will emerge around this and what we know intuitively about this – that an understanding of how our thoughts/beliefs may affect our physical recovery and…

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coaching

Coaching Occupational Choices: from “I” to “We”

I made this video yesterday and immediately doubted whether I should post it or not, but these are issues I feel very strongly about. Whilst we are a profession with our roots in healthcare and the medical model and a profession which values independence and personal choice, we and our clients operate in a much wider world. This world is interconnected, global, interdependent and our occupational choices impact way beyond our immediate world. Enjoy and if you hate it, feel…

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masters of integration

Masters of Integration

I am busy trying to find out where I heard this fabulous phrase, which apparently if you find a deeper definition of “Jack of all trades” rather than being “Master of none” it means being a “master of integration” (If you know where I heard it, please tell me!). I started to ponder what the term “master of integration” might mean in relation to Occupational Therapy, coaching and what we offer to our clients. As so often happens, various synchronicities started to…

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Energy for movement…but perhaps not in the usual way

Energy for movement…but perhaps not in the usual way?

I don’t mind admitting that the end of 2014 left me bereft of energy. What will a health challenge, the loss of Treacle (the best cat you will ever hope to know – she was only 2) and months of isolation whilst I tried to finish off my second book. I piled into January feeling rubbish. Usually I draw upon the things I love such as painting and seeing friends to give me a boost, but the effects were fleeting.…

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The Gap

  A short story I wrote recently following a discussion with a friend about counselling and coaching. It is meant to provoke some discussion. Please enjoy! The waiting room at the medical was exactly as she remembered it – the magnolia paint not quite covering the 1970s wood paneling – the faded pictures from St Barnabus sixth Form College photography competition 1996, had very little colour left in them.   “A bit like me” reflected Jane “a faded version of…

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Occupational Performance Coaching OPC

Occupational Performance Coaching OPC

  I don’t remember the last time I ripped open my BJOT with gusto, but last month, I really did! “Mothers experiences of engaging in Occupational Performance Coaching ” Fi Graham, Silvia Rodger and Jenny Zivani, gives a clear voice to what those of us OTs who coach, have known for sometime – coaching has a clear and effective role to play in OT practice. It can be at the heart of our intervention, not just an add on. Without…

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So What’s Coaching For?

So What’s Coaching For?

  An American researcher called George Vaillent set up a longitudinal study with a group of male students at Harvard Medical School in the 1940’s to try to review their levels of happiness as they traveled through their lives. Last year, in a Radio 4 interview he concluded that the word happiness is in itself a misleading word as it smacks of ‘getting lucky’ or just hedonistic self-gratification. But most interestingly he identified that the men in his study who…

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Noticing your own process as a coach (and an OT)

Noticing your own process as a coach (and an OT)

  I have had a growing awareness lately of the differences between my health mentor and my long standing coach. I sought a “new” approach regarding my health and well-being, not because my existing coach wasn’t sufficiently skilled to tackle this, but because I have long respected the position and stance of this particular health mentor and, as with most of my decisions, it just felt the right thing to do! What I have started to appreciate is the very…

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