A reading list for Psychologically Informed Coaching
This is a list of some of the books on coaching theory and practice which I came across during my training and career as a coach. I am always drawn to those which make explicit the links between psychological theory and practice. Knowing that a theory underpins a suggested technique or exercise, helps me make a better choice about using it and also reassures me that the outcome may be more successful as a result.
An approach to coaching (Organizational Role Analysis) which supports understanding of individual dynamics and their interaction with organisational dynamics.
Newton, J. Long, S. and Stevers, Burkard (Eds) (2006) Coaching in Depth: The Organizational Role Analysis Approach, Karnac Books.
A collection of chapters by different authors all exploring the contribution of personal and organizational factors to challenges and the application of psychodynamically informed coaching methods to improve them.
Brunning, H. (2006) Executive Coaching: Systems-Psychodynamic Perspective, Karnac Books.
Wonderful stories of coaching from Kets de Vries which take a psychodynamic view of human development, healing and change.
Kets de Vreis, M.F.R. (2014) Mindful Leadership Coaching: Journeys into the Interior, INSEAD Business Press.
Includes chapters on Coaching psychology in 6 sections: Behavioural and cognitive Behavioural, Humanistic, Existential, Being focused, Constructive and Systemic approaches.
Palmer, S. (2008) Handbook of Coaching Psychology: A guide for Practitioners, Routledge.
Bluckert writes about complex coaching themes in an engaging and accessible way. His work is informed by principles of Gestalt psychology.
Bluckert, P. (2006) Psychological Dimensions to Executive Coaching, Open University Press.
One of the best explanations I have read of how to achieve an effective balance between support and challenge in coaching relationships.
O’Neill, M.B. (2000) Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart: A Systems Approach to Engaging Leaders with their challenges, John Wiley & Sons.
I return to Chapter 8 of this book: ‘working with client defenses’ again and again.
Kilburg, R.R. (2000) Executive Coaching: Developing Managerial Wisdom in a World of Chaos, American Psychological Association.
This is a collection of quite academic but interesting coaching research.
Law, H. (2007) The Psychology of Coaching, Mentoring and Learning, Wiley.
Practical tools and techniques to support clients and others as they think through challenges of all kinds.
Megginson, D. and Clutterbuck, D. (2005) Techniques for Coaching and Mentoring, Butterworth-Heinemann.
I enjoyed using the tools that Lee shares which facilitate a psychodynamic approach to coaching.
Lee, G. (2003) Leadership Coaching: From Personal Insight to Organizational Excellence, CIPD.
Chapter 3: Simple but not easy: the skilled language of coaching includes a useful section on how to explore feelings appropriately in coaching.
Rogers, J. (2004) Coaching Skills a handbook, Open University Press.
A summary of a range of psychological theories and models and their application in coaching (Developmental Psychology, The Psychodynamic View, Behavioural Concepts, The Person Centred Approach, Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Therapy, Family Therapy and Systems Thinking, The Existential Stance, Social Psychology and Coaching) as well as an interesting final Chapter for mental health practitioners considering transitioning into coaching.
Peltier, B. (2001) The Psychology of Executive Coaching: Theory and Application, Routledge.
