Invited Paper: The ‘grey space’: Where the boundaries between coaching and therapy blur, how I and other coaches navigate this space.
Lauretta Cundy
The ‘grey space’: Where the boundaries between coaching and therapy blur, how I and other coaches navigate this space.
Little is known about the lived experience of how coaches navigate ethical and boundary issues when working with a coachee on stress management or when a coachee presents that they have or may be having a mental health issue. I surmise that this is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, with much being left to the coach’s discernment. This research is to collaboratively explore the differences and similarities relating to how coaches navigate the ‘grey space’. This research has emerged from my own journey and questions relating to how to navigate the boundaries of coaching. Having begun my journey in the counselling/psychology space, I began to question what the similarities and differences were between the coaching and therapeutic space, particularly when working with stress management. An action research inquiry is being conducted. In this session, I will share themes drawing on Constructionist Thematic Analysis (CTA) specifically exploring the first cycle of the action research cycles. Exploring how coaches navigate the ‘grey space’, as well as recommendations to consider form ‘cross-boundary’ experts.
Lauretta Cundy is a Coaching Psychologist specialising in personal development and stress management. She holds a BSc in Psychology and Counselling at Roehampton University with fist class honours, a MSc in Occupational Psychology at Birbeck University in London. In addition, Lauretta is a qualified bereavement counsellor, and an accredited psychometric and personality practitioner. She is currently undertaking a Doctorate of Profession Studies in Coaching at Middlesex University, researching ‘The Grey Space’ where boundaries between therapy and coaching blur.
Email: lauretta@laurettacundy.com