Anna holds certification in Evidence Based Coaching* from Fielding Graduate University.
What is Evidence Based Coaching & why choose a coach with this type of qualification:
“Evidence Based Coaching (EBC) combines research-based theory and models, the coach’s use of self, the client’s context, along with coaching skills to create an effective coaching engagement….Offers a broad, multi-disciplinary approach to coaching, including theories and models from leadership, psychology, communication, neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and organization studies, together with current standards, techniques, and strategies in coaching.”
Some coaching schools focus on one model or discipline on which to anchor their coaching approach and principles. This contrasts with the multidisciplinary focus of Evidence Based coaching in which from the start you are expected to be widely read in in different theories and be able to draw from a wide variety of coaching models, approaches and frameworks in response to the unique needs of your coachee.
To quote one of the global leaders in executive coaching, David Peterson:
Many coaches fall in love with their tools – particular instruments, surveys, or models and they use them with all of their clients in the same way. … It is critical for coaches to have a big tool kit that includes a variety of tools, models, and methods to help clients accomplish their goals. With these tools, you can tailor coaching to your clients needs. (Source: Coaching is the ultimate customizable solution: an interview with David Peterson)
The benefit of having a coach with a background in Evidence Based Coaching is that they are not tied to one model or framework. For Anna, coaching is a passion and she is continually drawn to deepening her knowledge and practice while also being open to new approaches in order to grow her “toolbox” of theories, conceps and frameworks over time.
For example, in the last few years Anna has been deepening her knowledge in coaching based on the discipline of Adult Development Theory and especially how this relates to our identities and how we make sense of the world. At the same time, Anna is also fascinated by Behavioural Science and how knowledge of environments and neuroscience can be employed for personal change by using small “nudges” or changes in the environment to influence ones own choices . In addition, with the new challenges and circumstances that coachees and clients are having to navigate as a result of the global pandemic of COVID19, Anna has been studying the work of Julia Vaughan Smith (author of “Coaching and Trauma”) and Jenny Rogers work on coaching and its connection with other fields of 1:1 personal support such as therapy and counselling (author of many books including her most recent publication “Coaching: What really works”).
To get a sense for other small ways that Anna keeps herself close to new and diverse approaches, in addition to deeper areas of study mentioned above, you can also check out Anna’s podcast list that includes some of the podcasts she listens to during her daily morning exercise. You can follow Anna on Twitter here if you want to hear about what has piqued her interest in more recent interviews, research and news.
Passed at equivalent of ICF PCC level
Anna gained her Evidence Based Coaching qualification through multiple assessments by highly experienced coaches – including recordings of her own coaching sessions, live observation and mentoring supervision. At the end of the course she was evaluated as meeting the PCC level of coaching skills as defined by the ICF (International Coaching Federation).
If you want to know more about why some of some of most highly regarded coaches guard against only relying on ICF qualifications alone, you might find this article by Jenny Rogers of interest: https://jennyrogerscoaching.com/following-coaching-rule-book-yes-no/
* Fielding Graduate School has adapted it’s Evidence Based Coaching program over the years and Anna had the privilege to experience the program while it was still being led by founder and creator Leni Wildflower.
To share the intense and rigorous nature of the course, here is just a highlight of what was involved: This was an intense year-long qualification involving weekly reading on the theory from a wide variety of disciplines, writing, discussing and practicing the application of techniques through coaching in pairs with group observation. Practice and application of the actual techniques came through weekly group coaching calls as well as multiple coaching coaching engagements in other organizations/businesses in parallel. In order to ensure that Anna was meeting the expected ethical standards (in line with the International Coaching Federations “Code of Ethics”: https://coachfederation.org/code-of-ethics ), she had several live coaching engagements recorded (with permission of the coachees) which were assessed by highly qualified and experienced coaches from the Fielding faculty. In order to gain her Evidence Based Coaching qualification, Anna’s coaching had to meet at least the standard of PCC (Professional Certified Coach) skill according to the ICF definition and this was assessed by recordings and observations of real life coaching sessions.
(The reason this final point above is emphasized is that there are many coaching qualifications for which attendance alone leads to certification.)