Focusing is a relatively new concept in the world of coaching, yet there are many commonalities between the two which makes their crossing exciting and full of possibility. Both Focusing Oriented Therapy and Coaching are forward moving ways of working, in which the core belief is that the client has their own answers and the coach/listener uses the skills of deep listening, to support naturally occurring change and forward moving energy.
MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FOCUSING-ORIENTED COACHING
To evidence the effectiveness of Focusing-Oriented coaching, Báirbre Meehan undertook a self-funded five-year research project. Working with GPs, psychotherapists and word of mouth referrals, Báirbre supported and monitored Mental Well Being improvements in over 100 people across one-thousand one-on-one coaching hours.
The objective of the project was to measure the impact of a short-term Focusing-Oriented Coaching approach on the Mental Well Being (MWB) of participants, individually and collectively. In doing so, the research served to establish how best to cultivate practices of awareness and understand which tools and strategies best support individuals to assess, manage and maintain their own MWB.
Using a quantitative MWB measurement tool, the Mental Well Being of each participant was assessed at the start, end and six months after the intervention, enabling us to measure the individual and collective MWB change over time.
Results of the 8-hour coaching intervention showed a 70% improvement in collective MWB at the end of the intervention, with the improvement being maintained both six months and two years after the intervention period. The following graph shows the results.
As significant as the above measurements were, the testimonials from participants were even more important. A sample are shown here. For more testimonials from research participants and from referring professional, visit Báirbre’s website https://www.pause.ie/research/
Báirbre’s coaching journey began 12 years ago, at a time when her personal-development journey led her to Focusing. Her coaching practice is informed by 25 years in people management in roles such as CEO, organisational/leadership development and finance director … and many more years in the roles of daughter, mother, wife, sister, friend, coach etc..
Focusing-Oriented Coaching is Báirbre’s passion and she is devoted to developing and sharing it. Báirbre teaches Focusing-Oriented Coaching programs to coaches and is a coach supervisor.
If you are a coach and interested in learning how to integrate Focusing into your practice or if you are looking for a coach who works in a Focusing way, contact Báirbre at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
