Introduction

This chapter argues that coaching is changing rapidly. Though it cannot be comprehensive, the book touches on some of the conversations emerging out of this process. It references S-curve theory to argue how human disciplines change then offers three theories of coaching’s origins and history: that it is a natural human activity; that it sources in the 1960s counterculture; that it is a developing 20th-century profession. The chapter argues that all three models have some validity and reviews issues in three areas that are influencing recent developments: within coaching, health-related and societal issues.