ABSTRACT
This chapter offers an overview and introduction to the topic of coaching psychology, focusing on setting the scene and outlining the context and development of coaching and coaching psychology. A snapshot of some of the current topical research areas is also outlined. The international establishment of coaching psychology — as an area of research and practice over the last two decades — is summarised. Later, the links between coaching psychology and other areas of psychology are explored. The learning aims of this chapter will enable the reader to:
consider definitions of coaching, coaching psychology, and positive psychology, and gain insights about areas of their commonality, co-existence, and differences;
learn about findings from coaching psychology research on current topics including coaching psychology supervision, coaching psychology and mental health, and ecopsychology-informed coaching psychology practice;
understand the development of coaching psychology within an international context and learn about the establishment of coaching psychology over the last 20 years;
discover the characteristics and milestones during the development of coaching psychology as an independent area of psychological research and practice; and
reflect upon the links between coaching psychology and other areas of psychology.
