Managing Stress and Anxiety – Overcoming Procrastination, Indecisiveness and Self-Doubt – Addressing Relationship Difficulties
What is Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBC)?
Cognitive behavioural coaching is an integrative approach that combines elements from various psychological and social theories, including goal-setting theory, rational emotive therapy, solution-focused therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
CBC is goal-oriented, time-limited, and focused on the here and now. Obviously, the process of CBC differs from the structure of therapy. Although its outcomes may be very similar to those of cognitive behaviour therapy, it does not directly address clinical issues, such as depression and various anxiety conditions, including generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia or panic attacks. Cognitive behavioural coaching targets non-clinical problems and challenges, such as underperformance, procrastination, indecisiveness and self-doubt. CBC operates on the premise that thoughts, emotions and behaviours are pivotal in shaping one’s perception of problems and situations. It highlights that individuals may lack effective problem-solving and decision-making skills or fail to apply them appropriately within specific contexts.
Principles and Techniques
CBC employs specific coaching tools, such as the Johari Window, Socratic questioning, SPACE, OSCAR and I-GROW models. In addition, CBC may incorporate cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) techniques, such as the Thought Record Form.
Cognitive behavioural coaching involves both cognitive and behavioural strategies. By addressing cognitions, coachees can alter their perspectives on situations and remove obstacles to change, such as procrastination, indecisiveness and self-doubt. Simultaneously, behavioural strategies help people develop action steps aligned with their goals.
Socratic questioning is a central technique in CBC, fostering insight and rational decision-making by stimulating thought and raising awareness rather than providing definitive answers. This approach helps people identify and modify unhelpful thinking patterns or cognitive distortions that contribute to stress (stress-inducing thinking), hinder performance (performance-inhibiting thoughts) and foster negative attitudes (automatic negative thoughts). If necessary, it delves into the exploration, challenge and adjustment of coachees’ core beliefs.
Cognitive Behavioural Coaching Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CBC and CBT posit that emotions, behaviours and cognitive processes are interconnected. Both methods tackle irrational beliefs, which distort reality, interfere with people’s functioning and harm their relationships. Moreover, irrational negative beliefs hinder the pursuit of meaningful goals. By examining, evaluating and altering irrational cognitions, both CBC and CBT facilitate individual change. Thus, they often lead to similar outcomes.
Yet, cognitive behaviour therapy primarily focuses on analysing cognitive obstacles and their corresponding behaviours, while cognitive behavioural coaching concentrates on enhancing personal and professional fulfilment and achieving goals. Both CBC and CBT help us understand how we develop self-limiting beliefs and persist in holding onto them despite contradictory evidence.
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