Hello, it’s Emma. In this blog I am going to ‘bust some myths’ you may have heard about Coaching Psychology. Some of these may be myths you’ve never heard before about Coaching Psychology. I hope this list, I’ve outlined eleven here, (but there are definitely more!), gives you more of a clearer picture about what Coaching Psychology is (and is not!), how it works and who might benefit.
Myth number one: Coaching Psychology is the same as therapy or counselling.
Reality: Coaching Psychology is distinct from therapy or counselling.
Therapy often focuses on understanding and treating mental health issues. Coaching Psychology is underpinned by models of coaching and grounded in established psychological theories and approaches. Coaching Psychology is future-oriented and focuses on achieving goals, enhancing performance, and optimising wellbeing. Coaching Psychology helps clients who are already functioning well to seek personal growth or improvement in specific areas. Therapy is more focused on supporting emotional distress or overcoming mental ill health challenges.
Myth number two: Coaching Psychology is only for people in leadership or business roles.
Reality: Coaching Psychology is versatile and can benefit individuals across various life domains, not just leadership or business.
Many Coaching Psychologists, including myself, will work with a wide variety of people, with different backgrounds, talents, interests and reasons for investing in coaching. Coaching Psychology can help with career transitions, personal development, relationships, health, and wellbeing. At its heart, Coaching Psychology is an approach centred on you as a client and focussed on getting you the results you want by encouraging sustainable change and new ways of thinking, perceiving, doing, feeling and being.
Myth number three: Coaching Psychology gives direct advice and solutions.
Reality: Coaching Psychology is not about giving advice.
Working with a Coaching Psychologist is a collaborative process where we work together to understand your present experience and work out how best to improve your future. Coaching Psychologists help clients discover their own solutions by asking powerful questions, facilitating self-reflection, and helping clients gain clarity on their values, strengths, and goals. Coaching Psychologists support clients in developing their own strategies and taking ownership of their decisions, rather than offering ready-made answers.
Myth number four: Coaching Psychology provides quick fixes.
Reality: Coaching Psychology is a process that takes time and commitment.
While it can lead to rapid insights, positive sustainable change requires ongoing effort, reflection, and action. The Coaching Psychology journey focuses on long-term personal and professional development rather than short-term solutions. Progress is often incremental, and success depends on the client’s active participation and willingness to grow. Don’t be put off though, even if you’re not sure about whether you have it in you to take the steps to get you where you want to be, that’s all part of the process and working with a Coaching Psychologist can help you understand what will help you with motivation, commitment and progress.
Myth number five: Coaching Psychology is only for people who are struggling or failing.
Reality: Coaching Psychology is for anyone who wants to improve, not just those who are facing difficulties.
Many people who seek Coaching Psychology sessions are already high achievers or functioning well but want to reach even higher levels of performance or fulfilment. Coaching Psychology is about enhancing potential, not just solving problems. It’s used by successful individuals looking to refine their strengths, develop new skills, or navigate significant life transitions. If you’re reading this and thinking ‘That isn’t me, I’m not a high achiever’ or ‘I wouldn’t say I’m functioning at my best’ – let’s have a conversation and see what Coaching Psychology can do for you and your situation.
Myth number six: Coaches need to be experts in the client’s field to be effective.
Reality: Coaches do not need to be experts in the client’s specific industry or field to be effective.
Coaching Psychology is not about providing technical expertise or content knowledge; it’s about using psychological principles to help clients reflect, set goals, overcome obstacles, and create strategies for success. A Coaching Psychologist’s expertise lies in the knowledge of psychological theories and approaches that aid the process of coaching and understanding human development. A Coaching Psychologist’s focus during the journey is facilitating personal growth, behaviour change, and decision-making – rather than the content of the client’s work or life. As I’ve mentioned in response to myth number three ‘Coaching Psychology gives direct advice and solutions’ – Coaching Psychologists are not mentors, I won’t tell you what to do or how to do it. Instead, Coaching Psychologists support clients to develop their own strategies and find their own answers, whatever their context.
Myth number seven: Coaching psychology is only for individuals.
Reality: Coaching psychology can be highly effective for individuals, teams and groups.
Coaching Psychologists can work in a variety of ways. One-to-one, or with groups of people who don’t have a relationship with each other – but a shared interest or goal and team coaching. Team coaching in particular helps improve group dynamics, communication, collaboration, and collective performance. By focusing on shared goals and enhancing team members’ relationships, Coaching Psychology can strengthen overall team effectiveness in organisations, sports, and other group settings.
Myth number eight: Coaching is only for extroverts or people who are naturally outgoing.
Reality: Coaching psychology is for people of all personality types.
Coaching Psychology can be beneficial for anyone, regardless of your personality type, strengths and world views. One incredibly important element of Coaching Psychology is the relationship. We get to know each other and collaborate, ensuring you gain the most value from our work together.
It’s not about changing who you are but about helping you become more effective, self-aware, and fulfilled in a way that aligns with your natural preferences. For example, introverts may focus on building confidence in areas like public speaking or leadership while leveraging their strengths in deep thinking, reflection, and one-on-one communication.
Myth number nine: Coaching Psychology guarantees success.
Reality: While Coaching Psychology can be highly effective, it does not guarantee success.
Working with a Coaching Psychologist in of itself is not a guarantee to achieving outcomes. As a Coaching Psychologist I provide both challenge and support, a positive and fertile ground for your growth. The responsibility of the outcomes are yours and your commitment and readiness for action and change is important to the success of coaching.
There are various factors that may influence success, including your willingness to engage in self-reflection, open to trying new approaches and be challenged where appropriate. Success requires active participation, perseverance, and time.
Myth number ten: Coaching Psychology is only needed when something is going wrong.
Reality: Coaching Psychology is not just for when things are going wrong; it’s equally beneficial when things are going well.
Many individuals, groups and teams seek Coaching Psychology to maintain momentum, prevent stagnation, or prepare for future challenges. Coaching Psychology can help people to enhance their strengths, explore new opportunities, and achieve higher levels of success, even when they are already doing well.
Myth number eleven: Coaching Psychology is a one-size-fits-all approach.
Reality: Coaching Psychology is highly personalised.
Each Coaching Psychology relationship is unique and tailored to the client’s specific needs, goals, and circumstances. As a Coaching Psychologist I spend time preparing for sessions, reflecting on previous sessions and exploring how I may work with you at every stage of our Coaching Psychology journey together.
For every person I work with, I will adapt my methods, tools, and techniques based on your personality, strengths, challenges, and aspirations. The flexibility of Coaching Psychology ensures that it meets the diverse needs of clients rather than following a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach.
If you’d like to know more about me and how I work, please see my about me page here:
https://empoweryoupsychologicalservices.co.uk/team-member/emma-mudge/
And if you’d like to book to work with me using Coaching Psychology, starting with a 90-minute initial session, please click here: https://empoweryoupsychologicalservices.janeapp.co.uk/
Emma Mudge
Co-founder and Coaching Psychologist
BSc (Hons), PGCert, PGDip, MSt
Member of the British Psychological Society
& Division of Coaching Psychology – GMBPsS
EmPower You Psychological Services