Why is positive psychology the science at the heart of coaching? Well, first it might wise to provide a meaning of positive psychology and how it relates to coaching.

What is Positive Psychology?

Positive psychology is a relatively new area of coaching. In the past decade it has caught the collective interest of both coaching professionals and the public alike. Doing a Google search for “positive psychology” will bring up over two million hits.

In many ways, positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes people happy and worth living. It is the psychological study of strengths as well as weaknesses, and the focus on identifying and building the good in life as well as repairing the bad. It is concerned with helping healthy people find greater happiness, contentment, and fulfillment in life by using the healing powers of psychology.

For life coaches, this definition makes positive psychology the science at the heart of coachin. For all coaches, even those those who started their careers before psychological concepts were identified and widely applied in the coaching realm, it can help improve your coaching skills and boost your business by considering positive psychology the science at the heart of coaching.

Why is Positive Psychology the Science at the Heart of Coaching?

Why positive psychology is the science at the heart of coaching is actually a simple question to answer. It can be answered by understanding exactly what coaches are trying to accomplish.

• Coaches focus on what is good. They are not attempting to deal with pathology and mental illness. They attempt to help healthy individuals find more fulfillment and happiness.
• Though coaches focus on the good, they can’t simply ignore the very real problems that individuals experience – coaching isn’t all positive thinking, pie-in-the-sky idealistic jargon, or new age platitudes.
• Psychology is a science – science requires the comparison of theories with evidence. This application of science in coaching can help coaches use the right knowledge and skills when working with clients. In this way both art (the ability to coach) and science (the use of knowledge, proven theories, and learned skills) are at the heart of coaching.

The Good Life Can be Learned

The coaching industry is based on the fact that the good life can be taught. If having the good life was merely due to a lucky spin of the genetic and life roulette wheel, then coaching would be unnecessary. People can do things to build better lives. They can make positive changes to create the world they want.

However, some people need a little help, a little push to improve their lives, overcome behavioral obstacles, and reach their goals. Some people need guidance, motivation, and inspiration. Some people need assistance of a trained professional. Some people need coaches, and coaches can be much more effective when they consider positive psychology the science at the heart of coaching.

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Fred Philips
Business Coach
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