cognitive behavioural coaching

Cognitive Behavioural

CoachingIn Education

Pepita TorbrandHead of Psychology - Oxford High School

What is Cognitive Behavioural Coaching?

‘Coaching focuses on future possibilities – not past mistakes’. John Whitmore 2002:7

Beck (1976, 1979) CBT; Ellis (1972) REBT

Based upon CBT but focuses on a non-clinical population, often senior executives & managers

CBC aimed to coach someone in a leadership position to build upon leadership skills

My idea? To use CBC on high school students!

How can it be used on students?Why would it be effective?

CBC can be used to reduce the gap between desired and actual performance

Reduce procrastinationReduce maladaptive perfectionist beliefs

Increase self-efficacy (beliefs in one’s own capability)Reduce irrational thinking and performance anxiety

Increase well-beingSuitable to stretching both high performing and slightly weaker students

Or in layman’s terms

CBC is effectively about helping students use more positive/realistic

thinking

How does CBC work then?

What research has been done?

…a whistle stop tour…

Potential Minus

Interference/disturbanceIs equal to

Performance(Downey, 1999)

Current situation? - Evidence based research?

One of the biggest challenges for schools is knowing how best to assist our students in developing and maintaining a strong performance.

Especially, as our opportunities for spending time with students on a 1-1 basis are becoming less frequent!

Based upon recent research showing that student performance is often influenced by psychological factors such as unhelpful thinking patterns,

self-doubt, performance anxiety, and maladaptive perfectionism; cognitive behavioural group-coaching can be an extremely effective tool for teachers to help optimise performance, and build upon key-

strengths to enhance wellbeing in a very cost effective way!

Evidence Based research?CBC, based on the well-established and evidence based principles of

CBT/REBT, is extremely effective when used with students and young adults.

A brief selection of some of the tools which I train teachers in is turning Performance Interfering thoughts to Performance Enhancing

Thoughts (PITs to PETs), challenging frequently occurring Thinking Errors such as ‘I should, ought and must’ (e.g. I should have started

earlier, I must perform better!) In CBC I also use Socratic Questions, perhaps the most powerful tool to

effectively work with students to challenge the logic, usefulness and effectiveness of unhelpful thinking, as well as train teachers to

effectively use the Coping Imagery, SPACE, ABCDE, and GROW models to help students find & build upon their Signature Strengths.

So how does it work then? Today’s brief session

Challenge Thinking ErrorsUsing Socratic Questions

Becoming familiar with the SPACE model to change unhelpful behaviour

Use GROW to set specific goals and help students follow through with goals

Changing PITs to PETsBuilding upon Key/Signature Strengths

REBT - Ellis (1962); Burns (1980)

Challenging various thinking errors that inhibits performance:

All or nothing thinking: ‘it’s got to be perfect, or….’Catastrophizing

Should and Must statements: ‘I must get an A/A* in my mock’Mental filter (particular focus on negative details)..or..

Disqualifying the positiveFortune telling Mind reading

CBC- Becoming Focused 2010 Centre for

Coaching

As more time & energy is released by removing those identified blocks,

There is a corresponding improvement in performance

Psychological blocks

Performance

The perils of procrastination....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P785j15Tzk



CBC - Socratic Dialogue

LogicUsefulnessEvidence

Of students’ unhelpful perfectionist beliefs and negative thinking

Challenging students recurring negative thoughts that inhibits performance

Negative comparisonI can never get an A in

Psychology/Biology/Chemistry/Maths/Physics/Politics/History/Any other subject...

I’m not going to do very well in my exams...I won’t be able to remember it all! : 0

I will have a black outI can’t remember anything, so what’s the point trying?

I won’t get the grade I want to take it at A-level...

Example: Negative Comparison – Socratic Dialogue

Is it logical?Where is the evidence for your belief?

Where is this belief getting you?Is this belief helping you to attain your goals?

Is this belief focussed on problem solving?Are you rating yourself or your performance?

Quotes‘I’ve stuck that piece of paper (Socratic challenges) above my desk, so every time I do start to think like that, I just go back to that and just think ‘is this thought logical?’ ‘Is it helping me in any way?’ […] you’re just like, No, carry on!’ Y13 student

‘I could sit at a desk for five hours and have the work in front of me and I still wouldn’t do it, something was so stronger than me…It sounds crazy. But now I’m just doing it fine.’ Y13 student

I should be more positive, stop comparing myself to others as this will not help me to achieve my potential! Y11 Student

Negative thinking is the DOOR, positive thinking is the KEY! Y11 Student

I’ve learnt to be less hard on myself. It was reassuring that other people procrastinate too. Y11 Student

QuotesI feel a lot more determined and that I am capable of doing my best. Knowing problems and how to tackle them really makes me feel more positive. Y11 Student

Awareness of the blocks stopping us from success. Realising ways to improve on this. Acknowledging that our mental attitude isn’t always accurate and that we can control the outcome if we put our minds to it. Y11 Student

Underestimating your ability is much more of an obstacle than your ability itself. Perfectionism is a counter-productive habit. I have learnt to understand that I am the only one standing in the way for achieving my goals. Y11 Student

The SPACE model: Peer Coaching(Edgerton & Palmer, 2005)

Feelings Mood

Thoughts ImagesSelf-talk Memories Expectancies beliefs

Tendencies

Behaviours

Doing

Hormones Breathing Sleeping Arousal levels

Tensions?

Some trigger points…

Essay writingExaminations!PresentationsCourse work


Feelings Mood


Tendencies

Behaviours

Doing


Tensions?

SPACE: ‘freeze time’Social Context: …Essay Writing… Cognitions: I can’t do it perfectly enough, I can’t make it perfect

straight away, Others can do it better than I can…Emotions: Anxiety, Fear, Guilt, Self-blame, Embarrassment, Potential

loss of motivationPhysiology: Stress, Arousal, Tension, Breathing (shallow) Action: I won’t do it now (but soon…) leads to anxiety reduction

(temporarily). But as we have to do the work later (but in a much shorter time frame!) this leads to significantly increased anxiety (vicious circle as a rushed piece of work confirms our negative thinking…)


Feelings Mood


Tendencies

Behaviours

Doing


Tensions?

SPACE: challenge ANTsSocial Context: …Essay Writing… Cognitions: I can’t do it perfectly straight away, no one can!

I can try to write something to the very best of my ability and ask my teacher to have a look at it…

Emotions: Determination, Motivation, Locus of Control Physiology: Eustress, Being on a ‘flow’, ArousalAction: No point delaying. Better just get on with it. Just do

it! Not trying to do perfectly all at once, but planning work to decrease negative stress.

SPACE WORK – Peer Coaching

Applied Practice - Your time!In pairs or threes

Start with the ‘Social Context’ and work your way round the SPACE model challenging

negative thoughts as if one of you were the student

Think about how you can work with students to help them change unhelpful behaviour by

thinking differently, feeling differently, and acting differently to become more effective!


Feelings Mood


Tendencies

Behaviours

Doing


Tensions?

CBC with studentsThe rationale of

Performance CoachingIs raising AWARENESS

And takingRESPONSIBILITY

(Whitmore, 1996)

Centre for Coaching 2010

One student’s experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUu4rv3ol34

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUu4rv3ol34

What other tools can you use in CBC?

What focus can your sessions session take?

Let’s GROW – using Whitmore’s model for setting and

following GOALS. Challenging Maladaptive Perfectionist beliefs (PITs and PETs)

Finding students’ signature strengths!

What is a PIT and a PET?

PIT = Performance Interfering ThoughtPET = Performance Enhancing Thought

Can you turn some PITs into PETs?

Performance Interfering ThoughtsPITs

Performance Enhancing ThoughtsPETs

I can’t do it.

I can’t do it well enough.

I will try and try but I will never get it perfect!

Others can do it better than me.

I will just do my very best to be criticised, so what’s the point anyway?

Performance Interfering ThoughtsPITs

Performance Enhancing ThoughtsPETs

I can’t do it.

I can’t do it well enough.

I will try and try but I will never get it perfect!

Others can do it better than me.

I will just do my very best to be criticised, so what’s the point anyway?

I can do it if I try!

I can do it as good as I possibly can, my teacher can give me feedback on how to improve things.

I will get better if I try – practice makes perfect!

No point thinking that everyone can do it better. Is that helping me?

I won’t get criticised. I am probably my own worst enemy. My teacher wants me to succeed. She’ll be glad to help.

Setting Goals - Students Think of a goal for yourselves such as: Positive + Specific

Studying more effectively…Getting up earlier in the morning…

Going to bed earlier at night!Remain committed and focused…

Spending less than 2 hours on FB/Tumblr/Twitter a......... Week!

Do now/Just do it!

I will now give you a moment to think about a goal for yourself!

A few ideasGet all the marking done as soon as I can…Design new, more effective seating plans

Using more ICT/ILT in my lessonsSet up a twitter account to share learning outside the classroom!

Upload more resources to MoodleDo that budget! Target grids?

Do the SoWs for next academic year!Find new interesting resources for teaching the more challenging topics

next year

Let’s GROW – Setting and following your goals - Keeping it positive!

Peer coachingG stands for Goal

What area would you like to improve on?What type of performance outcome are you looking for?

What specific steps can you identify – in what time frame?

Exam Performance – Presentation skills – Feeling more confidentEffective revision – Practice presentation skills? How often? Up to final

exam?

Let’s GROW – group coaching

R stands for RealityDescribe your situation

How much control do you have over the outcome?What resources have you got to help you?

Procrastinating, avoidance – have you got control?Effective Time Management – CBC course!

Let’s GROW – group coachingO stands for Obstacles

Are there any obstacles?What are your options to overcome these? (make a list!)

Work for different subjects? – Other responsibilities? Working part-time? Effective time management?

Write exemplar essays – hand to teacherDo revision cards

Let’s GROW – group coaching

W stands for Way ForwardWhat is your specific criteria for success?

On a scale of 1-10, what commitment do you have now? How can you improve it?

Bs, As – A*?

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9? 2!!?

Following through with goals

Can be used in coaching where students generate and set their own sub-goals which are small, easily achievable goals rather than a more

challenging goal that they are likely to procrastinate with!

To be unpacked and then followed through with and reflected upon in the next session with encouragement and potential adaptions

GROW – Setting and following our goals - Keeping it positive!

Peer coaching Goal? (Outcome)Reality? (Control)

Obstacles? (Options)Way Forward? (Commitment)

Can you set a date for when to achieve this?

QuotesI can set goals with reasonable steps in order to achieve! I should work

with my strengths instead of thinking only of my weaknesses. Y11 Student

I have learned how to optimise my potential and to believe in myself to do better. I have found methods to target my procrastination. Y11 Student

I have found the sessions have made me realise that I can set goals really easily and that it is a good idea to use the GROW model. Y8 Student

Learning how to change my desired goals to my actual performance. How to change my behaviour patterns. Acknowledge what my bad behaviour

patterns are! Y11 Student

Perfectionism3 types of perfectionism

Do you think you engage in any of these?

Self Oriented - I ‘must’ do it rightOther Oriented – they ‘must’ do it right

Socially Prescribed Perfectionism – Others expect me to do it right

The perils of Perfectionism – working with students

(Do you recognise any in yourself?) Which ones does your students engage in?

Excessively high standardsFear of failure

ProcrastinationConditional self-acceptance

Not satisfied by success – continually strivingEmotional disturbance when standards not met

All-or-nothing thinkingOverly self-critical

High levels of anxiety before, during and after a performance

Perfectionism is not always negative…

Enns & Cox 2002

What does the Helpful Perfectionist Beliefs really look like?Maladaptive/Unhelpful Adaptive/Helpful

Unable to experience pleasure Able to experience satisfaction and pleasure from one’s labours

Inflexibly high standards Standards modified in accordance with the situation

Fear of Failure Striving for success

Focusing on avoiding error Focus on doing things as good as possible

Tense/anxious attitude toward tasks Relaxed but careful attitude

Large experienced gap between performance and standards

Reasonable match between attainable performance and standards

Perfectionism is not always negative…

Enns & Cox 2002

What does the Helpful Perfectionist Beliefs really look like?Maladaptive/Unhelpful Adaptive/Helpful

Sense of self worth dependent on performance Sense of self worth independent of performance

Failure often associated with harsh self criticism Failure often associated with disappointment and renewed efforts

Black or white thinking: perfectionism vs failure Balanced thinking

Belief that one should/must excel Desire to excel

Compulsive tendencies and doubting Reasonable certainty about actions

Quotes

I now know that I don't always have to be perfect, and I know steps and methods to achieve my goals and minimalize irrational thinking and negative attitudes. Y8 Student

I have learnt to channel concepts of ‘perfect’ into inspiring me to excel rather than scare me into failure. Y12 Student

What I have taken away from this? Positive thoughts, self-belief and unconditional self acceptance! Y8 Student

Identifying Signature strengths!

Students find three key strengths that they believe can help them optimise performance!

What are they?How can they use them to improve performance?

Some Examples.....

Signature strengths adapted from Seligman

Curiosity - Interested in experience for its own sake, finding subjects and topics fascinating; love exploring and discovering.

Good at writing – Good at summing up info and putting thoughts down on paperHumour - Like to laugh! Try to see the light side in all situations.

Critical thinking – Good at evaluating ideas and thinking critically about information from different perspectives

Good at listening – They actually listen to what their teachers tell them! Open-mindedness – Open to new learning strategies and approaches to learning

Creative - Thinking of new ways to do things and never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.

Artistic Organised

Good at looking at the facts – Do not jump to conclusions but are that kind of person who rely on evidence!

Citizenship - Excel as a member of a group. Are a loyal and dedicated teammate.

As a teacher/coach: which ones are your signature strengths?

Signature strengths? Adapted from Seligman

Motivating – You are an expert in fostering a love of learning, involve all students actively in their own learning, and encourage ownership

Leadership - You excel at the tasks of leadership: encouraging a group to get things done and preserving harmony within the group by making everyone feel included

Caring – You are committed to and an expert in creating a calm, supportive and respectful coaching/learning environment

Open-minded – You are open to new teaching/coaching strategies and approaches to learning

Creative - Thinking of new ways to do things and never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible

Perspective - You are able to provide wise counsel to others

Persistence - You work hard to finish what you start. No matter what the project is, you get it done in time

Social Intelligence - You are aware of the motives and feelings of other people. You know what to do to put others at ease

Citizenship - You excel as a member of a group. You are a loyal and dedicated teammate.

CBC: What it is all about?Become aware of irrational thinking

Take responsibilityChallenge maladaptive perfectionist beliefsIdentify and build upon signature strengths!Set specific goals to increase performance

Change thinking – positive self talk!Change actions!!!

How is CBC implemented then?

Group Coaching taking place over 4-5 sessions for selected students

Want to learn more? Want to be trained in CBC?

www.coaching4schools.comWebsite

[email protected]

http://www.coaching4schools.com/

mailto:[email protected]

Questions?

Thank You!

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