What is coaching supervision?


Coaching Supervision, Generally.

Professional coaching as we know it today is only a few decades old. There are many things in the coaching profession that we “borrow” from other fields, and the practice of supervision is one of them.

Supervision in the coaching profession comes from the practice of supervision in the other helping professions, such as social work, counseling, therapy, and so on. The practice of supervision in those helping professions dates back over 120 years. How supervision has been defined in the intervening decades has changed as the helping professions have also evolved.

Today’s most comprehensive definition of coaching supervision was created by Peter Hawkins and Robin Shohet(1), two of today’s living giants in supervision:

Coaching Supervision According to the Coaching Bodies.

The three biggest coaching bodies also have ideas about how to define coaching supervision, and they are as follows:

  1. The ICF defines coaching supervision as: Coaching Supervision is a collaborative learning practice to continually build the capacity of the coach through reflective dialogue for the benefit of both coaches and clients. Find out more of what the ICF says here.(2)

  2. The EMCC defines coaching supervision as: A safe space for reflective dialogue with a practicing supervisor, supporting the supervisee’s practice, development and well-being. Find out more of what the EMCC says here.(3)

  3. The AOC defines shares several definitions for coaching supervision, which can be found here.(4)

If you are looking for even simpler definitions, here are a few that I sometimes use to describe coaching supervision:

  • Helping the coach to see differently.

  • Supporting the coach to be more present with their clients

  • Reducing the coach’s fear in their work.

  • Reflecting on the work so the coach can do it better.

What Supervision is Not.

Oftentimes, it is just as helpful to state what something is not to help define what it is. Coaching supervision is not coaching the coach, ICF mentor coaching, or therapy/counseling. When I am in the supervisor role, I may offer perspectives that fall into teaching or mentoring; these are welcome parts of supervision (which differs from coaching as some coaching bodies define coaching).

I am not licensed as a professional therapist, psychologist, counselor, or social worker. Just as important, I am not acting as a lawyer when I am in the role of supervisor. While I am a licensed attorney-at-law (Ohio, U.S.A.) and a non-practicing solicitor (England and Wales), a supervision relationship with me does not result in an attorney-client relationship nor does it lead to any kind of attorney-client privilege. 

Confidentiality.

As in coaching, an essential aspect of supervision is the close and confidential relationship between the supervisor and the coach being supervised. As a professional coach and supervisor, I follow the confidentiality standards set forth in the Code of Ethics of the International Coaching Federation (“ICF”). (The Code of Ethics of the ICF can be found here.)

Supervision as a Profession.

Unlike certain regulated professions like law or accounting, coaching supervision - like coaching - is not nearly as highly regulated. Some people claim to be supervisors but do not have the professional training to back the claim. Before hiring a supervisor, ask to see proof of their training / qualifications. For information about my background, please click here.


Bibliography

(1) Hawkins, P. and McMahon, A. (2020) Supervision in the Helping Professions, London: Open University Press, 66.

(2) ICF website: https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/coaching-supervision

(3) EMCC website: https://www.emccglobal.org/leadership-development/supervision/

(4) AOC website: https://www.associationforcoaching.com