OT Coaches

This is part two of our two-part series on understanding low cost options to learn coaching skills. In this episode, we unpack a few courses & training programs that can get you started on your OT Coaching career without breaking the bank! Option #1 Udemy.com. Disclaimer: I do not "endorse" Udemy as a high-quality training or even a legitimate "accredited" training, however: it meets basic criteria for being a very low cost and low time commitment training. If you are simply interested in watching some videos to understand basic life coaching concepts, the udemy trainings will get the job done! Click here for the Udemy course I mention in the podcast: https://www.udemy.com/course/professional-life-coach-certification/ Option #2 Coaching Skills for Occupational Therapists (Jen Gash's training). This is a six module program taught by an OT for OT's (with a "free preview" option). Jen does a great job discussing the basic fundamentals of coaching and how it applies to OT.  The only downside to this program is that it is currently not certified for AOTA Continuing Educaton Units or ICF Continuing Coach Education Click here for Jen's Course: https://growing-potential.thinkific.com/courses/coaching-skills-for-occupational-therapists?ref=13b353 Option #3 Function First Coaching: Dive Into a Coach Approach 1.0 (Helene Theriault's training) This is an excellent introduction to coaching in the context of occupational therapy. The best news is: It is accredited by AOTA and the ICF for CCE, so all of your hours in the training count toward ICF Certification! There are three levels of training in this hybrid training program, which is partly done on-line and partly done live (online or in-person). The first and prerequisite course is Level I (12 hours); Level II (10 hours) and Level III (10 hours) Click here for Helene's course: https://www.functionfirstcoaching.com/events/category/occupational-therapist/ Option #4 iPEC Life & Leadership Potentials Training (Module I) This is the first weekend module of a nine-month long ICF-accredited coach training program. It is an intensive 3-day (30 hour) program that teaches all of the basic coaching skills. While you will not be certified, by the end of three days you will feel confident to start taking paying clients. This course allows you to "bring a friend for free" which reduces your tuition by half. Click here for iPEC's program (shameless plug: if you register, please mention Jill Garaffa as the person that referred you! thank you): https://www.ipeccoaching.com/life-leadership-potentials-training# Option #5 Thomas Jefferson University "Coaching in Context" workshops & lectures (Dr. Marie-Christine Potvin, Dr. MJ Mulcahey and Dr. Nicole Gerhardt) This website provides several free lectures on coaching in the context of OT and also provides low-cost workshops to introduce OT's to the coaching approach in the context of patient care and school based practice.  Click here for Thomas Jefferson's Coaching in Context lectures & courses: https://www.jefferson.edu/academics/colleges-schools-institutes/rehabilitation-sciences/departments/outcomes-measurement/education/coaching-in-context/other-coaching-learning-opportunities.html

This is part one of a two part series where we will discuss some low cost ways to begin learning coaching skills. I do not recommend that anyone launch into a coaching certification training as a first step. While I highly recommend coach training & certification, it is a costly & time consuming process. Starting with books and shorter workshops & courses is a great way to get started.  In this episode, we will breakdown my top three book recommendations that are great places to start as an OT that's interested in learning coaching skills.  The books are as follows (all are available on Amazon and, as of this recording, each book is under $30): Enabling Positive Change: Coaching Conversations in Occupational Therapy by Wendy Pentland, Jen Gash, Jeanette Isaacs-Young and Amy Heinz     This book was written by OT's for OT's. It is a compilation of 15 ICF-accredited coach-trained OT's in 5 continents around the world discussing what coaching      is; what it looks like and what it can do for our profession. Co-Active Coaching: New Skills for Coaching People Toward Success in Work & Life by Laura Whitworth, Henry Kinsey-House and Phil Sardahl.     This is the "coaching bible"--it is the book that launched the profession of coaching. Originally published in 1998, it is now in its 4th version with a slighly     different title, "Co-Active Coaching: The Proven Framework for Transformative Conversations at Work and in Life" Coach the Person, Not the Problem: A Guide to Using Reflective Inquiry by Marcia Reynolds     This book captures the true essence of coaching---going beyond the basics of open ended questions and into a deeper inquiry of powerful questions. It also teaches the coach the art of how to respond--identifying the client's desired outcome, reflecting back what's getting in their way and holding space so the client feels understood & safe. This book teaches coaches to be catalysts for change and is all about how to recharge the human spirit.     

When you are finally ready to get formal training & certification in coaching, the options can seem endless and overwhelming. In this episode I will break down my top 3 recommendations for certifications that are great options for OT's. ICF credential; BCC credential & the NBC-HWC credential. The first place to start is the ICF (this is the global standard for coaching). If you are interested in pursuing the other two credentials, check & be sure that the school you want is also accredited by the ICF (this will save you time, energy & money down the road). Not all BCC or NBC-HWC are also accredited by the ICF, so do your research. Here is a quick breakdown of all the acronyms you will hear in today's episode along with the websites.   First, the ICF Credential: This is the link to learn more about the ICF:  https://coachingfederation.org/ This is the link to begin looking for an ICF-credentialed school: https://apps.coachingfederation.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=ESS  Once you are on the site, there are 3 different types of acronyms you will notice Level 1=ACSTH "Accredited Coach Specific Training Hours" programs *least amount of hours required (60 hours) *starts the pathway for ACC credential (Accredited Certified Coach)  Level 2 & Level 3=ACTP "Accredited Coach Training Program" *most comprehensive program (125+ hours to 200+ hours) *starts pathways toward PCC (Professional Certified Coach) or MCC (Master Certified Coach) credential Continuing Coaching Education (CCE) =continuing coach education BCC= Board Certified Coach: https://www.cce-global.org/bcc NBC-HWC=National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach https://nbhwc.org/

In this episode we will answer the question as to when you do and when you do not need to be certified as a coach.  Technically speaking no one ever "needs" to be certified as a coach---anyone, in theory at least, can hang a shingle and call themselves a 'life coach'. However--the rules are a little different if you also hold a clinical license, which we do as OT's.  Many factors depend on how you plan to use coaching---If you will practice only inside the domain of the medical model or educational model, inside the framework of traditional occupational therapy? OR if you are branching out of the medical model, working in a community or work setting or if you want to cross state or global lines.  Listen & learn to get my perspective on this hot topic!

In today's episode we will be talking about the similarities and differences of coaching & mentoring. The two terms tend to be used interchangeably and do have a lot overlaps. However, there are distinct differences that can provide both opportunities as well as limitations with each type of OT Coaching. 

Coaching & consulting are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two different things. In this episode we review the coaching model--which starts from a place of function and takes people to optimal. Then we discuss the medical model in the context of OT, where we start with dysfunction----when there IS something wrong and our OT skills can make a difference.  When is it therapy and when is it consulting? We talk about the difference between hands-on, direct OT and using your OT skills in the capacity as an "OT Consultant". 

In this episode we discuss the key distinctions of how to know when you are doing OT and when you are doing coaching.  Many therapists want to offer coaching as a side hustle to their traditional therapy practices. Knowing the difference between the two types of services is critical for any licensed professional.  A few key points: 1. You CAN incorporate coaching skills into a therapy session 2. You CAN NOT incorporate therapy skills into a coaching session Listen in for some specific distinctions and real life examples of occupational therapy & coaching.  If you are interested learning more about coaching, please visit http://www.seedsofchangecoaching.com or join the OT Coaches Facebook group. 

In this episode we discuss the main distinctions between the medical model (traditional occupational therapy) and the coaching model. 

The term "Coaching" can be used in many different ways with different populations. In this episode we will distinguish the difference between therapy, coaching & consulting.

In this episode, you will hear my story--from the beginning as a new graduate OT in 1991 to today, 2022, being a full time OT Coach for corporations and other OT Professionals.