Mental Health in Coaching Practice Approaches to Navigate Intersecting Spaces

PART 1: UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT AND SETTING THE STAGE. Chapter 1: Setting the Stage. Chapter 2: Ethical Practice. Chapter 3: Reflective Practice and Coach Supervision. Chapter 4: Integrating the Client’s Immediate Context. PART 2: COACHING PRACTICE IN ACTION. Chapter 5: Scope of Practice. Chapter 6: Multi-Dimensional Approach to Client-Centered Coaching Practice. Chapter 7: Working with Mental Health Themes. Chapter 8: Lived Realities that Shape Mental Health. PART 3: SUSTAINING ETHICAL PRACTICE OVER TIME. Chapter 9: Working with Emergent and Evolving Contexts. Chapter 10: Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Biography

Anne Calleja, MSc, is a leadership coach, psychotherapist, and clinical supervisor integrating business systems thinking with psychotherapeutic depth. An accredited practitioner, she is UKCP-, BACP-, and BSCH-registered, an NLPt constructivist hypno-psychotherapist, and an accredited executive coach and master coach supervisor with AC and UCA.

Ursula Clidière, PhD, works at the intersection of leadership development, governance, and adult development. An accredited practitioner, she holds a doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and is an accredited executive coach and coach supervisor with AC and EMCC.

“The underpinning thesis of this book, on how to navigate the intersecting spaces of what we still too loosely call ‘mental health’, is one that has long been central to my thinking: that coaching has an important, still undervalued, role to play in this field.  As the authors show with elegance and intelligence, to continue asserting rigid boundaries between what we like to call mental illness and what we choose as normative, does a disservice to everyone - these areas intersect. Coaches have critical skills and gifts to offer to those in distress, indeed we do so all the time in our practice, often with less than optimal training and knowledge.
Here is a book that provides useful definitions and firm guidance, clear maps and models, exercises and explanation, with regular signposting to further exploration - all conveyed in a tone of collaborative reflection and enquiry.  Such an achievement must not be underestimated.  Ranging across a span of professional domains and epistemologies, the authors have grappled with this rich diversity and from complexity drawn together ideas, research and practice into a coherent and comprehensible whole. They have managed to systematize the ecosystemic, bringing forth implicit order from entanglement! The depth of their expertise and experience shines through as does the clarity of their mission to both challenge and equip the coaching profession to step up to the potential of a broader and deeper scope. This is a book that you will return to again and again”.

Hetty Einzig, Founder-Director, Spirit at Work; Co-Founder-Director, Purpose Power Presence

 

“When people suffer from mental health challenges, they inevitably have practical problems at work and in life. This book is a marvelous and sensitive exploration of how a coach can add to a person's path to a healthier and satisfying life by complementing the work of medical and psychiatric assistance without confusing the client or stretching their activities beyond ethically appropriate boundaries. It can help every coach notice mental health challenges and learn how to weave their way through helping their client”.

Richard Boyatzis, PhD, Distinguished University Professor, Case Western Reserve University

 

“In its wide-ranging exploration of how to navigate the potentially challenging territory of coaching versus therapy (including attendant AI considerations) Anne Calleja and Ursula Clidiere offer us more than just an invaluable guide. They also provide particularly helpful models which just about any practitioner will find useful: check out the Flounder–Flourish Matrix (FFM) and the Integrative Reflective Practice Model (IRM). These provide both the why and the how to help us respond appropriately when mental health issues arise.
At the heart of so much successful change work is resilience. That's why I particularly welcome the authors framing resilience as a function of flexibility, reappraisal, and self-regulation, rather than just toughness or endurance. And this goes to the spirit of the whole book: let our focus be on fostering both clients' and practitioners' ability to expand their choices, engage in adaptive meaning-making, and develop their capacity to self-regulate. This book can help us do so”.

Ian McDermott, Founder of International Teaching Seminars, UKCP-registered psychotherapist

 

"Mental Health in Coaching Practice is a powerful, clear, well written and structured, up-to-date, and illuminating guide on a crucial subject that has been long needed in the field.  At its heart is ethical practice, supporting us as practitioners to recognize when mental health concerns are present and then respond appropriately, with curiosity, clarity and care, developing our understanding of when coaching is suitable and when to step back and refer, encouraging us to notice, but not diagnose.   This indispensable and invaluable book is an essential read for all coaches and supervisors, one to be well-used and referenced on a daily basis. I have found the discussions, such as excellent ones on contracting and referrals, neurodiverse practice and on attachment theory, the practical exercises, the 'In a Nutshell' descriptions, the many case studies, the key learning points, along with two excellent, new models (the Flourish and Flounder Matrix and the Integrative Reflective Practice Model) very helpful already. An excellent addition to the literature".

Eve Turner, coach, supervisor, researcher, and author; former Chair of APECS; cofounder of The Global Supervisors’ Network, The Climate Coaching Alliance, and the Sustainability Coaching Coalition

 

"I’m very appreciative of this book which very thoroughly provides coaches and researchers of coaching with the wide range of tools and frameworks they may need to work in the contemporary coaching context.  I especially appreciate how the authors have extended to coaching the framework and research approach my co-author Michael Mascolo and I first presented in Psychotherapy as a Developmental Process (2010: Routledge). That framework is based on understanding psychotherapy as a practice for facilitating clients’ development and the authors of the current book explain that coaching can be understood in a similar way. Furthermore, coaches can offer similar resources as therapists do to the 3 differentiated “dialectics” in which development in psychotherapy occurs, and presumably the methodology for tracking the processes of development in psychotherapy can be applied to coaching cases as well. In this context, understanding the similarities, differences and relationship between psychotherapy and coaching is just one of the many tasks the authors’ of this new volume take on both thoroughly and successfully. I enthusiastically support their work".

Michael Basseches, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, USA

 

"A masterfully crafted book which must be an integral part to any coach’s practice, whether new to the field or a seasoned practitioner. The authors have responded to a pressing need by writing this book, with the topic of mental health ever growing. The book does not prescribe but offers itself as a trusted companion to the coach in how to work at the edge of their remit and within ethical scope. It helps the coach recognize when mental health concerns might be present and supports the coach with navigating psychological complexity by adopting guiding principles and upholding ethical practice".

Dr. Benita Mayhead, DBM Coaching and Development, EMCC global master practitioner

 

"Mental health has become a challenge for the 21st century. Mental Health in Coaching Practice is a timely guide which provides practical advice for professional coaches as we navigate the challenge our clients face, providing the support they seek within the ethical boundaries of professional practice. A great read and a useful resource.”

Prof Jonathan Passmore, Senior Vice-President EZRA, and Henley Business School, UK

 

"When concerned about how to act when aspects of our clients’ mental wellbeing arise, we could easily lose our way. Here we are guided with clear thoughtful and key ethical considerations. This timely and comprehensive guide supports coaches to work reflexively, ethically and with clarity in the borderlands between coaching and therapy. By following the guidance in each chapter, we learn to navigate our path through the complexities and nuances in this process. The authors’ voices have combined well to give us their multi-layered conceptual framework that is evidence-based and their considerable experience in this field to guide us in our task."

Fiona Adamson, M.Litt., author, award-winning supervisor, EMCC and APECS master supervisor

 

"This important new work bridges the gap between coaching and psychotherapy, offering models that provide a valuable framework for coaches who increasingly encounter clients with mental health challenges. It supports practitioners in navigating ethical boundaries and staying safely within their scope of practice.

By emphasizing the development of self-awareness and mental agility, the authors highlight skills that are essential for both coaches and supervisors. These capacities foster a deeper appreciation of safety, containment, and trust within the client-practitioner or supervisory relationship. Exploring these themes through a neuroscientific lens adds an enriching new dimension to the learning. The gentle, mindful use of poetry and metaphor draws the reader into the narrative, sparking curiosity and inviting unconscious insight. In doing so, it allows the book’s lessons to settle in a profound and beautifully resonant way".

Joanna Taylor, Joanna Taylor & Associates, wellbeing coach, accredited psychotherapist (NLPt), clinical hypnotherapist

 

"This is a serious attempt to help coaches recognize that clients will bring well-being and mental health issues into the coaching space. They make the point that we do need to differentiate coaching and therapy acknowledging that coaches are not trained clinicians. The defensive approach is to push back quickly referring the client elsewhere. The dangerous approach is to push on risking further traumatizing the client. They ask us as coaches to become traumatic-sensitive - not setting out to be therapists but taking the time to respect what the client brings.

This enables the coach to understand the clients story while being clear when matters fall outside of their expertise. Referral elsewhere then becomes the ethical approach to take. The authors are very strong in their contention that understanding ethics and working ethically is central to our practice. Hence, the book is not a primer on how to become a therapeutic coach but on how to make sure we are able to recognize issues in the way our clients are with us in the encounter. They clearly call upon us to be reflective and reflexive in our work but also centrally to become trauma informed so that we can identify when to intervene, when to refer and how to position ourselves clearly and ethically. As they say 'Define your beliefs, limits, and referral pathways to align with ethical and contextual realities’.

I certainly recommend this book to any coach wanting to better understand and work with our clients’ well-being".

David A Lane, Professional Development Foundation

 

"Whatever our coaching practice, we can be sure mental health challenges will show up.  Sometimes in obvious ways.  Other times in more subtle forms. As coaches, we may unknowingly collude with our clients’ distress if we are not mental health-aware.  This book provides fresh insights on an essential topic.  It emphasizes the importance of our own ongoing self-care as coaches.  Perhaps the central message is its reminder: “You are not required to diagnose or fix. You are required to notice, reflect, and respond ethically.”  In helping coaches do that, this is a valuable resource which I hope will be embraced widely.  In these complex times, it is much needed".

Paul Heardman, EMCC UK’s executive board director for supervision practice, award-winning (Coaching at Work 2023) coach and coaching supervisor

 

"While writing a book on just the topics of mental health and coaching would be difficult, Clidière and Calleja set their sights on an even higher goal—exploring both topics from an academic and a practitioner viewpoint. The result is a phenomenal gift to coaching practitioners. This book is overflowing with knowledge of mental health as it relates to coaching along with practical examples, including valuable elements of reflective practice".

Joel DiGirolamo, vice president of Research and Data Science, International Coaching Federation

 

"As coaching evolves from a narrow, goal-focused process to a relationship that works with the client’s internal and external systems, it is imperative that coaches have enough understanding of the human mind to recognize when and how to interface with other helping professions. Awareness of and basic expertise in neurodivergence, burnout and mental illness are now essential as part of a safe, client-centered practice. This book is an important contribution to raising the competence and reputation of coaching globally".

David Clutterbuck, visting professor, Henley Business School; special ambassador, European Coaching and Mentoring Council; practice lead, Coaching and Mentoring International

 

"This timely book is a real treasure, blending underpinning theory and research with real life experience and practice. It explains how Mental Health and Wellbeing co-exist, inviting the practitioner to develop their ethical foresight such that they navigate their client practice with curiosity and discernment. The authors recognize that we are not immune to the maelstrom of challenges clients often face, encouraging us to be a “living barometer” to help serve our clients more wholly.  Responding to the present-day challenges many of our clients face, deepening our ethical practice begins here. A must read for coaching and supervision practitioners".

Michelle Lucas, executive coach and coaching supervisor, Greenfields Consulting Limited

 

"This book offers a compassionate and steady guide for coaches working at the delicate intersections of coaching and mental health, including experiences of grief and loss. The use of rich client vignettes brings the work to life, while the authors’ new models provide clear, grounded ways to navigate complex situations with confidence. Their thoughtful, ethical approach supports coaches to stay present, humane and safe. A warm, trustworthy companion for reflective coaching practice and a must-have on every coach’s bookshelf".

Julia Menaul, Spark Coaching & Supervision, accredited master executive coach and qualified coaching supervisor; supervisor of coaches and supervisors

"As mental health themes are increasingly brought into the 'coaching space', this book provides an important and welcome step forward in supporting mental health-aware practitioners to navigate client complexity with compassion, integrity and professional responsibility.  The combination of theoretical insight, ethical exploration, and relevant research is complemented by practical 'hands on' guidance and reflective prompts and helps coaches understand what to do when the work reaches the edge of therapeutic territory".

Lucy Myers, psychotherapist, executive coach, and integrative therapeutic coach

 

"In this brilliant book, Anne and Ursula provide both the theory and the practice of why and how coaches can safely, caringly and ethically navigate working with clients where there may be mental health considerations. The authors’ use of evidence, metaphor, examples, checklists, advice and summaries makes the book useful for all readers, ranging from those who want to read everything word for word to those who prefer summaries and to dip in and out of sections. I would sum this book up as ‘a toolkit to help coaches work safely, ethically and effectively’.

I have worked with Anne and Ursula, experienced first-hand their wisdom, expertise and commitment to the coaching profession; I feel honored to have been asked to write this endorsement.”

Jeremy Lazarus, MA, FCCA, FCT, author, accredited master executive coach, and NLP master trainer

 

"This book offers a timely and much-needed contribution to the coaching profession at a point where mental health is no longer peripheral, but present in everyday practice. With clarity, care, and ethical rigor, it supports coaches to navigate complexity without over-reaching their scope. Its emphasis on reflective practice, supervision, and ongoing professional development strongly aligns with the standards championed by the Universal Coaching Alliance (UCA) and the wider professional community. Rather than offering simplistic answers, it invites discernment, maturity, and responsibility, strengthening both practitioner competence and the integrity of the profession".

Jeannette Marshall, founder and CEO, Universal Coaching Alliance

 

"Across cultures and time, mental health has been a subject of both discussion and avoidance, of support and stigma. Now we live in an information world, with more knowledge, misinformation, social media and global cultural connectivity. This both helps and hinders mental health, with measured drops in mental health in some populations over the last decade, despite best professional efforts. This knowledge, complexity and challenge is the new milieu within which modern executive, sport, life and organization coaches work. Anne and Ursula brilliantly and ethically build upon previous wisdom. They lay out the scope, responsibilities and opportunities for coaches to link their work with the inevitability of brushing with the mental health interface of their clients and their client systems.

This book will draw all coaching forwards. Thank you both for your considered, vital and timely contribution to our profession.”

Colin Wilson, The Business Athlete®, senior consultant, Business Athlete Ltd, executive team coach, coach supervisor

 

"This book fills a significant gap in the current coaching literature for both coaches and coach supervisors. The authors bring considerable lived experience alongside deep training in adult learning, coaching, and therapy. The book educates while offering guided support, enabling practitioners to work ethically and effectively with clients as they navigate mental health and wellbeing. It is an important and timely addition to the resources available".

Carol Whitaker, Whitaker Consulting, accredited coach, supervisor (AC, EMCC), and author