Syllabus

First year

First Unit: Purpose in the Learning Journey

The first unit will focus on the study of formation of the goals and the vision in a coaching process.

1. 1. ECPAModule7111. Introduction: What is coaching and coaching psychology. History, present and future perspectives. This module describes the history, the fundamental theories and techniques of coaching and coaching psychology. It will also include the course structure and mutual expectations between the students and the program academic faculty.
2. 2. ECPAModule7112. The Fundamental purpose of coaching: The establishment of individual and group life vision.
   1. The different types of visions, goals, and assignments
   2. Hoe to identify and empower needs, values ​​and strengths to create a personal vision
   3. The vision on time axis: learning the creative/existential attitude towards life in the present, past and future time
   4. The vision as the realization of authentic needs strengths and values
   5. The vision as the fulfillment of creativity, freedom, meaningfulness and love
   6. The students are required to perform an experiential learning that requires evaluating topics in relation to their own personal life and careers

Second Unit: Perspectives in the Learning Journey

The second unit is dedicated to the study of effective perspectives in the different stages of the coaching process.

1. ECPAModule7113. The Preparation Phase: The initial assessment of the coachee and the formation of a secure place as a basis to the coaching process. The student will practice:
   1. Coachee’s anamneses, needs, capacities, and values
   2. Basics in the formation of a secure place as a basis to rapport and the coaching process development
   3. Coach/Coachee and client/therapist relationships as a basis to coaching and psychotherapy
2. ECPAModule7114. The recognition Phase: Identifying the need for change through the narration of the coachee’s life story. The students will learn to apply the narrative approach to generate change in their leading paradigms, their behaviors, and their life visions.
3. Module PDF 4012. The learning journey towards being a coach: This module covers theory, practice, and supervision. The student has to demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge and to show initial assimilation of the knowledge. He has to show ability in the initial implementation of his acquired coaching psychology knowledge and in coaching another person. The student is assessed through a learning journey document and the practical assessments of coaching competence.
4. ECPAModule7115. Applied positive and applied humanistic/existential psychology as a basis for Coaching Psychology: This module is composed of the application of positive psychology to coaching in work and personal life contexts. We shall study the basics of positive psychology, happiness studies and humanistic/existential principles and its application into coaching psychology. There is an emphasis on both theoretical materials and personal practice. In this module the students also evaluate their personal life experiences in relation to the theoretical materials.
5. ECPAModule7117. Psychotherapy and coaching – Differences and common aspects. This module compares the purpose and perspectives in coaching and in psychotherapy and their implications in coaching psychology. Theories and techniques will be evaluated by reference to empirical research and conceptual analysis. The application of various types of psychotherapy and coaching will be studied. Integrative approach to coaching psychology will be described from its origins in Humanistic Psychology, Sports Coaching, Management Consulting, Clinical and Counseling Psychology, and Existential theory.
6. Module PDF 4820. The work based project: This module is the application of the student’s coaching in a specific context. The students follow a manual and they have to build a model of practice which can be an elaboration of one theoretical model, a combination of theoretical models or a new model of their own devising. The students have to show the Purpose of the model, the Perspectives they use, and the Process of working with clients.
7. ECPAModule7118. The pre-decision phase – Finding inner resources of the coachee and building motivation for change: In this module the focus is in the particular interaction coach/coachee to enhance motivation and to generate change. The students will learn how to interact effectively in enhancing motivation for change. Emphasis is given to a goal oriented interactive approach aimed at increasing internal motivation for change by the investigation and resolution of ambivalence. Emphasis is also put on Eriksonian indirect induction which is the  language directed to the coachee’s subconscious mind, bypassing his resistances and anxiety from change.
8. ECPAModule7119. The Decision Phase: Moving from “being” mode into a strategic plan for “doing”. Dealing and defeating success blockers and resistances from change. Bringing the work process into practical and effective decisions. The use of cognitive and experiential psychotherapy techniques to generate decisions. Proactive strategies: CBC, SFC, NLP, SMART, GROW, OSKAR, GOFER etc. Studying existential decision as a meeting  place between the self, the environment,  and the goal/vision of the coachee.
9. PDF Module 4005. Workshops: This module is the implementation of the studying materials into the students` case study. The students describe their coaching case study in a small group setting, feedback and supervision.
10. ECPAModule7120. Legal and Ethical issues in coaching

Second year

Third Unit: Working with the Process

The third unit puts emphasis on teaching the students how to employ the interactive process between the coach and the coachee.

1. ECPAModule7121. The Action Phase: Reinforcing change. Identification of the existing and desired value systems. Identification and reinforcement of personal strengths and using strength to enhance action. Pacing and Leading the process of change. Fine-tuning to the established goals and life vision using Gestalt and Experiential Here and Now Techniques.
2. Module PDF 4016. The advanced study in coaching or Coaching Psychology. Progress in research methodology. Advanced Work with the supervisor on the research. Access to small group forum of small groups.
3. ECPAModule7122. Further studies of applied positive and applied humanistic/existential psychology as a basis for Coaching Psychology: This module will focus on the application of positive psychology to coaching in work and personal life contexts. Students will study more thoroughly positive psychology, happiness studies and humanistic/existential principles and its implementation into coaching psychology. The students will evaluate the theory in relation to their own personal life experience and in their career.
4. ECPAModule7124. Psychotherapy and coaching (2): Advanced studies in the implementation of coaching and psychotherapy techniques. This module compares the purpose and perspectives in coaching and in different forms of psychotherapy and their implications in coaching psychology. Theories and techniques will be evaluated by reference to empirical research and conceptual analysis. The application of various types of psychotherapy and coaching will be studied.
5. Module PDF 4825. Progress in developing a research proposal supervised by the faculty member and in a small group forum.
6. ECPAModule 7125. Further explorations of the vision into the student personal life: A visit to the world of personal vision and self actualization of the coachee. Exploration of the fantasmic dimension in the coachee’s life, Identification and elaboration of his vision.
7. PDF 4860. Work based project: This module aimed at the implementation of the research project into the work place and everyday life.

Forth Unit: Coaching as a Complex Adaptive System – Studying the meta-process.

The forth unit will provide the students with an overall look of the coaching progression, aiming to create an integration of the whole process, its perspective and its goal in the coachee’s life.

1. ECPAModule7126. The Integration Phase: This module deals with the meta-process of change as a complex adaptive system. This module of study considers both the theory and practice of working in human systems be it the family, social networks, or the human mind. At the theoretical level, students will consider theoretical advances which aid our understanding of groups and complex human systems. These will include systems theory, complexity theory, and group dynamics. Students will also consider some practical implications of these theories in organizations such as leadership, emotional intelligence etc.
2. ECPAModule 7127. Summary and principles to effective coaching psychology thinking.
3. ECPAModule7128. Ecology and follow up: This module focuses on the coach examination of the stability of positive change and its repercussion on the coachee’s life. The students will explore the possible positive or negative changes in the ecology of the coachee’s life especially within his personal life, his  family and the workplace. The students will further learn to apply effective integrative techniques to maintain the positive change and to monitor negative consequences of the coaching process.