WHAT IS A COACH? 

Coaching stands for "help for self-help". A coach uses selected methods, techniques and questions to help clients to

• see their situation with different eyes,

• sort their thoughts,

• gain clarity about their own needs and goals and

• develop new perspectives. 

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The coaching concerns of clients can be of professional or personal nature (more on typical coaching topics under "What is coaching?").

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However, a coach does not provide the answers to questions arising in a coaching session. The role of a coach is to design the process while the client remains an expert on her / his own topic. Throughout the coaching process, they work together to come up with solutions that exactly fit the individual concern and need. 

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Coaching is a temporary process support in vocational and private phases of change in which the coach helps his clients to gain new insights and to develop individual action alternatives. Thus, a good coach accompanies his clients as a reflection and sparring partner, resource (re)activator, development or clarification helper, motivator, feedback provider and an attentive listener.

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(Click here to learn about coaching and the distinction between coaching and psychotherapy, counseling, training and mentorship.)

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"Coach" is an unprotected job title - pay attention to certification

 

In theory, anybody can call themselves a "coach," but they can practice quite differently to what you find described above. A professionally trained coach, however, has learned his "craft" through an intensive longer-term training at a training center certified by a coaching association - and can account for it by a certification. As a customer, set a high value on the latter - it's about you!

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In order to convey a comprehensible picture of professional coaching and to ensure a uniform quality standard for it, the most important coaching associations have organized themselves in the "Roundtable of Coaching Associations" (RTC).

 

Voting associations in the RTC are:

• Professional Association Dt. Psychologists (BDP),

• German Federal Association Coaching e.V. (DBVC),

• Professional Association for Trainers, Consultants and Coaches e.V. (BDVT),

• German Coaching Association e.V. (DCV),

• German Association for Coaching e.V. (DGfC),

• German Society for Systemic Therapy, Counseling and Family Therapy (DGSF)

• German Society for Supervision e.V. (DGSv),

• German Association for Coaching and Training e.V. (dvct),

• European Association for Supervision and Coaching e.V. (EASC),

• European Mentoring & Coaching Council Germany e.V. (EMCC),

• International Coach Federation Germany e.V. (ICF),

• Quality Ring Coaching and Consulting e.V. (QRC),

• Systemic society e. V. (SG).

Source: www.coachfederation.de/professionalisierung/roundtable-der-coachingverbaende.html