I trained as a therapist and then went on to train in coaching. Coaching Psychology is still evolving it includes N.L.P. and coaching models such as T.G.R.O.W. & S.M.A.R.T. goals. These are the fundamentals.
Positive psychology is now being applied with the coach asking the client how 'signiture strenghts' can be used to overcome certain challanges.
Psychometric testing have become part of the coaching process. Psychometric testing can show you or your employer what your personality type is, what your strenghts are, what your values are, how you manage stress and interact with other people.
When a client knows this information they become more aware of themselves this awareness increases emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is your ability to understand yourself and others. This is a major life skill.
Part of my personal development was to do all the psychometric tests on myself. The results felt wrong at first - they just did not make sense to me because the picture that I had of myself was different from the psychometric tests.
As I processed this new information there were shifts in identity and improvements in confidence.
My results were that I am a E.S.T.J. / INNOVATOR/HIGH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE my top value HEALTH.
I could not understand why the word innovator came up. But what has happened over the last year is that I have set about creating an innovative health project using modern technology. It's very real my friends colleagues and local community know that I am working on a big project.
What I have discovered is that systems are in place using technology to support innovation so I am just about to take this test to see what the results are so that I can use them to inform future actions
http://www.nic.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
If you hire a coach you need to check that they are not bluffing. Have they got insurance!!!! The reason why this is important is that you can encounter people who seem intelligent and mentally stable yet they are acting out some psychological fantasy. Some people call themselves coaches yet they have never spent a dollar for the training course, examination, insurance yet charge you a fee.