Coaching Practiced

9 The impact of depression on the coaching process: How to recognise the signs and what to do next

Kasia Szymanska

Abstract

This paper addresses how to manage clients with depression in the coaching relationship. The symptoms of depression are discussed, as are the strategies used to work with clients and if required the subsequent referral process for psychotherapy.

Keywords

Depression; symptoms; self-help; guidelines; cognitive behaviour therapy.

Original publication details: Szymanska, K. (2006, December). The impact of depression on the coaching process: How to recognise the signs and what to do next. The Coaching Psychologist, 2(3), 29–31. Reproduced with permission of The British Psychological Society.

Depression is a growing problem in the UK. Given this information, it is likely that the majority of coaching psychologists reading this article will have worked or will go on to work with clients who have been depressed or are currently suffering from depression. Indeed some may have experienced it themselves.

Depression can be viewed on a continuum, with low mood at one end of the continuum and major clinical depression at the other. While clients with major depression may not necessarily seek coaching, it is possible that a client may develop symptoms of depression whilst receiving coaching or that clients’ currently being coached are already mildly to moderately depressed but adept at hiding their symptoms. Therefore, from a professional perspective, coaching psychologists ...