positive psychology coaching at iappc

In 2002, the Founder of the Coaching Profession, Thomas Leonard, stated categorically that coaching had only reached about 2% of its full potential.

In 2007, the Father of Positive Psychology, Martin Seligman, wrote that life coaching was a practice that lacked a theoretical foundation and that positive psychology could provide it with one.

In 2013, former Harvard professor, Tal Ben-Shahar, whose course on positive psychology was one of the university's most popular, commented in a live seminar that personal development movements tended to die out if they lacked a research basis.

In 2016, positive psychology coaches, David McQuarrie and Julia Stewart, started the Association of Positive Psychology Coaches, which was later incorporated as the International Association of Positive Psychology Coaches. With over 1000 enthusiastic members, we are launching the credentialing process for the Certified Positive Psychology Coach® based on what we've learned as practicing coaches, as well as from researchers in the fields of positive psychology, neuroscience, coaching psychology, emotional intelligence, and more.

In 2022, we estimate that coaching has reached about 60% of its full potential as a field that helps people grow and create lasting change. We plan to increase that.

Positive psychology is an umbrella term for applied science based on peer-reviewed research into what may help people enjoy greater well-being, success, growth, and resilience. 

Coaching is a customized conversation between a coach and one or more clients that empowers the clients to grow and achieve their goals.

So positive psychology coaching utilizes research-based interventions to help clients grow their resilience and well-being and succeed at achieving their goals. 

Since its inception in the early 1990's, the success of professional coaching has been largely due to coaches' creativity, intuition, and empathy. A research basis didn’t exist and some aspects of coaching were more successful than others. Today, we can verify the aspects of coaching that are most valid through research that now exists.

At IAPPC, we are keeping what has always worked well in coaching, while growing the profession as more research becomes available, so we can continue to meet the needs of people in our evolving culture. 

We believe in a growth mindset. Our coaching skills and certification will continue to evolve.

Read on for the current IAPPC Positive Psychology Coaching Skills we use in our Certified Positive Psychology Coach® credentialing.