Coaching Creativity
Transforming your practice

Creativity and coaching are two of the buzzwords of the twenty-first century and yet little is known about how to coach creativity. In business, education, health and many other fields there is an increasing acknowledgement of the importance of innovation and recognition of what is lost when creativity is lacking.

In Coaching Creativity, Jen Gash explores the history, science and practice of "creativity" by artists, makers and creators, translating this into practical advice for coaches. The book investigates the concept of creativity and examines the theories surrounding it from psychological, neurological and biological perspectives. It then takes a more practical look at the "doing" of creativity and explores the use of creativity in therapeutic settings. A model of coaching creativity is presented which acknowledges its diverse and individual nature. The book also includes are tools, case studies and ideas for coaching creativity including contributions from a wide range of coaches.

Coaching Creativity will be inspiring reading for coaches of all backgrounds, including business and organisational coaches, those in training, and others in the helping professions looking to enhance their practice. It is essential reading for all coaches who aim to support clients? creative goals and use creativity in their own practice. It fills important gaps in current coach education and practice.

Part 1 – This Crazy Thing Called Creativity1: Buzzwords and Sexy Shortcuts 2: Time and Place: How we got to here 3: A Smidgen of History Part 2 – Creative Human4: Creativity and the Psyche 5: Creativity, Neurology and the Physical body 6: Creativity and Human ‘doing’? Part 3 – Creativity as a Means and Also as an Ends 7: Creative Therapy 8: This Crazy Thing Called Coaching 9: Coaching as ‘Creative’ Process 10: Creative ‘doing’ as Part of Coaching 11: Coaching as Activating, Integrating and Supporting Creativity 12: Proposing a Model for Coaching Creativity Part 4 – Coaching Creativity13: The Vessel Wall – Containing the Process 14: Enabling Expansion – Stretching and Filling the Space 15: Enabling Contraction and Integration 16: The Point of Creative Action 17: Reducing ‘blocks’ and Restrictions Part 5 – An Invitation to Coach in a Different Way18: Writing: Journaling, Poetry and Story 19: Visual Processes 20: Humour and Provocation 21: Evocative Environments, Evocative Objects 22: Imagining, Being and Becoming 23: The ‘we’ of Creativity

Jen Gash is a coach, entrepreneur and occupational therapist in private practice. Her personal experience as an artist and writer led her to explore the creative process and prompted her research into the complex world of creativity. Jen’s inspiring career has seen her work across the public and private sectors. She is based in South Gloucestershire, UK and works internationally across a variety of multi-media platforms.