Overview

This book takes the complicated subject of contracting and explores it in depth, providing coaches and readers with insights into the psychology of containment and how to contract in a way that enables trust and accelerated growth, introducing a newly developed practitioner model named the 8Ps Platform. Structured around the 8P Platform (Purpose, People, Professional, Philosophy, Process, Practicalities, Psychological, and Personal), the book breaks down the complexities of contracting while retaining the depth practitioners need across diverse settings. Each aspect of the model is illustrated through case studies and practitioner quotes, with additional guidance from the PROP scaffolding (Position, Reinforce, Outline, Personalise) that makes challenging conversations more accessible. Drawing on academic research and real-world practice, the author shows how effective contracting prevents ethical pitfalls, manages expectations, and creates the conditions for meaningful development work. Offering an in-depth exploration of contracting for containment, this book is an essential reference for coaches, mentors, supervisors, and professionals in organisation and leadership development.

Full Product Details

9781032943503

Table of Contents

Reviews

‘This is the book I was waiting for. It makes an important contribution to coaching and consulting practice by elegantly and creatively linking the two key concepts of Contracting and Containment together. The book skilfully weaves and develops theory and practice into an in-depth understanding of the complexity of relational, organisational and systemic development practice for coaches and consultants. This is an unusual book in that it is both serious and yet engaging and accessible. I have already identified those sections which I will share with my students.’ Janet Heath, MSc and PG Certificate Programme Director, Career Coaching and Coaching Psychology, Birkbeck College. Career coach, consultant, counsellor (MBACP), supervisor, NICEC fellow, and senior fellow, advance higher education ‘This book is an essential contribution to the field of coaching and coaching psychology. It positions contracting not as a dry formality, but as absolutely fundamental to creating a powerful, ethical, and transformative coaching experience. It is thoughtful, deeply practical, and offers immense value to anyone working in the coaching profession. This book elevates the conversation around what good contracting looks like, why it matters, and how to do it well.’ Helen Neary, Chartered Coaching Psychologist, module leader and supervisor on the Masters in Coaching Psychology, University of Chichester ‘My first impressions of reading this book are that it is written by someone who has done the work herself – a trustworthy container! – and who is deeply familiar with coaching, team development, one-on-one spaces . . . and who isn't interested in prescribing the 'right' way but invested in helping people be intentional, self-aware, ethical, and continually open to growing.’ Dr Jessica Brown, author of And Say and The River Boy ‘A thoughtful and practical guide for coaches and consultants. The blend of robust theory, real-world examples, and clear ‘implications for practice’ is outstanding. Particularly stand out for me was the definition of contracting which is elegant in its clarity, and the insights on containment in groups are both psychologically astute and highly applicable.’ Professor Rebecca Jones, Henley Business School ‘Anna takes the important step to offer her wisdom, insight and experience to enable coaches to more fully appreciate the critical impact of managing boundaries in coaching via contracting and containment. In this book, she gives examples of what otherwise might be difficult to understand concepts which bring alive what coaches can do to build professionalism and psychological safety for their clients.’ Rob Nathan, Chartered Psychologist, Founder & CEO of Career Counselling Services (CCS), author of The Holistic Career Coaching Handbook ‘Reading this book feels like having a conversation with Anna herself. Her wonderfully authentic voice has a unique way of distilling a strong theoretical base into practical, real-world tools. A truly useful and inspiring guide that I'll be recommending to every coach and supervisor I know.’ Neel Arya, Coach Supervisor and Executive Coach, MA (Hons), EMCC ESIA, SP, ITCA, CSA, FCCA ‘Contracting is a sadly neglected area of coaching practice. It is too often ignored or done badly, contributing to ethical issues and problems later in the coach-client relationship. Anna Springett’s new book, ‘The Psychology and Practice of Contracting for Coaches, Consultants and their Clients’, provides a fabulous resource for both new coaches and old hands, to ensure such contracting issues are a thing of the past. Through a combination of practice, case studies and models, the book highlights both the importance of contracting and sets best practice with every page, making this an essential read.’ Professor Jonathan Passmore, Professor of Coaching, Henley Business School and senior vice president EZRA Coaching, LHH ‘Having seen coaching grow and shift across different cultures and decades, I've learned that a strong coaching relationship starts with one thing: contracting. It’s the foundational topic that all coaches need to master. Anna’s book, The Psychology and Practice of Contracting for Coaches, Consultants and their Clients, is truly unique in its comprehensive and practical exploration of this subject. With its diverse theories and clear frameworks, this book is a much-needed read for coaches in our complex world. I highly recommend it to both new and experienced practitioners.’ Shruti Sonthalia, Master Certified Coach, Founder and Managing Partner, RuhCo ‘Whether you are a master coach or novice, an internal or external professional, or a coach supervisor, this is a definitive guide for creating and crafting the container and contract for your work. It takes the reader from the pragmatic nuts and bolts of the written agreement, to the nuanced multi-layers of relational agreements that need attention throughout an engagement.’ Kathleen Marron, JD, MCC, coach, supervisor, attorney and author of Fearless Feedback: A Guide for Coaching Leaders to See Themselves More Clearly and Galvanize Growth

Author Information

Anna Erika Springett is a BPS Chartered Psychologist and HCPC Registered Occupational Psychologist specialising in coaching and leadership development. She has 20+ years of global experience across all sectors and is an EMCC Master Practitioner Coach and qualified professional supervisor. Her diverse career includes roles as a consultant psychologist, business owner, and in-house practitioner, throughout which she developed her expertise in the psychological aspects of professional contracting.

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