Introduction to

Occupational Performance Coaching

Foundation Concepts and Methods

ONLINE (over 4 x 3 hour sessions)

Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) is a form of coaching designed for use with people learning to live well in the face of health or disability circumstances. OPC is a goal-oriented approach that uses relational methods, envisaging and collaborative performance analysis to guide people towards insight and change. Designed by occupational therapists, OPC is grounded in principles of person-centred care, autonomy supportive communication and adult learning. A growing body of evidence supports the use of OPC to enable people to participate in the life roles and situations that they value, and to enhance self-efficacy. In particular, OPC appears to build clients’ capacity to self-manage their disability-related needs without regular therapist intervention.

OPC is applicable to people with a range of health and disability conditions but is most suited to those living with ongoing health or disability situations.  OPC is applicable to people with cognitive impairment, with adapted communication strategies. To date positive outcomes with people across the lifespan have been reported. Parents are usually involved or the recipient of coaching with children under the age of 12 years.

Key Features of OPC:

• Person-Centered: Tailored to individual needs and aspirations through intentionally developed high trust partnerships.
• Goal-Oriented: Involves clients (individuals, caregivers, parents) in goal-setting towards highly valued and meaningful areas of daily participation.
• Enablement-Focused: Amplify client expertise and agency.  Enhances client competence and confidence to analysis the situation and consider possible solutions to barriers to participation.

OPC can be applied by health professionals from a wide range of professions. This an interactive course that will enable participants to practice and develop their coaching skills.

Aims/objectives of the workshop include:

• Experience being coached as a means of gaining insight and enacting change
• Explore the foundation skills of OPC, and gain an understanding of its key concepts
• Learn effective strategies for connecting with clients and use of goal setting in ways that elevate client engagement in their rehabilitation

By the end of the course, learners will be skilled in the core elements of OPC and able to implement these in familiar clinical situations.

Occupational Performance Coaching is a transdiciplinary approach suitable for allied health professionals.

 Workshop Delivery – Participants will be expected to complete the workshop requirements via an integrated system of pre-reading material and participation in four scheduled group presentations/tutorial sessions. Participants will need to allocate 1 -1.5 hours per week for self-study outside the online group sessions. Participants will be responsible for having access to the Internet for some or all of the workshop content.

• Workshop Folder participants will be mailed a hard copy of the workshop manual which will include presentation notes, covering the online presentation content and a range of tools to support implementation of OPC and self assess competence in delivering OPC.
• OPC Manual – participants will be provided with a copy of Occupational Performance Coaching Manual (2020) Eds Graham, Kennedy-Behr and Ziviani published by Routledge. An e-Resource linked to the book provides downloadable materials including video demonstrations, a self-assessment of OPC skills (OPC Fidelity Measure) and templates to support clinical work.
• On line presentation – using Zoom videoconferencing, participants will have the opportunity to link into three weekly presentation sessions (with a 30 min break mid-session). Sessions will include interactive components (ie group discussions, peer role play, case studies and Q&A sessions) to assist with integrating participants newly acquired knowledge and skills. Participants will be emailed the link (including password) to the workshop presentation sessions one week prior to the session.

Participants will need to have access to internet facilities including Zoom and webcam to ensure that they are able to download and view workshop content, as well as actively participate in the on line group tutorials and agree to the online T&C

Please note: to safeguard the copyright of material presented, maintain the confidentiality of case discussions and the privacy of participants, this workshop WILL NOT be recorded

Workshop  Presenter – certified Occupational Performance Coach trainer to be confirmed.