Edited by Dr Trish Turner
Chapter 9: Measuring your impact as a dual-qualified coach
By Helen Cottrill
This chapter explores what it means to measure impact as a dual-qualified practitioner, offering guidance for therapists transitioning into coaching who may be less familiar or comfortable with evaluation practices. It reframes impact measurement as a reflective, relational, and ethical endeavour rather than a mechanistic one.
The chapter introduces a range of methods, from informal feedback and self-assessment to structured reviews and stakeholder reporting, highlighting their relevance in both private practice and organisational contexts. It also addresses challenges such as defining success, capturing intangible outcomes, and evaluating coaching without reverting to therapeutic norms.
Readers are encouraged to develop a personally meaningful, values-aligned approach to measuring impact that enhances professional confidence and client trust. By demystifying the language and purpose of evaluation, the chapter supports coaches to articulate the value of their work with clarity, integrity and credibility.
Biography
Helen is an EMCC Global Senior Practitioner accredited coach with a background in education, leadership and coaching. A former teacher, she holds an MA in Education and Leadership from the University of Manchester and trained with Barefoot Coaching.
Helen works with leaders, educators and parents to navigate change with clarity and purpose, using a psychologically-grounded, values-led approach. Her expertise in evaluation was shaped through national roles in an education charity and an NHS Improvement Science centre, where she led the quality assurance of coaching and development programmes. She contributes to the quality assurance of EMCC Global accredited coach training providers and champions ethical, inclusive, evidence-informed practice. Formerly providing quality assurance for the Therapist to Coach programme, she now serves as an Associate Tutor.