FAQ

The main differences between therapy and coaching - besides the medical approach - are resilience, the capacity for reflection and learning, and ownership of the issue or problem. A therapist usually has a more directive role in the process, dwelling longer on the past and on traumas incurred, often using a fixed set of methods. In coaching you look at the desired coaching goal in the future in relation to its feasibility. The origin of the problem is certainly also examined, by means of biographical methods. But always with the aim of being able to take steps from the here and now towards the desired coaching goal. This with the help of methods and techniques for a journey in which a tailor-made approach comes first.

Emotional intelligence has to do with dealing consciously with feelings and emotions. When you understand them - both rationally and emotionally - you can respond more effectively to daily events and interactions with people. It is not a hype. The first scientific publication appeared in 1990. When John (Jack) Mayer of the University of New Hampshire and Peter Salovey of Yale put together a theory in 1989 that encompassed both intelligence and emotions, the idea of 'emotional intelligence' took shape. Daniel Goleman made the concept known to a wider audience in the nineties. He still publishes on the subject. Dr R. Bar-On developed the scientific EQ-i, which can measure E.I., through the Canadian company MHS. The test is regarded as the most reliable in this field. The EQ-i 2.0 is now out and is based on developments within scientific research. As of March 2022, the test has been included in the world's largest publisher of clinical & talent tests: Pearson Clinical & Talent Assessments.

Reimbursement via your employer
Employers usually set aside a training budget per employee. Besides investing in knowledge development, personal development is important too. In general, the cost of a course is many times higher than that of a coaching journey. Sick leave can also often be prevented through coaching. Moreover, the return on a coaching journey is often - by their own account - higher. Ask your employer, manager or HR department about your options.

After consulting the company doctor, employers are often willing to reimburse the cost of coaching under the Dutch Gatekeeper Improvement Act. This is often the case with burn-out prevention and the prevention of long-term sick leave and/or reintegration. For this you should contact the company doctor or the occupational health service. The Art of People worked for Incentivo, a network of occupational health experts in the field of work and health, absenteeism and reintegration. Incentivo, like The Art of People, strives for a sustainable increase in human engagement.

Study costs and other training expenses have no longer been tax-deductible since 1 January 2022. Instead there is the STAP budget subsidy scheme for working people and jobseekers. STAP stands for Stimulating the Labour Market Position.

For more information: Dutch government

Freelancer/entrepreneur
For self-employed entrepreneurs, the cost of coaching is tax-deductible as business expenses. Consult your bookkeeper/accountant for tailored information.

Coaching does not fall under primary medical costs and is therefore not always reimbursed. Yet more and more insurance companies recognise the results of coaching and reimburse it under supplementary insurance packages. We therefore advise you to check the options for reimbursement of coaching with your health insurer.

If you receive benefits, you can ask the benefits agency (UWV) about the financial resources available for your recovery and reintegration. You can conclude an Individual Reintegration Agreement with UWV. With it, UWV makes a budget available to you with which you can pay for the coaching journey in full or in part. For more information, visit the UWV website.

The conversations and test results are confidential. Employers with experience in coaching know that this is not compromised. Feedback can, however, take place at process level about desired goals and behaviour. This is gone through and agreed beforehand in a three-way conversation. Usually a one-on-one conversation then takes place between the potential coachee and the coach to explore whether there is mutual trust. A manager is responsible for guidance at work. The Art of People encourages guidance that takes place both in the coaching room and on the work floor, with an eye for the system.

Yes. To make the most of the session time, homework assignments are used. You also receive a digital form: a 'logbook'. This reflection report (1 double-sided A4) lets you pause to consider how you got to work in the intervening period and what awareness took place. It also allows the coach to respond directly. Besides saving time, this is financially advantageous, because it is often included in the session, alongside preparation and setting up exercises and so on. In the longer term, these reports are valuable because they let you look back on your development.

More and more company doctors refer clients to a certified coach. I have previously worked as a freelancer for the occupational health service Incentivo, and I successfully guided coaching journeys for their clients in cases of sick leave and prevention. The conversations are confidential and the information shared is first agreed with you. The Code of Ethics of the professional association NOBCO is also leading in this.

The question is whether it really is. In the Netherlands we are used to much of our illness and care costs being reimbursed. As well as training costs by our employer. This does not always make it transparent what is already arranged for you. Coaching works relatively quickly and does indeed often have to be paid for directly. An hourly rate, however, is not what the coach nets. Often no travel time is charged, nor is the preparation of the sessions. A lot of time goes into this. More, in any case, than half an hour. In addition, The Art of People uses the NOBCO Coaching Monitor - offered free of charge in a coaching journey - which also monitors the journey subjectively. Taken together, this is:

• reading through various results of tests and exercises
• reading through the logbook
• preparing homework assignments
• interim feedback by phone and email (included under 'fair use')