Simon P Walker

Relevant academic background:

MA Oxon (Biological Sciences 1990-93)
Including 8 week courses and examinations in:
-neurobiology
-animal behaviour
-socio-biology

This study laid the foundations for my understanding of the biological roots and context for human behaviour- including behaviourism, statistical modelling, group theory, neurological basis of cognition, creativity, emotional processing.

BTh (Theology and Pastoral studies 1994-1997)
Courses and exams in:
- Pastoral Psychology
- Ethics
- Philosophy

These included three 7000 word extended essays in the development of the self in relationships, the philosophical basis of ethics, moral frameworks for human action, the function of language in human relationships, social constructionism, identity and transformation, stages of development.

MTh in Applied Theology (1999- 2002)
(MTh is an Oxford research degree that sits between an MA and a DPhil).
 
Major research into 20th Century Self- Help movement, understandings of self and self development, social and cultural psychology in contemporary British society.

Major focus on theories of personality, symbolic interactionism, attachment and development of ego, language and the function of metaphor in knowledge acquisition and learning, cognition and creativity, stages of faith and development.

Thesis involved in depth engagement with works of Bowlby, Goffman, Jung, Groves, Lackoff and Johnson, Ricouer, Rogers, Gadamer, Heidegger, Derrida, Chomsky, Wittgenstein and Fowler.

Pre- Coaching career
1990-4 1:1 training of student leaders as part of Youth Training Organisation whilst at University (1990-4)
1994 1:1 mentoring of young people as Youth Work leader, London
1997-2000 1:1 mentoring of leaders in the church, development of paid and volunteer staff (professional team of 4)

Pastoral Training Foundations
My coaching foundations were laid in extensive training and experience in pastoral ministry as an ordained Anglican Priest.
 1994-7 3 Years full time residential training in pastoral ministry (BTh) at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, including 5 day courses on: Death and bereavementChildhood, adolescence and stages of developmentAddictions and self harming, abusePastoral counselling and supervision practice1 year placement at John Radcliffe Hospital chaplaincy

1997 Ordination as priest in Church of England

Coaching Related Training
Between 1997- 2000 I benefited from extensive training opportunities provided by the Oxford Diocese for Clergy, including courses in:Group facilitation and team behaviourMBTI Belbin Team RolesLearning theory and practiceStress and Time managementReflective Listening Course

1:1 Mentoring to be a coach
3 years personal mentoring with Geoff Maughan, Former Director of Life Long Learning at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University (1998-2000). This involved meeting with my mentor twice a month for reflective supervision and learning on my 1:1 coaching and team coaching practice.

2 year coach mentoring with Freya Williams, FCIPD, (2001-2). This involved informal training in performance and behavioural coaching, shadowing my mentor in client relationships, and training in Firo-elements.

My training of other Coaches
-Oxford Brookes University, MA in Coaching and Mentoring Practice- lecturing in coaching practice and training with supervisory coaches (2004)
-Coaching Supervision Consultancy- training in coaching methodology (2004-)
-Red Rocks Consulting- training in coaching practice (2007-)
-Jericho partners- training and supervision in coaching practice (2007-)

Published papers: The Evolution of Coaching, Simon P. Walker, International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring Vol. 2, No. 2, August 2004 Personal Ecology: Rediscovering the holistic in the Christian tradition, International, Journal of Stress Management , Vol 15, No. 2, 2003