Foundations of Professional Coaching

James Gavin, PhD, MCC, has designed coach training programs for health, wellness, and fitness professionals since 1998. He is a full professor in the department of applied human sciences and the director of the Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies at Concordia University in Montreal. He is a licensed psychologist in the Province of Quebec.

Over the past 18 years, Gavin has become keenly involved in studies and professional pursuits related to the new field of professional coaching. He has been recognized as a Master Certified Coach (MCC) by the International Coaching Federation and an Integral Master Coach (IMC) by Integral Coaching Canada. He codirects and instructs his Concordia-based coach certification program.

Gavin has coached and consulted with a wide range of organizations in North America. He is deeply committed to understanding the somatic aspects of human development, and he is a strong advocate of somatic awareness and practice in coach training. He has developed a unique model for matching personality with sport and fitness choices; this model has been widely adopted as a unique process for promoting psychological growth. Gavin is engaged in research on coaching issues and enjoys rich coaching experiences with individual and organizational clients. His long-term interests in the practices of aikido, iaido, meditation, and yoga inform his life’s work.