About
Foundations
Coaching Constellations was founded by John Whittington in 2010. Before becoming a coach and then trainer John was a leader and entrepreneur in the corporate and brand communications industry. Following a personal and professional transition period he launched, in 2002, a coaching practice focused on working with leaders and teams at the point where personal, professional and organisational systems overlap and entangle. Through a combination of insight into what we are born with (innate personality type), what we are born into (family of origin dynamics) and the application of systemic principles and practices his reputation attracted a wide portfolio of clients in the UK, Europe and USA. As his knowledge of systems deepened he introduced the principles and practices into his work and his journey from coach to facilitator and trainer began. As a part of this journey John became a familiar face to executive students at The London Business School where he worked as a visiting coach on a range of leadership development programmes in London, Dubai and Hong Kong.
In 2007 John Whittington was asked by a fellow coach to share the systemic coaching and constellations approach. This small start led to others joining an informal group that, after a couple of years, grew into a regular learning circle and moved to a venue in central London. The format and content was developed and the circle became, by 2010, an accredited training and John was regularly invited to facilitate across the UK and Europe.
Sensitive, safe and very respectful of our challenging questions. His knowledge is embodied and doesn’t fill the room – creating an open spaciousness and powerful learning experience.
View John Whittington’s profile
As a result John launched Coaching Constellations to provide high quality experiential training in systemic coaching and constellations for coaches, L&OD consultants and organisational facilitators. At the same time the demand for systemic interventions in substantial global organisations was also growing. This led to the formation of Business Constellations which facilitates workshops and systemic coaching for significant global businesses in the UK, Europe and the USA. The company is now working with some of the world’s leading corporates, including KPMG, GSK and ST, to support the development of organisational and business vitality in leadership, teams and whole organisations.
To download a recent interview with John in the BACP magazine ‘Coaching Today’ please click here.
In 2011 John was invited to join the visiting team at the Henley Business School – Centre for Coaching and Facilitation – teaching systemic coaching and constellations to students on Henley’s MSc in Coaching and Behavioural change programme. As a result of this pilot he was invited to repeat and extend this teaching programme in 2012, 2013 and beyond.
In 2013 John continues to facilitate, now with active support from a growing team of associates, regular training in the fundamentals of systemic coaching and constellations, for executive coaches, L&OD managers and organisational consultants. The certificate training is offered this year in London, Paris, Oxford, Prague, Bristol and Warsaw, all initiated by invitation and co-creation.
Back in 2012 John’s book, ‘Systemic Coaching and Constellations. An introduction to the principles, practices and application.’ was published. It is currently available to order on AMAZON (.co.uk. for UK) and Amazon (.com for US & ROW).
John will also be facilitating the first of a new series of trainings in 2013, for coaches and others with an organisational focus who have completed one of the fundamentals trainings. To view this, our Practitioner Certificate in Systemic Coaching and Facilitation brochure (training for those who have completed a training in the fundamentals) beginning on September 30th 2013, click here: PractitionerBrochure.WalkingInTheField
He was also involved, as a founder and facilitator, in the not-for-profit personal issues workshops which he co-founded with three others in 2007 to provide a low cost gateway into this way of working for individuals searching for clarity around challenging or stuck personal issues.
For all 2013/2014 workshops, conferences and trainings please visit the DIARY page.
During the 2012/13 period the Coaching Constellations team expanded to accommodate the wide range of requests we get for trainings, workshops and more from across the world. Following an extensive training and experience in systemic constellations and systemic coaching we are delighted to welcome Patrizia, Richard, David and Jake to the facilitation team. Patrizia who is fluent in several languages including Italian and French is co-facilitating the current Paris training with John after working with him – and translating – in Italy last year. Richard is co-facilitating both the Spring (with John Whittington) and Autumn (with David Presswell) 2013 trainings in London. Jake is working alongside John on the current Oxford training. In addition we have two people who now manage all aspects of the administration for our programmes. Steve (Office Manager for all general enquiries, bookings and finances) and Sue (special projects, events and retreats) are at your service and able to answer any question you may have.
Contact Steve here:steve(at) coachingconstellations.com
Contact Sue here: sue(at)coachingconstellations.com
The history to date
2013
As well as our regular introductory workshops in London that provide a ‘taster’ of this way of working we were also invited to facilitate bespoke sessions in systemic supervision at Henley Business School, following the success of our annual teaching input on their Coaching and Behavioural Change MSc programme. In addition several of our six-day ‘fundamentals’ trainings began in Paris, Oxford, London and Prague. John was also invited to facilitate a three day programme for leaders within the coaching businesses of the Czech Republic, three days of exploration, illumination and place making. This was at the invitation of Zdeneck Stepanek who hosted the workshop in his academy near Prague: Akademie Libchavy.
Facilitating a workshop at the INFOSYON 2013 ‘Flying The Kites’ conference in Amsterdam in April – see the INFOSYON Conference page – together with invitations to provide the fundamentals training in Seattle, USA; the translation of ‘Systemic Coaching & Constellations’ into Polish, the publication of our first Facebook page and the launch of our new Practitioner Training have made 2013 a busy year for John and the growing team.
2012
A number of introductory workshops in London provided a ‘taster’ of this way of working in a one-day workshop format. Founder John Whittington also facilitated a number of experiential conference sessions and CPD workshops throughout 2012 as well as several in-house corporate workshops. In June 2012 his first book ‘Systemic Coaching and Constellations’ was published by Kogan Page and made record sales in the first month. He also had a feature article published in Coaching at Work Magazine and enjoyed facilitating sessions beyond the London trainings including at Oxford Brookes Supervision Conference and at other Oxford based learning circles. As a result of the success of the book and the learning circles invitations to co-create learning circles across Europe, north and south America were explored and developed for 2013.
2011
The focus on experiential learning creates a rich, trusting group dynamic and learning experience. Insights and unexpected resolutions flow, creating a depth of personal and professional resource.
A number of introductory workshops in London provided a ‘taster’ of this way of working in a one-day workshop format. John also facilitated a number of experiential conference sessions and CPD workshops throughout 2011 as well as several in-house corporate workshops. In the spring of 2011 John facilitated a joint session with the board of The ICF and the board of The EMCC in southern Europe. This workshop was designed to clarify and enhance the levels of understanding and collaboration between these two global coaching organisations. A case study which describes the workshop is included in John’s new book – Systemic Coaching and Constellations – now available on AMAZON.
His annual trainings were available for those looking for a training in the fundamentals of systemic coaching and constellations in the UK and Europe. Other workshops, consulting assignments, learning circles and experiential presentations (for coaches, in-house coaches, leaders and/or executive teams) were arranged by invitation and co-creation, internationally.
For all 2013/2014 workshops, conferences and trainings please visit the DIARY page.
2010
Regular Coaching Constellations workshops in London (for coaches and coaches with clients) in February, May and October. In 2010 John facilitated his annual coaching constellations learning circle in London, a coaching supervision group in Luxembourg, and demonstrated constellations at a number of coaching events.
A very stimulating and thought provoking session which set
off alarm bells about standard coach training, coaching and leadership interventions
In 2010 John worked as a systemic consultant to the global board of the The International Coaching Federation (ICF). This work gave the board a fresh perspective on the issues facing them and a new language with which to speak about challenging and previously hidden issues. The consulting project resulted in John being invited to facilitate an introduction to constellations at the ICF Dallas Fort Worth conference. This workshop session, in October 2010, was supplemented by an article in the ICF magazine and a teleclass for ICF members.
His client work, across multiple industry sectors, took him from London to Hong Kong, San Fransisco, Atlanta, Dubai and Los Angeles.
John’s commitment to his own personal and professional development continued in 2010 within an international training in Holland, over 15 days, with Jan Jacob Stam at the Dutch Bert Hellinger Institute.
For all 2013/2014 workshops, conferences and trainings please visit the DIARY page.
2009
November 2009, Amsterdam
Even though I’ve experienced constellations before this was inspiring, excellent and very helpful.
The European Mentoring and Coaching Council annual conference, November 2009. John facilitated a session in which the underlying principles of this approach were explained and then bought to life through exercises and a full constellation around an issue brought by a delegate.
September 2009, Bristol
John’s delivery and facilitation was confident, inclusive and relaxed with a great respect and honouring of the comments and observations.
The Euro Coach annual conference, Bristol. John introduced the principles and practice behind ‘Coaching Constellations’ and worked with a live issue brought by a delegate – showing the benefits of a systemic coaching stance and the application of constellations methodology in a challenging coach/client relationship.
May 2009, Milton Keynes
Both Simon and John showed great insight and skill.
The British Association for Psychological Type annual conference. Simon Loveday and John Whittington facilitated an experiential session exploring questions of MBTI personality type clarity using constellations.
For more information or enquiries about workshops, conferences or dates in 2013/2014, please contact administration and bookings manager, Steve, via our contact page.
John Whittington is a member of The European Mentoring and Coaching Council, the International Coach Federation, the British Association of Psychological Type and The International Systemic Constellations Association.