
Criticality in Coaching and Beyond
Towards a Deeper Understanding
Tatiana Bachkirova(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 27. October 2026
Book
Hardback
152 pages
978-1-041-12923-3 (ISBN)
Description
This book explores the concept of criticality, a quality that supports a deeper understanding of complex situations that people encounter at work and interpersonal relationship. For contemporary coaches it offers ideas on how they can develop the essential quality of criticality to work with clients in a significantly changing world.
Criticality is seen not just as critical thinking skills but as a state of mind that involves a philosophical stance, an emotional attitude and an agentic action. The book provides coaches with intellectually rich material and many practical ways for the development of their criticality and existentially coherent ways of responding to current realities. This in turn should equip coaches for helping clients to question and examine their work and life in the most meaningful ways.
This book will appeal to both new and experienced coaches, coaching supervisors and coaching educators. It will also be of interest to other practitioners of professional services based on interpersonal relationships, such as those in applied psychology, counselling, and psychotherapy.
Criticality is seen not just as critical thinking skills but as a state of mind that involves a philosophical stance, an emotional attitude and an agentic action. The book provides coaches with intellectually rich material and many practical ways for the development of their criticality and existentially coherent ways of responding to current realities. This in turn should equip coaches for helping clients to question and examine their work and life in the most meaningful ways.
This book will appeal to both new and experienced coaches, coaching supervisors and coaching educators. It will also be of interest to other practitioners of professional services based on interpersonal relationships, such as those in applied psychology, counselling, and psychotherapy.
Reviews / Votes
'To paraphrase Voltaire, "Common sense is not so common". This point is central to Tatiana Bachkirova's book on 'criticality, the activity of making sense critically of the complex interplay between oneself, others, and situations that together underlie difficult events and processes. She argues that the ability to question the unquestionable and make sense of complex, challenging circumstances is essential for anyone seeking to be effective in difficult situations. That alone makes this book essential reading for those in the helping professions.'Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries, Distinguished Clinical Professor of Leadership Development and Organisational Change, The Raoul de Vitry d'Avaucourt Chaired Professor of Leadership Development, Emeritus. INSEAD
'Professor Bachkirova has written what I think will, or should, become a classic in the field of coaching. It is written with great skill, care and intellectual honesty. An honesty that draws the reader to question and notice the way they make meaning and act - in themselves, in the coaching engagement and in the world. It challenges us to notice the wider and deeper consequences of that process for who we actually are, and who we are becoming together. For this reason, her book is not for the feint-hearted, nor for those who are seeking to be comforted by the reinforcement of familiar beliefs and well-worn practices. It is, however, for those who are committed to a never-ending journey of curiosity, uncertainty and surprising discovery - a journey with no clear destination beyond a deepening awareness of this complex and shared experience we call life. She is truly one of the shining lights of the coaching world.'
Michael Cavanagh, Coaching Psychology Unit, Sydney University
'This book is an essential read for advanced coaches and all those working in relational professions. Tatiana Bachkirova brilliantly frames criticality as a dynamic integration of philosophy and psychology which can be applied as a reflective practice, equipping coaches with a more discerning approach. This rigorous contribution to the field is much needed at a time when the coaching profession is in danger of being swamped and perhaps undermined by AI and other more superficial approaches.'
Dr Simon Western, CEO The Eco-Leadership Institute, Author of Coaching and Mentoring a critical text
'I love this book! Criticality is a state of mind! Thank you Tatiana for a lucid, well researched and insightful contribution. In today's troubled world, a critical state of mind is vital and in coaching practice it's essential!'
Professor (Emeritus) Bob Garvey, The Lio Partnership
'In a world in which we are all surrounded by more and more people telling us what to think, it is so important that we each and every one of us become more discerning. This is what I understand the clarion call for critical thinking to be. In this book Tatiana helps us to understand that to think critically is not to criticize, rather it is to encourage self-awareness, reflection, and reflexivity. Everything Tatiana writes is grounded in the philosophical tradition, challenging, and important. I wholeheartedly endorse this book to anyone working in the helping professions, or indeed anyone at all who recognises the need to encourage us all to think about how we think, in service of co-creating a better world.'
Paul Lawrence, Owner, Leading Systemically, Honorary research associate at Oxford Brookes University
'I was delighted when asked if I would write an endorsement for Tatiana's book! Having read the proposal for it some while back I have been eagerly awaiting its publication. Criticality - and too often the lack of it - is core to so much of our everyday living and has a very particular place in the work of coaching psychologists, coaches, therapists, and beyond. It raises many questions, opens important debates and fills a gap in our literature. The book's focus on professionals and their practice and the inclusion of numerous clients and other real-life examples pave the way for new ways of thinking about core aspects of the way we work and the way we prepare people for this work. It challenges, in an embracing and inclusive manner, many of our implicit and explicit ways of making sense of events, ourselves, others and ways of being in this world and very constructively presents alternatives rooted in the philosophy and practice of criticality.'
Professor Mary Watts, Chartered Psychologist, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, City St George's, University of London
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development
Illustrations
11 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 2 s/w Tabellen, 11 s/w Abbildungen
2 Tables, black and white; 11 Halftones, black and white; 11 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-041-12923-3 (9781041129233)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
approx. 10/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€44.00
Not yet published
Person
Tatiana Bachkirova is Professor of Coaching Psychology at the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies at Oxford Brookes University, UK. She is a recognized international speaker, and her many publications include books, empirical research and conceptual papers on the complex issues in the coaching discipline.
Content
1. Why criticality is important and why now 2. Criticality differentiated 3. Criticality as a state of mind 4. Criticality as a capacity 5. Criticality as an activity 6. Being critical of criticality 7. Criticality as the foundation for a theory 'Change from the Negative' 8. Conclusion: What is the ultimate purpose of criticality?