Revisiting the Functions of Coaching Supervision: From Capability to Capacity in Support of CPPD

In today's context of increasing complexity and uncertainty, coaching is shifting from a predominantly performance and goal-oriented practice towards one that works at deeper levels of identity, meaning and purpose. Alongside this, coaches are increasingly supporting clients experiencing mental health challenges and greater emotional complexity. This shift is accelerated by the growth of AI coaching platforms, which can meet many routine coaching needs. While the demands of coaching are changing, coaching supervision has not developed at the same pace and remains focused on developing competence and capability. There is limited empirical research and conceptual thinking underpinning coaching supervision. In this paper, we critically examine existing supervision functions and approaches and argue that coaches require supervision that fosters the reflexivity and capacity needed to work effectively in conditions of uncertainty and complexity. We propose a conceptual framework to support this shift, equipping coaches to work at these deeper levels of practice.