This updated edition arrives at precisely the right moment, building on its creative foundations while addressing the profession's most pressing challenges. Two new chapters on trauma-informed practice and effective group guidance fill critical gaps in many career coaches' knowledge, equipping practitioners with essential understanding of how adverse experiences shape career decisions and how to extend impact beyond one-to-one settings. The book's nuanced exploration of cultural differences, technological disruption, and ethical considerations invites thoughtful reflection rather than offering simplistic answers, challenging readers to examine their practice in our rapidly evolving landscape. What truly distinguishes this edition is its balance. Amid discussions of innovation and change, it consistently returns to the irreplaceable value of human connection, emotional intelligence, and skillful presence - reminding us what matters most even as everything around us shifts. Career coaches at any stage will find themselves challenged, supported, and better equipped to serve clients who are navigating an increasingly complex world of work. A must-read indeed.Dr Deirdre Hughes, OBE; Director, DMH & Associates Ltd, UKCongratulations to the authors for producing a second edition of this text that manages to retain the best of the first edition while providing fresh perspectives. They argue, persuasively, that the rationale for this second edition emanates from relentless social change and fundamental technological innovation, combined with unsettling turbulence worldwide.The emphasis on the importance of theory to career practice has been retained, with the integration of broad theoretical frameworks originating from various academic disciplines representing a valuable feature. Links made between developmental theory and brain development are particularly illuminating. A new chapter on digital coaching is approached in a measured and considered way, by exploring potential advantages of using AI and contrasting these with potential disadvantages. This is complemented by a later section on digital career literacy. It is the combination of practical hints and strategies included with all these additions that provides a particularly valuable resource. Indeed, practice examples through case studies, together with the visualisations positioned throughout the text help to make the selection of skills, models and theories both real, concrete and accessible. The final chapter has been retained, in updated form, quite rightly, from the first edition. It focuses on the responsibility of the practitioner to take care of themselves, guarding against stress and trauma by engaging routinely with processes like their own continuing professional development, supervision and similar strategies.Overall, this second edition retains its authenticity – tapping into the expertise and experience of the authors lived reality. It represents an extremely valuable addition for professionals in training, for recent professionals to the field, for those professionals already established in the field and, importantly, for trainers.Professor Jenny Bimrose, Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick, UKThis book is a feast for career coaches. Whether you are just starting out or have several years of practice, you will benefit from Liane and Ciara’s creative, holistic and evidence-based career approach. I learnt and grew up with Liane and Ciara’s 2018 book entry, and now I'm excited about the second edition of my favourite career coaching book. The bar has been raised with updates and inclusion of new theories-to-practice. This includes the trauma informed practice, the fundamental intersection of careers work and mental health, which is direly needed in our current precarious world of work and strained social fabric. As an educator and supervisor, I work with career coaches who are unsure how to navigate trauma-related challenges with clients, missing vital opportunities for trauma support and care. For these reasons, I wholeheartedly recommend the new edition as a must-have addition to your toolkit!Jeremiah Wong, Lead Career Developer, Supervisor & Educator. SingaporeTo do meaningful work, we have to study those who’ve laid the groundwork. Liane and Ciara have created a beautiful invitation for every practitioner to step into that lineage with purpose.JP Michel, Creator of the Challenge mindset and Author of The World Needs You. OttawaCreative Career Coaching (2nd ed.) is exactly what our profession needs right now - clear-sighted about global shifts while remaining deeply practical for day-to-day work with clients. The new chapters on trauma-informed practice and working with groups add timely depth, and the refreshed digital coaching section (including the realities and opportunities of generative AI) is balanced, ethical and immediately usable. I especially value the authors’ creative, whole-brain approach - using metaphor and structured tools to strengthen career management competencies - paired with a strong commitment to equity and social justice. The companion QR resources extend the book from text to toolkit, making implementation effortless in schools, colleges and careers services. This is an engaging, rigorous and genuinely field-shaping update.Ladi Mohammed-Chapman, Director, 7 Continental Careers (7CC); CEO and Founder, Global Educational Travel & Tours (GETT) The second edition of Creative Career Coaching is an outstanding and timely update. The inclusion of a chapter on trauma-informed practice, the expanded focus on practitioner as well as client resilience, and the extensive update on digital tools—particularly the thoughtful integration of generative AI—make this edition essential reading for anyone serious about contemporary career development coaching. The addition of QR-linked resources brings the learning to life beyond the page, reinforcing this book’s place at the forefront of our evolving profession.Jenn Barfield, Creative Career Development CoachIn increasingly uncertain times, career management has never been so important. As such, the second edition of Creative Career Coaching ensures that career practitioners are able to expertly explore this changing landscape and remain relevant in their practice. Through research-informed content, case studies, rich examples and creative practical activities, Liane and Ciara ensure our practice can traverse these new terrains and challenges. They expertly delve into AI in real-time coaching, trauma-informed practice, group career counselling for collective empowerment and the importance of deepening our understanding of neuroscience as we head into the 5IR.Natasha Purcell, Career Counsellor, Australia
