Exploring the Gestalt Approach to Coaching - A Conversation with John Leary-Joyce

John founded the Academy of Executive Coaching in 2000 and over the years recruited and collaborated with many talented directors, trainers & administrators to develop AoEC into the prestigious brand it is today.

With his tireless entrepreneurial spirit AoEC John has created one of the most successful international coaching training organisations with partners in 12 countries. The programmes have professional accreditation from ICF, EMCC, AfC  as well as academic validation with Middlesex University.  

Previously, for 12 years he was Managing Director of Gestalt Centre London exponentially growing the business and gaining a Company Director diploma with the Institute of Directors. 

John is a highly principled leader, drawing on and applying his experience from a 10 year career as a Gestalt psychotherapist and further 20 years as individual & team coach, trainer and supervisor.

As a principle senior executive coach, John has worked with many executives in a wide range of private and public sector organisation, focusing  on developing their ‘Signature Presence’, their self-confidence and authority to lead their team and organisation more successfully. 

With substantial experience in team building, group facilitation and action learning as well as being an experienced team leader, John developed a specialty in Team Coaching. He works with boards & Senior Leadership Teams on developing their interpersonal connections, stakeholder relationships and team purpose/objectives so they are more effective and influential in leading their business.  From all this expertise John co-designed with Peter Hawkins the Systemic Team Coaching Certificate & Diploma programmes accredited by ICF and Middlesex University. 

He is Past President of EMCC UK where his focus was on maintaining standards for coaching and mentoring, building collaboration between the different professional bodies and well as supporting research into different aspects of coaching practice.

He has an MA in Executive Coaching, PCC with ICF, and qualified supervisor. 

In 2021 created a sister company www.gestalt.uk - focusing specifically on Gestalt Coaching Skills through virtual training workshops, presentations & webinars.  

He is an international conference presenter and author of Fertile Void, Gestalt Coaching at Work a practical and effective methodology for individual and team coaching and with Hilary Lines wrote a very practical guide Systemic Team Coaching, AoEC press.