Cognitive Coaching (Costa & Garmston): Maps, States of Mind & Questions
Cognitive Coaching is not about fixing behaviour — it is about mediating the other person's thinking so they become more self-directed. The coach uses three conversation maps and works on five internal 'states of mind' that drive self-directed learning.
Origin: Developed by Arthur Costa and Robert Garmston in the 1980s for teacher and leader development; now used across education, healthcare and leadership.
Cognitive Coaching at a glance — Planning, Reflecting, Problem-Resolving conversations
- 1Planning conversation: Before an event: clarify goals, success indicators, approaches and what the person will pay attention to.
- 2Reflecting conversation: After an event: summarise impressions, compare with intentions, analyse causes, construct new learning.
- 3Problem-resolving conversation: When stuck: name the existing state, envision the desired state, and find the internal resources to move.
- 4Five states of mind: The coach listens for and strengthens efficacy, flexibility, craftsmanship, consciousness and interdependence.
The Cognitive Coaching conversation maps, with questions
Planning conversation
Before an event: clarify goals, success indicators, approaches and what the person will pay attention to.
- “What are you hoping will happen?”
- “What will you see or hear that tells you it's working?”
- “What do you want to pay attention to in yourself?”
Reflecting conversation
After an event: summarise impressions, compare with intentions, analyse causes, construct new learning.
- “How do you feel it went — what are you basing that on?”
- “How did that compare with what you planned?”
- “What would you do the same or differently next time?”
Problem-resolving conversation
When stuck: name the existing state, envision the desired state, and find the internal resources to move.
- “What's going on for you right now?”
- “What would you like to be feeling and doing instead?”
- “What do you know about yourself that could help here?”
Five states of mind
The coach listens for and strengthens efficacy, flexibility, craftsmanship, consciousness and interdependence.
- “What's within your control here? (efficacy)”
- “How else might you look at this? (flexibility)”
- “What standard are you holding yourself to? (craftsmanship)”
When to use Cognitive Coaching — and when not to
Use it when
- • Developing teachers, clinicians or leaders toward self-directed practice
- • Reflective conversations after a lesson, meeting or performance
- • Organisations that want a shared coaching language with a research base
Set it aside when
- • The client wants tactical problem-solving fast — Cognitive Coaching deliberately slows to the thinking
- • Confusing it with cognitive behavioural coaching, which works on thought patterns and beliefs
Example: Cognitive Coaching in a coaching conversation
Cognitive Coaching model FAQ
What is Cognitive Coaching?+
A model by Costa and Garmston in which the coach mediates the other person's thinking through planning, reflecting and problem-resolving conversations, building five states of mind that support self-directed learning.
Cognitive Coaching vs cognitive behavioural coaching?+
Different things. Cognitive Coaching (Costa & Garmston) mediates thinking and reflection, mostly in education and leadership. Cognitive behavioural coaching applies CBT principles to change unhelpful thoughts and beliefs.
What are the five states of mind?+
Efficacy, flexibility, craftsmanship, consciousness and interdependence — internal resources the coach listens for and strengthens.
Related models and guides
- Cognitive Behavioral coaching model — CBC - Cognitive Behavioral Coaching
- CLEAR coaching model — Contracting, Listening, Exploring, Action, Review
- Systemic coaching model — Systems thinking coaching
- All coaching models compared
- The 8 ICF Core Competencies
- Coaching questions library
Conversation maps and questions are a map for the coach, not a script for the client — ICF assesses the competencies, not the model.
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