Positive Psychology Coaching: Embodying Wellbeing and Ethicality

This study explores the impact of Positive Psychology Coaching (PPC) on the wellbeing of coaches through a thematic analysis of interviews with nine participants. The research aimed to uncover both the benefits and challenges experienced by coaches in their professional and personal lives. Three key themes emerged from the data: Embodiment of Wellbeing, Enriched Coaching Practice, and Wellbeing as an Ethical Imperative in Coaching. These findings highlight the multifaceted impact of PPC, emphasising the importance of self-care, relationships, and ethical considerations — such as cultural sensitivity —in sustaining both personal and professional wellbeing. Participants reported significant personal transformational experiences, citing greater self-awareness, changes in how they support themselves and their coach identity, emotional growth, and the discovery of strengths and limitations as key outcomes of practicing PPC. Positive interventions, such as mindfulness, gratitude exercises, journalling, playfulness, and an increased sense of meaning and spirituality, were found to enhance coaches' overall wellbeing. However, challenges arose in maintaining work-life balance, with some coaches expressing difficulties in managing their wellbeing while meeting professional demands, as a result, reduced their practice. Additionally, the coaches highlighted the need for strong ethical boundaries. While the study offers valuable insights into PPC, it has limitations. The relatively small sample size, drawn from a specific subset of coaches, potentially limits the generalisability of the findings. The reliance on self-reported data may introduce bias, as participants may under-report negative experiences or exaggerate positive outcomes. Future research could benefit from a larger, more diverse sample and the inclusion of quantitative measures to complement the qualitative findings.