Exploring Coaches’ Subjectivity in Applying Meditation to Coaching - A Q-Methodology Approach

This study aimed to categorize coaches’ subjective perceptions of meditation-based coaching through Q-methodology and to reveal how they interpret and accept the relationship between meditation and coaching. For this purpose, 37 statements regarding the use of meditation in coaching were constructed, and Q-sorting was conducted with 30 coaches who had meditation experience using Q-software. Factor analysis of the collected data through the Ken-Q program revealed four main perception types. Type 1, ‘Essence-centered Reflective Type,’ perceives meditation as ‘an important paradigm that does not differ in philosophical orientation from coaching and can lead the entire coaching process.’ Type 2, ‘Application-centered Tool Type,’ recognizes meditation as ‘a practical tool in a separate domain from coaching that can assist the coaching process.’ Type 3, ‘Client-centered Tuning Type,’ perceives meditation as ‘one of the interventions that can be utilized only after the coach has secured sufficient expertise and must consult with the client, although it is an evidence-based useful approach.’ Type 4, ‘Coach-centered Anchor Type,’ recognizes meditation as ‘a growth tool and experiential practice tool for coaches that helps coaching by strengthening the self-management and reflection of coaches’ Each type shows different perspectives, attitudes, and limitations in accepting meditation in the coaching process, suggesting that future development of meditation coaching programs and educational practice strategies need to be differentiated according to coaches’ subjective perception types. This study has theoretical and practical significance in exploring the possibility and direction of integrating meditation and coaching based on coaches’ subjectivity in the coaching field, and is expected in the future, meditation coaching to expand into a specialized field that more practically meets the needs of the times.