The Impact of a Single Coaching Session on Affective State and Neurophysiological Markers: A Pilot Study

This study examined whether a single coaching session produces psychological and measurable neurobiochemical effects. Fifteen participants with previous coaching expertise engaged in a one-group pretest and posttest design. High-performance liquid chromatography examined plasma dopamine–norepinephrine, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule rated mood. Positive affect exhibited a considerable enhancement ( p = .002), while negative affect demonstrated a notable reduction ( p = .006). Hormonal alterations were not statistically significant; nevertheless, a relative rise in dopamine and a reduction in norepinephrine were noted. These findings indicate that a single session has substantial immediate psychological advantages, and corresponding neurobiological patterns point to possible directions for further study.