Online group coaching: the experience of postgraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Article


Nacif, A., Giraldez Hayes, A., Finn, K. and Valdivielso-Martínez, E. 2023. Online group coaching: the experience of postgraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice. 16 (2), pp. 190-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/17521882.2023.2205598
AuthorsNacif, A., Giraldez Hayes, A., Finn, K. and Valdivielso-Martínez, E.
Abstract

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the use of online platforms across different sectors and industries. Coaching has been no different, with clients and coaches swapping face-to-face for online sessions. The existing literature concerning online and group coaching remains scarce and there is no existing research into online group coaching used as a pastoral intervention for students in higher education. As the need for online support arose during the Covid-19 pandemic, this qualitative research was set up to explore the experience of postgraduate students taking part in such a programme. The study was conducted using interpretative phenomenological analysis to further the understanding of how postgraduate students experience, and potentially benefit from, online group coaching. Four group coaching sessions were delivered weekly, with the first session lasting one hour and the remaining three lasting one and a half hours. The analysis identified four main themes: experiencing a safe environment, connection with the group, self-awareness, and considering different perspectives. Coachees reported that the online group coaching was useful as it provided a supportive and safe environment for them to share and work through the challenges they were facing. Participants also noted that the emotional connection with the group allowed them to feel heard and able to express their individual (and sometimes difficult) experiences, which they found beneficial. This study expands the existing body of knowledge on group coaching, specifically adding to the understanding of how online group coaching can be a useful intervention to support postgraduate students.

JournalCoaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice
Journal citation16 (2), pp. 190-204
ISSN1752-1882
Year2023
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Publisher's version
License
CC BY-NC-ND
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/17521882.2023.2205598
Publication dates
Online26 Apr 2023
Print03 Jul 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted17 Apr 2023
Deposited09 May 2023
Copyright holder© 2023, The Authors
Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/8vy82

Download files


Publisher's version
  • 109
    total views
  • 79
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Group coaching: The new ‘Wild West of coaching’?
Nacif, A. P. 2023. Group coaching: The new ‘Wild West of coaching’? The Coaching Psychologist. 19 (1), pp. 19-25. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpstcp.2023.19.1.19
Internal coach and mental health
Giraldez Hayes, A. 2023. Internal coach and mental health. in: Smith, W-A., Hirsch Pontes, E., Magadlela, D. and Clutterback, D. (ed.) Ethical Case Studies for Coach Development and Practice: A Coach's Companion London, UK Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Coaching for Wellbeing: An Evidence-Based Guide for Practitioners
Nacif, A. 2023. Coaching for Wellbeing: An Evidence-Based Guide for Practitioners. McGraw Hill.
An AI powered system to enhance self-reflection practice in coaching
Jelodari, M., Amirhosseini, M. H. and Giraldez Hayes, A. 2023. An AI powered system to enhance self-reflection practice in coaching. Cognitive Computation and Systems. 5 (4), pp. 243-254. https://doi.org/10.1049/ccs2.12087
Using artificial intelligence-enhanced video feedback for reflective practice in coach development: benefits and potential drawbacks
Bridgeman, J. and Giraldez-Hayes, A. 2023. Using artificial intelligence-enhanced video feedback for reflective practice in coach development: benefits and potential drawbacks. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice. 17 (1), pp. 32-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/17521882.2023.2228416
Who is a coach and who is a coaching psychologist? Professionalising coaching psychology in the United Kingdom
Moin, T., Giraldez Hayes, A., Stopforth, M., Lynden, J. and Rees-Davies, L. 2023. Who is a coach and who is a coaching psychologist? Professionalising coaching psychology in the United Kingdom. The Coaching Psychologist. 19 (1), pp. 4-18. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpstcp.2023.19.1.4
Ethics in Education and the Development of Coaches
Giraldez Hayes, A. and Garvey, B. 2023. Ethics in Education and the Development of Coaches. in: Smith, W. A., Passmore, J., Turner, E., Lai, Y-L. and Clutterbuck, D. (ed.) The Ethical Coaches’ Handbook: A Guide to Developing Ethical Maturity in Practice Routledge. pp. 267-278
Arts and Well-Being
Giraldez Hayes, A. 2022. Arts and Well-Being. in: Giraldez Hayes, A. and Burke, J. (ed.) Applied Positive School Psychology Routledge. pp. 125-133
Identify Your Strengths
Giraldez Hayes, A. 2022. Identify Your Strengths. in: van Nieuwerburgh, C. and Williams, P. (ed.) From Surviving to Thriving: A Student’s Guide to Feeling and Doing Well at University SAGE Publications. pp. 19-30
Coaching Psychology as a Profession: Ethical and Practice-Related Issues
Giraldez Hayes, A. and Smith, W-A. 2022. Coaching Psychology as a Profession: Ethical and Practice-Related Issues. in: Psychology in Coaching Practice: A Guide for Professionals McGraw Hill. pp. 28-41
Coaching Conversations to Enhance Wellbeing
Giraldez Hayes, A. 2022. Coaching Conversations to Enhance Wellbeing. in: Giraldez Hayes, A. and Burke, J. (ed.) Applied Positive School Psychology Routledge.
‘It’s kind of revolutionary’ - An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Exploring Clients’ Experiences of Using Journaling in Coaching
Cousins, C. and Giraldez Hayes, A. 2022. ‘It’s kind of revolutionary’ - An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Exploring Clients’ Experiences of Using Journaling in Coaching. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. 20 (2), pp. 53-67. https://doi.org/10.24384/s76n-mr96
Exploring the experience of using music and creative mark-making as a reflective tool during coaching supervision: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
McManus, B. C. and Giraldez Hayes, A. 2021. Exploring the experience of using music and creative mark-making as a reflective tool during coaching supervision: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Philosophy of Coaching: An International Journal. 6 (2), pp. 22-46. https://doi.org/10.22316/poc/06.2.03
Different domains or grey areas? Setting boundaries between coaching and therapy: A thematic analysis
Giraldez Hayes, A. 2021. Different domains or grey areas? Setting boundaries between coaching and therapy: A thematic analysis. The Coaching Psychologist. 17 (2), pp. 18-29.
Coaching to Develop Psychological Capital to Support Change
Giraldez Hayes, A. 2021. Coaching to Develop Psychological Capital to Support Change. in: Smith, W-A., Boniwell, I. and Green, S. (ed.) Positive Psychology Coaching in the Workplace Springer. pp. 259-273
An Opera for the School of Citizenship
Soliveres, R., Parejo, J. L. and Giraldez Hayes, A. 2021. An Opera for the School of Citizenship. Revista Electrónica de Investigación Educativa. 23 (16), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.24320/redie.2021.23.e16.3722
Musical revitalisation of the schoolyard: results of a service-learning project
Parejo Llanos, J. L., Cortón-Heras, M. de la O. and Giraldez Hayes, A. 2021. Musical revitalisation of the schoolyard: results of a service-learning project. Revista Electrónica Complutense de Investigación en Educación Musical - RECIEM. 18, pp. 167-194. https://doi.org/10.5209/reciem.69734
BeWell: a group coaching model to foster the wellbeing of individuals
Nacif, A. 2021. BeWell: a group coaching model to foster the wellbeing of individuals. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. S15, pp. 171-186. https://doi.org/10.24384/t7td-p612
Arts and Well-Being: The Arts as Positive Interventions
Giraldez Hayes, A. 2020. Arts and Well-Being: The Arts as Positive Interventions. PÓS: Journal of the Arts Postgraduation Program at EBA/UFMG. 10 (20), p. 72–85. https://doi.org/10.35699/2237-5864.2020.20711