Coachees’ Experiences of Integrating a Self-Selected Soundtrack into a one-off Coaching Session

Abstract

Artistic media use in coaching has received growing interest in recent years with increased research and encouraging results. Music benefits wellbeing, aids new perspectives, and enhances embodiment, however, research on the use of music in coaching is limited. This study thematically analysed participants’ reflective texts (N=12) relating to their experience of a one-off coaching session that integrated a self-selected piece of music as a soundtrack related to the session topic. Results support previous literature on the subject, while also providing new findings that the soundtrack primed thinking for the session and was a motivational reminder of the session.

Keywords

• self-selected music
• goal-oriented
• meaning-making
• embodied coaching
• qualitative research