"I Could Really Use This": Occupational Therapy Students' Perceptions of Learning to Coach.
Marie-Christine Potvin, Erin K West, Alexis N Morales and 2 others
PMID 36312841WHAT IT FOUND
Students found coaching required shifting from being the expert to facilitating client-led goals.
They valued the flexibility and deeper therapeutic relationships but noted the mindset change was difficult. Some clients struggled with the self-reflection and motivation coaching requires.
Key findings
01Participants described a necessary shift from the traditional OT role of expert to a facilitator who empowers clients to identify their own solutions.
02Students perceived that coaching improved therapeutic relationships and allowed for greater flexibility in addressing client priorities compared to traditional practice.
03Participants identified barriers to coaching including low client motivation, communication challenges, and difficulty with self-reflection.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 14 participants from a single fieldwork site, limiting the transferability of the findings. Data relied on student self-report of their perceptions, which is subjective and does not measure actual skill acquisition or client outcomes objectively. The first author had multiple roles, including as a faculty member and coach trainer, which could introduce bias despite steps taken to minimize it. Participants were students in a specific coaching program, so their experience may not reflect typical OT fieldwork.
Declared interests
The first author is a faculty member in the OT program and one of the coaches who trained the students in the study. Authors 2-5 were students in the program at the time of the study. The work was supported by graduate assistants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that coaching is universally effective for all patients. Participants explicitly noted that clients with low motivation, communication challenges, or difficulty with self-reflection struggled with the coaching process, and it may not be appropriate for them.