Exploring Relational Dialogue in Solution-Focused Coaching Sessions: An Analysis of Co-Construction and Reflection

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To examine solution-focused coaching (SFC) as a means to enhance clinicians’ professional development.

Methods: Six pediatric rehabilitation clinicians (three physical, two occupational, and one behavior therapist) each received two SFC sessions targeting clinical listening goals. Conversational intervals were noted in session transcriptions. Frequencies of relational strategies and conversational intervals were calculated. The meaning of intervals > 10 s was examined.

Results: The most frequent relational strategies indicated that SFC facilitates reflection and critical thinking, and encourages action. An appreciable number of long intervals (>10 s) occurred, indicating substantial reflection by participants. These were embedded in relational dialogue sequences involving coach questions and formulations, and participant pauses.

Conclusions: The findings support the use of SFC as a professional development tool and substantiate the view that SFC ‘works’ through the coach’s use of relational strategies designed to facilitate collaborative conversations that build solutions through an emphasis on reflection and action.

KEYWORDS:

• Communication skills
• conversational elements
• listening skills
• pediatric rehabilitation
• professional development
• solution-focused

Acknowledgments

We thank the participants and Thames Valley Children’s Centre for their support. We also thank other members of the Interprofessional Communication and Effective Listening Team (ICERT): Linda Bolack, Deborah Strachan, Tracy Shepherd, and Colleen Willoughby. Madhu Pinto assisted with ethics approval and research coordination.

Declaration of Interest

The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper. Gillian King holds the Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Optimal Care for Children with Disabilities, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This chair is supported by matching funds from the Kimel Family Opportunities Fund through the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation.