Improving Self-Efficacy?: Reflections on the Use of Life Coaching Techniques among Family Support Service Users

Abstract

Life coaching techniques have become popular in recent years but there is little evidence of the use of these techniques with family support service users. Given the emphasis within family support practice on encouraging individuals to pursue positive life changes, it is possible that life coaching techniques can be useful in a family support context. This article draws on findings of a small-scale Irish study undertaken by a family support worker who is also a trained life coach to make a series of reflections on the value of life coaching techniques with family support clients. The researcher facilitated a six- to eight-week life coaching programme for six family support service users. The study found that life coaching can impact on participants' self-efficacy but the practice of life coaching with clients experiencing adversity raises questions related to enablement and agency. The study concluded that life coaching techniques are potentially useful in family support practice, but would be best used in conjunction with other approaches.

Keywords:

• life coaching
• family support
• self-efficacy

Notes

1. The words client, service user and participant are used interchangeably as ‘client’ is the predominant term for a coaching client and ‘service user’ is predominantly used for those in receipt of family support services. ‘Participant’ is used for the family support service users who are engaged in the coaching process.