Coaches Deserve the Care and Attention They Are Nurturing in Others: exploring co-active life coaches’ perspectives on professional practise and self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Helping professionals promote self-care amongst their clients: a proactive practise that enhances personal well-being. Yet, many struggle to engage in self-care personally which can lead to adverse health consequences and burnout. To date, little is known about helping professionals’ views on self-care as it relates to personal and professional practise: especially during a worldwide pandemic where the demand for health-oriented services is amplified. Certified Professional Co-Active Coaches (CPCCs) are poised to offer unique insights into this phenomenon given their inherent focus on enriching client well-being. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore CPCCs’ experiences related to coaching practise and self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were used, and data were analysed using an inductive approach. Twelve CPCCs (10 = female) participated. Four main themes emerged: a shift in practise; changes in clients; personal self-care practises; and professional self-care practises. Therapeutic empathy and setting emotional boundaries were identified as valuable coaching strategies. Participants also highlighted the need for intentional self-care routines to care effectively for themselves and others. Taken together, these findings may be transferable to other helping professionals, training bodies, and clients through an enhanced understanding of self-care during times of crises.