A COMPARISON OF FACE-TO-FACE AND DISTANCE COACHING PRACTICES: COACHES' PERCEPTIONS OF THE ROLE OF THE WORKING ALLIANCE IN PROBLEM RESOLUTION

This study investigated the relationship between working alliance and problem resolution, among other variables, from the perspective of 102 coaches with psychology or counseling backgrounds. Results of the analyses suggested that coaches' perceptions of the working alliance were positively associated with problem resolution in both face-to-face and distance (e.g., phone) coaching. No significant differences were found in working alliance or problem resolution between the face-to-face and distance coaching conditions. The findings offer tentative evidence that distance coaching may be as effective face-to face coaching.