Why gay men make great coaches: how the experience of developing a positive gay identity impacts coaching practice

2022/05/25 by Paul Bennett Roberts, Roberts, Paul Bennett
Psychology · #Coaching Methods and Impact #Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports

paper · doi:10.24384/yzyc-9957

Abstract

While studies on the experiences of gay men working in the helping professions have explored the personal strengths and attributes they bring to their work, there is limited literature about gay men working in coaching. This heuristic inquiry provides insight into how nine gay male coaches felt their experience of developing a positive gay identity impacted their identity as a coach. The findings reveal a parallel between the experience of ‘coming out’ about sexuality and the process that coaching can facilitate in supporting clients to ‘come out’ about their challenges and ambitions. This is the first qualitative study to explore the experience of gay male coaches and has the potential to be of interest to coaches who identify as being from other minority groups.

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