Exploring practitioners’ explanations of professional boundaries between coaching and therapy using interpretative phenomenological analysis
Jana Jenkins and Laura Rees-Davies
Citation: Jenkins, J., & Rees-Davies, L. (2026). Exploring practitioners’ explanations of professional boundaries between coaching and therapy using interpretative phenomenological analysis. International Journal of Coaching Psychology, 7, 2, 1-16. https://ijcp.nationalwellbeingservice.com/volumes/volume-7-2026/volume-7-article-2/
Copyright
© Jana Jenkins and Laura Rees-Davies, 2026. Published in the International Journal of Coaching Psychology by National Wellbeing Services Ltd. This article is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license. Full terms of licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Processing dates: Submitted: Submitted: 6 May 2025; Resubmitted: 4 March 2026; Accepted: 5 May 2026; Published: 4 August 2026
Abstract
Aims: The first aim of the study was to explore how clinical and counselling psychologists understand and manage professional boundaries between coaching and therapy. The second objective was to explore similarities, differences and overlap between the two fields and lastly to make recommendations for further research and training in order to professionalise coaching psychology further.
Methods: Six clinical and four counselling psychologists in independent practice, based in the UK, providing both therapy and coaching over a minimum of three years, were recruited for the study.Semi-structured interviews were conducted online, lasting from 41 to 65 minutes. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse psychologists’ interviews (Smith & Nizza, 2022).
Results: Three group experiential themes were identified: (1) Examining dynamic tensions between ethical maturity and ethical ambiguity (2) Depicting linear versus non-linear trajectory of change (3) Honouring professional integrity. A visual depiction of the definition of the boundary was represented by a Venn diagram highlighting how participants defined similarities, differences and overlap. Furthermore, the Boundary decision tree guide was devised in hope to help practitioners with their decision making. Decisions about boundary were experienced as shaped by context, requiring practitioners to rely on their professional judgement. In addition, they explained that there is a significant overlap between the two disciplines. The boundary between coaching and therapy emerged as something negotiated between psychologists and those they worked with, rather than predefined or fixed.
Discussion and conclusions: The professional boundary between coaching and therapy is co-created between psychologists and their clients/coachees. Ethical obligations such as having adequate training and competencies was identified as paramount. The Venn diagram and The Boundary decision tree guide can be useful tools to guide practitioners how to understand and manage the boundary. Several recommendations are made for coaching practice, training, policy, and further research.
Keywords: Professional boundaries; coaching and therapy; clinical, counselling and coaching psychologists, coach, coachee, ethical maturity and ethical ambiguity
Generative AI statement: The authors confirm that the manuscript is human-authored. AI tools were used as appropriate in the preparation of this manuscript. Where used, the tools were limited to language editing and organisational support, including assistance with structure, formatting, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. AI tools were not used for all substantive content, analysis, and interpretation were developed, reviewed, and approved by the authors. The authors confirm that the paper has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration in any other publication.
Biographies
Dr Jana Jenkins is a Chartered Clinical and Chartered Coaching Psychologist, Lubersac France
Email: drjanajenkins@gmail.com
Website: www. drjanajenkins.com
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4924-661X
Dr Laura Rees-Davies is a Senior Lecturer at Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, CF23 6XD, UK. She is also a Chartered Coaching Psychologist Email: lnrees-davies@cardiffmet.ac.uk
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0707-1146