A gratitude-based positive psychology coaching case study

The case study report illustrates how gratitude can be integrated into a series of coaching sessions. Janet, an undergraduate student, wanted to feel happier, and cultivating gratitude has been shown to increase well-being [Cunha, L. F., Pellanda, L. C., & Reppold, C. T. (2019). Positive psychology and gratitude interventions: A randomised clinical trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 584. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00584]. Pre and post the four-week coaching encounter she completed, the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6) and a Wheel of Life (WoL). Using the WoL as a goal setting tool, the gratitude exercises were selected to complement the coachee’s weekly goals. After sessions, her SHS score increased by 50%, whereas her GQ6 score increased by 33%. There were also changes in her WoL ratings, particularly in the area of family and friends, as well as personal growth. Although the direction of these changes is predicted by the literature, we may need to be cautious about interpreting the strength of these changes. They may be due to a placebo effect. An inherent weakness of the case study approach is that factors other than the intervention can impact measured changes. Nevertheless, this case study does outline a process of how to integrate a positive psychology intervention into a coaching encounter and may act as a template for this type of work.