1st Edition

Arts-Based Coaching Using Creative Tools to Promote Better Self-Expression

Edited By Andrea Giraldez Hayes, Max Eames Copyright 2025
204 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

204 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

204 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book, written in an accessible way by leading experts in the field, offers a comprehensive exploration of arts integration in coaching through the lenses of positive and health psychology. Drawing together international experts and interdisciplinary perspectives, including health and neuroscience, the book explores the intersection of positive psychology and the arts, offering insights and... Read more

Introduction. The science of arts-based practices in coaching 

Andrea Giraldez-Hayes and Max Eames 

 

1. Verbal and non-verbal communication in coaching  

Gill Westland 

 

2. Landscape of the mind: Using imagery and metaphors in arts-based coaching 

Max Eames 

 

3. Exploring the self through photography 

Neil Gibson 

 

4. Photo Coaching 

Patricia Sotomayor 

 

5. Coaching Re-imagined: The Four Creative Inner Tools of the Coach 

Andrew and Adrian Machon 

 

6. Illustrated Coaching – Development Through the Co-creation of Visual Inscapes 

Meirion Jones and Andrew Machon 

 

7. The Experience of Listening to Music in Coaching 

Andrea Giraldez-Hayes 

 

8. Coaching in Art Galleries & Public Buildings: Strategies for Enhancing Reflection 

Beth Clare McManus 

 

9. From Pluralistic Sand-Tray Therapy to Sand-Tray Coaching 

Doreen Fleet 

 

10. Dancing and movement in coaching 

Alexandra Baybutt 

 

11. “Yes, and…” What coaches can learn from improv 

Julie Flower  

 

12. Film in coaching 

Nefeli Soteriou 

 

13. The power of place: Integrating environmental psychology and arts-based coaching 

Max Eames 

 

14. Fires for the Cold – The Uses of Poetry in Coaching 

Auriel Majumdar 

 

15. Together in Electric Dreams 

Stephen Brown 

 

16. Coaching with Collage 

Andréa Watts 

 

17. Ethical considerations in using arts-based tools and approaches in coaching 

Andrea Giraldez-Hayes, Wendy-Ann Smith, and Max Eames 

Biography

Andrea Giraldez-Hayes is a chartered psychologist, executive coach, supervisor, psychotherapist, and consultant with a remarkable track record in academia and professional practice. She is the course director for the MSt in coaching at the University of Cambridge. Andrea has written several books and articles and is an Associate Editor for prestigious publications such as Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice and the International Coaching Psychology Review.

Max Eames is a chartered psychologist, senior accredited psychotherapist, and registered applied psychology practitioner supervisor in private practice. As an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, he has extensive teaching, clinical, and supervisory experience in both private-sector and National Health Service-affiliated settings.

“People are visual and auditory creatures long before they become verbal, so the arts and humanities have a path straight to our raw emotions. These channels are tailor-made for deep connection and communication, and the creative process expresses so much of the individual's psyche that words cannot convey. This book offers so many approaches to enhance the way in which a coach can communicate, connect, and understand the client.”

Mandy Seligman. Fine Arts Photographer, Psychologist and Founder of SeeingHappy.org

“Coaching is a creative process, and unsurprisingly creative approaches have blossomed in coaching over the past decade, from the use of visual images to sound, from collage to poetry and from improv to dance. This book brings together a kaleidoscope of contribution and with each twist of the page, opens up new possibilities for working with clients. For those who want to coach in the full array of colours, Arts-based Coaching: Using Creative Tools to Promote Better Self-expression is a fantastic contribution to the library of coaching psychology.” 

 Prof Jonathan Passmore, Henley Business School, UK & Senior Vice President EZRA Coaching

“In a world of cognitive overload, this is a timely book, which reminds us of the power of creativity in coaching. It invites us to consider the richness and depth of arts-based practices. Wonderful things can happen when we engage not only our minds but also our senses, body and heart. Highly recommended.”

 Dr Ana Paula Nacif, University of East London, UK

“In a world that is evolving at astonishing speed, coaches can greatly benefit from fresh, innovative ways of connecting with clients.  This is a wonderful, colourful and richly textured account of a transformative approach to development that integrates art-making with coaching. I really appreciated the range of artistic approaches explored, from photography, poetry, and dance to sand-tray coaching. I highly recommend this book to coaches and coaching psychologists who wish to expand their repertoire of offerings to clients.”

 Iain McCormick PhD. Author, Award Winning Schema and Executive Coach

"Arts-Based Coaching puts both the art and science into coaching. Its chapters will appeal to coaches who hunger for expressive tools to foster client reflection and deepen conversations. This book is full of practical advice, including case studies, cultural and ethical considerations, and recommendations."

Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, author of Positive Provocation