2020 Volume 57 Issue 4.5 Pages 259-267
The present qualitative study analyzed characteristics of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) while implementing coaching through e-mail and Skype. The 5 participants had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; 2 women, of whom 1 was in her twenties and 1 over 30 years old, and 1 man over 30) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD; 2 men over 30). All but 1 of the men with autism spectrum disorder had graduated from university; the remaining man was a high school graduate. Coding the content of the coaching and e-mails revealed the following 5 elements: technical issues, screen preference, a scene from their daily life, Skype as a tool, and para-languages. The merits and risks of employing Computer-Mediated Communication for coaching are discussed, and some suggestions are offered for future uses of coaching.
