Freedom to act in new ways: The application of Moreno's spontaneity theory and role theory to psychological coaching

Abstract

Moreno's concepts of role and spontaneity offer a useful methodology for psychological coaching. A central principle in Moreno's approach is that strengthening spontaneity and creativity through free-flowing enactment of a person's core concerns can produce the conditions that generate new and constructive responses to problematic situations. A coach, trained in Moreno's approach, can apply the concepts of role and spontaneity to promote and develop healthy functioning by helping clients access their capacity for self-direction, experimentation, self-review and purposeful action. This paper presents the principles of role-training and illustrates its application in an individual coaching context.