A coach looks at your life at the present moment and how to move it forward positively, whereas therapist’s or counsellors etc may look at your past and help you deal with trauma in order to move forward.
It is fantastic that mental health and well-being is so much more valued now and that there are mental health professionals, therapists, counsellors and coaches etc to provide support, but it can get confusing with all the different services on offer to know what a coach does and who to turn to…
Here I explain clearly what coaching is and is not, so you can decide whether it’s the right kind of support for you.
Coaches may use some therapeutic approaches, for example, to improve well-being and self-limiting beliefs, but it is not therapy and coaches do not provide medical advice, a diagnosis to clients or treat mental illness, addiction or trauma.
Clients may access support from a coach and a mental health professional at the same time but if your mental health is affecting your ability to function in daily life such as severe depression or anxiety, OCD, PTSD or personality disorders etc., coaching is not appropriate and requires a trained mental health professional to provide support.
A coach does not tell you what life changes to make as no one knows you and your own life like you do! Instead, a coach uses powerful questioning and discussion to help you make the right decisions and changes for you and supports you to plan achievable steps to move forward.
Coaching is a valuable support system, making changes is so much easier with an encouraging guide, as your comfort zone will often want to pull you back and drain your energy.
You don’t have to keep trying on your own anymore. Life coaching helps you see what is possible, to stay committed when overwhelmed, overcome self-limiting beliefs to achieve your true potential to thrive.