THE WELLNESS OF BEING

When making the coaching versus therapy decision, hopefully the information below will be helpful.

 

Therapists are trained, licensed professionals that work with clients experiencing emotional disruptions in their lives from trauma or unhealthy patterns. Sometimes a diagnosis is involved and a therapist might coordinate care with a psychiatrist. Therapists typically have training beyond their licensing which might include specialization in therapeutic modalities such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing), CBT or DBT (cognitive or dialectical behavioral therapy), SEP (Somatic Experiencing).

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Life coaches work similarly.  They have a foundational life coach training certification and then specialized training beyond. Coaches generally work with people who have acquired a level of stability, but are not yet at their desired potential. Coaches sometimes collaborate with a clients' therapist  to set goals and objectives. Specifically, coaches guide clients to discover their own inner intelligence, inner resources and gifts. We help them develop goals, achieve life balance, and realize their potential. Coaches do often work with people who have experienced trauma, childhood abuse or neglect, but we focus on their current life patterns and moving clients forward. A life coach should be well-trained in recognizing whether a client is a good fit for coaching versus therapy. A well-trained coach knows how to create a safe, trauma-informed container without delivering therapy. People who come to coaching usually have had some therapy and have addressed disruptions in childhood or adult development with a therapist, but some people go straight to coaching. There is no right or wrong. The idea is to start somewhere. Many therapists are acquiring coach training so they may work with their clients at the coaching level, or they may refer them on to a life coach after appropriate psychological work is completed. And vice versa, many coaches are going on to receive further education and licensing as a psychotherapist.

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In my coaching sessions, I take the overall view of the monomyth of the hero's  journey, which the mythologist/anthropologist, Joseph Campbell, wrote prolifically about in his book, A Hero With A Thousand Faces. This monomyth is common to all humankind. CG Jung calls this the drive toward individuation and is the framework I use in my coaching sessions

 

Patricia R Adson, Phd, wrote in her book, Depth Coaching, Discovering Archetypes for Empowerment, Growth and Balance, "Therapists generally prepare clients for the hero's journey, and coaches aid in identifying the call to the hero's journey and act as guides along their journey."

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Please contact me if you are feeling that "call" and are ready to begin your journey.

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