One thing I love about being a therapist in 2020 is that the stigma around mental wellness and going to therapy is rapidly falling away. More and more, people are prioritizing their mental and emotional wellbeing in a way that we’ve never seen before.
The trouble is, for some people, traditional therapy feels like more of a hassle than its worth. For others, it doesn’t provide the type of access and flexibility they’re looking for, which is where coaching comes in.
COACHING MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU IF…
You’re a busy student, professional or homemaker who doesn’t have the time or need for traditional therapy.
You’re facing a major life transition like moving into the workforce, getting married, welcoming a new baby, making a big move, and want some help navigating the change with grace.
You want to improve your habits and up your self-care game.
You’re in a comfortable place and want to branch out and try something new but don’t know where to start
You’re stuck in a rut and want to improve your relationships.
Your life looks good on paper but you’re feeling uninspired, fatigued, worn down and overwhelmed by all the minutiae
coaching isn’t for you (yet) if…
You have a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder (think Major Depressive Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder) that has not yet been treated with therapy and/or medicine.
You are currently dealing with a significant trauma like abuse, death of a loved one, divorce, the aftermath of a major injury, illness or accident, etc.
You are actively self harming and/or suicidal.
How to get started with a coach
Do your research. I know that we can learn so much from the internet these days, but there’s something to be said for working with a licensed professional who is trained in evidence-based models for improving mental health. Plus, licensed professionals hold themselves to a rigorous standard of ethics when it comes to knowing the limits of their scope of practice. That means they’ll refer you to someone who can give you targeted support you need if they can’t. If you find someone whose voice and style you like, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask them about their training.
Reach out. Don’t hesitate to fill out their contact form or shoot them an email, asking for more information and a complimentary intro session. A good coach will answer your questions and help you make the best decision based on your needs. A good coach is more dedicated to getting you the support you need than selling you on their services.
Be honest. It’s important to work with someone you can trust. Being vulnerable with someone about what’s going on in your life is difficult. Working with someone you trust makes it a little easier. The more open you can be, the more you’re going to get out of the experience. Like anything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it. So don’t hold back!
Take full advantage of all the resources available to you. With my clients, I use a variety tools for communicating and sharing resources. In addition to regularly scheduled phone/video calls, my clients can touch base with me via text or MarcoPolo. They also have access to a shared Google doc where I post homework assignments and helpful resources that they can access even after our work together is complete. It’s easy to feel like sending your coach a message is bothering them or being needy, but it’s not. It is, however an opportunity to explore some of those old negative core beliefs.
If you have any questions about finding the right coach for you, or if you’re interested in working with me, you can click here for my contact page or email me at kristasteele17@gmail.com