Anne LouiseSometimes it can be difficult to figure out if you need coaching or therapy when you are having a hard time.
Seeing a psychologist is not the only way to get help when you are feeling anxious, depressed or overwhelmed with life. There are many ways to heal and to move forward. I spent years in therapy because I having a hard time with life. While it was nice to understand how my past connected to my present, but it didn’t help me move forward. It didn’t change anything for me. It was nice to have someone to talk to but my life was not different when I came home. I was still feeling anxious and depressed.
Until I discovered coaching.
The main differences between coaching and therapy:
| Coaching | Therapy |
|---|---|
| Does NOT diagnose or treat mental health disorders | Diagnoses or treats mental health disorders |
| Works with the whole person, not “just” the problem that brought them to coaching/therapy | Works from medical model of fixing something that has gone wrong or is wrong |
| Emphasis on present and future | Emphasis on past and present |
| Action and being oriented | Insight oriented |
| Coach and client ask: “What’s next/what now?” | Therapist and client ask: “Why and from where?” |
| Accountability and “homework” between sessions held as important | Accountability less commonly expected |
| Like a sports coach making athletes become world champions, coaches helps you become world champion of your own life | Is a doctor of the mind and will fix problems of the mind |
Another way to explain the difference between coaching and therapy is the “riding a bike” analogy:
Say you want to learn how to ride a bike.
- The therapist will talk about the bike and dig deep to find if there are some past traumatic experiences around the bike.
- A coach will walk with you along the bike and be there to guide when you are ready to step on the bike. The coach will stay with you until you are confident enough to ride the bike on your own.
What is a trauma coach?
The fact that I am a trauma coach merely means I am trauma informed. This means I use coaching tools in our work together AND I am sensitive to the fact that you have had trauma in your life. I understand what your body is going through and how/why your body reacts the way it reacts. I understand your struggles on a deep connected level, because I have been there too.
Coaching is what had the biggest impact on my healing. I grew up with divorce, abuse and alcoholism and I have struggled a lot with depression and anxiety. I have been to all sort of different types of therapy; psychotherapy, psychologist, psychiatrist, group therapy, but none of these ways of talk therapy did much for my healing. It wasn’t until I was working with a coach and I truly felt seen and heard.
Coaching is more practical and hands on. We don’t only sit a talk for 45 min and then send you home. We spend our time together exploring, discovering, experimenting, brainstorming and feeling what is right and what is not. Then we find ways to bring your insights out into the world and we discuss how this worked or didn’t work at your next session. Coaching is deeply transformational.
Your tears and emotions does not necessarily mean you need therapy. Feelings are a normal and healthy part of being human. If tearfulness, moodiness and depression continues over time and doesn’t go away, then we will discuss the need to seek therapy and I will help you do that.
If you are still unsure whether you need coaching or therapy, then send me a message. Together we will find out what you need to further your healing.
