Understanding Coaching: A New Path to Mental Wellbeing
Many of us seek support and guidance to navigate our personal and professional lives, especially recently, with the start of election season and living in a post-pandemic time. There’s been a big push towards destigmatizing mental health which has contributed to a large increase in access to telehealth therapy and coaching. You may be familiar with the process of therapy, but coaching might be something new to you. So what exactly is coaching, and how does it differ from therapy? Let’s dive into these questions and also explore how mental health coaching can be a solution if you’re not ready or interested in starting therapy just yet.
What is Coaching?
Coaching is a collaborative partnership between a coach and a client aimed at helping the client achieve specific personal goals. Unlike consulting, where an expert provides solutions, or mentoring, where an experienced person guides a less experienced one, coaching focuses on empowering clients to find their own answers and develop their own strategies. Coaches ask powerful questions, provide encouragement, and offer accountability, helping clients move from where they are to where they want to be.
How is Coaching Different from Therapy?
While both coaching and therapy are similar, their approaches and goals are different. Therapy focuses on treating mental health conditions, resolving past traumas, and addressing emotional issues. Therapists are licensed professionals who can diagnose and provide treatment plans.
Coaching is solution-focused and emphasizes goal setting and behavioral change. Coaches do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, they work with clients who are generally healthy and looking to improve their lives in specific ways. Coaching typically addresses topics such as career development, healthy living, goal setting, and personal growth.
What Does Mental Health Coaching Provide?
Mental health coaching offers support for individuals who specifically want to improve their mental health and address behaviors and/or habits that impact their emotional wellbeing.
Here’s a short list of topics you and a mental health coach might focus on:
Clarity and Focus: A mental health coach will help you gain clarity about your values, goals, and priorities through reflective questioning and exercises.
Stress Management: You will learn different tools and techniques to manage stress effectively. A mental health coach may suggest mindfulness practices, time management strategies, and personalized self-care routines that align with your lifestyle.
Work-Life Balance: It’s incredibly common to struggle with balancing the demands of work and personal life. A mental health coach will assist you in creating strategies to ensure a healthy balance, reducing your burnout and improving your overall wellbeing.
Self-Compassion and Confidence: Building self-confidence and fostering a positive self-image are common topics in mental health coaching. You will work to develop a kinder, more compassionate relationship with yourself and identify how to tame your inner critical voice.
Accountability and Support: One of the most significant benefits of coaching is the ongoing support and accountability it provides. Regular check-ins and progress reviews will help you stay on track and make continuous improvements.
Mental health coaches usually offer coaching on many other topics, too, like communication, relationships, boundaries, intimacy, and so on.
Inner Haven's Approach to Mental Health Coaching
At Inner Haven, I specialize in wellness coaching for women, with a focus on healthy boundary creation, stress management, and self-compassion. My mission is to empower women to live fulfilling, vibrant lives. If you’re ready to take the next step on your wellness journey, consider exploring the benefits of coaching with me!
