Why Should You Become a Certified Professional Coach? (Part 2: Coaching is NOT Therapy)
They are very, very different and each has its place.
Coaching is present and future based, hopeful and inspiring Therapy resides in the past often attached to pain and shame
Coaching is based on a Positive Psychology Wellness Model which recognizes people’s strengths and interests and helps them move forward towards a meaningful goal
Therapy is based on a Medical Model that deals with dis-ease and sickness. It is laser targeted on discovering the problem, identifying what’s broken and attempting to fix it.
Coaching builds and strengthens Therapy breaks down and restructures
Coaching contracts for goals to be met in a specified length of time - with assessment markers along the way so the client knows how [s]he is doing. Therapy is ongoing without stated goals or identified assessments for progress
Therapy is tainted with a stigma of “What’s wrong with you.” Coaching by its very nature builds on “What’s right with you.” Isn’t that a wonderful way to think about ourselves?!
People are far more comfortable admitting they are going to a coach even proud of it like having a Fitness Coach. They work with a coach to build and fine tune their muscle. Can you imagine any competitive athlete who wouldn’t want to work with a coach? The whole specialty of professional coaching started with sports because athletes recognized the value of an outside “consultant” to help them . . .
Assess their strengths and sport interests so they could help their clients create a realistic path to their particular goals.
Provide perspective – seeing how the athlete was performing and being able to identify blind spots that needed addressing for optimum performance
Create a structure and schedule to follow
Stay Accountable. It’s a lot easier to work on purpose when you have the mirror of the Coach reflecting and reminding you of your desired outcomes.
Avoid pushing too hard and doing more harm than good. Overworking can be just as bad as not enough time and effort.
Stay motivated especially when it feels too hard or like clients are not progressing as quickly as they would prefer.
Get Reality Check-ins to celebrate progress and make appropriate course alterations
Listen. Of course, there’s a place for therapy. I take supplements to build my strength and health. But when I’m sick I may need antibiotic therapy. I may even slow down on my supplements and food until I feel better. You know, feed a cold, starve a fever. Once the illness is gone I return to eating healthy and living a nurturing, wellness way of life. I will not take medicine prophylactically. Coaching embodies a strengths and interests wellness model while Therapy is about sickness.
Therapists help with pathology. Coaches help with development.
And as mentioned in the first part of this series, there are many other strengths, interests and types of “muscle” we need to boost to reach our human goals, needs and potential – mental, emotional, artistic, creative, empathic, relationship to name a few.
Doesn’t it make sense to work with an experienced person to help you make the journey easier, more efficient, more successful AND more enjoyable?
Yes, I admit it. In case you didn’t notice, I AM a strong advocate of Coaching.
If you ever want to discuss it with me, please feel free to contact me... - DocSharon@DrSharonLivingston.com 603-505-5000
Follow your inspiring path.
Until next time . . . Doc Sharon :)