Coaching for Anxiety
The Relationship Between Coaching and Therapy
I love to use analogies. Let me offer you one here. Imagine that you have a stone in your shoe.
The Therapeutic Approach
As a therapist I will help you to remove the stone. Our goal will be to take away the pain or discomfort as quickly as possible.
If it’s relevant, I will help you to understand how the stone got there in the first place. That way you can stop it from happening again. This gives many people what they need.
The Coaching Approach
As a coach, I will take a slightly different approach. Of course, the first step will be to get the stone out of your shoe. Reducing discomfort is always our number 1 priority.
I will also help you to consider whether these are the best shoes for you. Trainers can be great footwear but are not appropriate if you are going clubbing, want to climb mountains, or look great in a business suit.
Then it’s time to design shoes that are unique to you. Maybe more than 1 pair. Your new shoes will be perfect in every way: the way they fit, the way they look and their suitability to the task.
With this approach we go way further. We don’t just look at your shoes, we will look at your life.
There is so much more when you get past the point of zero discomfort. Our aim is for you to be living a great life and the reason for this is very simple.
When you feel fulfilled, when you feel happy at a deep level, you starve anxiety of its oxygen and it will not return.
Why Choose One Approach When You Can Have Both?
Most therapists are not experienced coaches. Most coaches are not qualified and experienced therapists. I am both.
Why is That Important?
I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but at my doctors they have introduced a strict 1 condition per appointment policy.
You can talk to the doctor about your bad back or your insomnia, but not both. What if they are related?
I’m guessing that your life is complex. When life is that way, anxiety doesn’t usually exist in isolation. Whether we work together for a short period of time or you choose a longer coaching relationship, we will focus on more than your anxiety. We will focus on your life.