Everyone has good days and bad days – but when the bad days seem to go beyond the threshold you are comfortable with, there’s no shame in needing a little support.
We’ve all been there. Juggling career, parenting, relationships, and having a life can get overwhelming. Maybe all you need is a bit of “me” time or to talk it out with a trusted confidant to bounce back. Sometimes, however, you may need to seek professional guidance. We all need some form of therapy at one point or another – the biggest questions are (1) if it needs to be on a clinical level; and (2) what is your most accessible and viable option?
There’s a growing number of people seeking professional guidance, however, there’s a shortage of licensed therapists in the U.S. And because most therapists – like health coaches – do not take traditional insurance, the need to feel bound by your in-network provider list is no longer a constant. Instead, many are opting to seek support outside of their network, anyway. This has given rise to many modern go-getters turning to coaches for guidance and support to help get them on the right track or arrive at the right state of mind to achieve their goals. A recent study has found that as much as 58% of people experienced up to 76% improvement in their overall well-being after just one session with a certified coach.
Moderate Mental Health Challenges
It is important to note that coaching is not a replacement for medical treatment for those who have clinical-level mental health issues.
However, coaches can be your go-to if you’re experiencing symptoms of doubt, anxiety, and other mental health blocks on a mild to moderate level and need somewhere to start. Or maybe you know what your goal is, but are at a loss on what next step to take. Depending on the coach’s certification and experience, there are those who can apply certain tools and techniques to support a positive spiral of behavior change all while managing stress and associated symptoms.
Choosing the right coach to help you achieve your goals is key, which brings us to…
Therapeutic Alliance
Whether in therapy or coaching, the relationship between the provider and client plays a big role in the success of the sessions. Some of the major factors are:
- Trust – the client needs to feel they can trust the provider enough to open up about themselves and their lives. This helps the provider get to the root of their issues.
- Personal intention – establishing a provider-client rapport is key to understanding each other and how to work together.
- Collaboration – reaching agreed-upon goals is a two-way process.
Individual Care Preference
While mental health is a topic that’s finally being more openly talked about, there are still people who have reservations about seeing a therapist. For some, it might be an image issue; for others, it might involve financial considerations.
Alternatively, it’s also completely acceptable to work with a therapist and a credible board-certified coach simultaneously in specific situations to help you get the support you need to look after your overall well-being from all sides. You can think of health coaching as first-aid for mental health, with therapy diving deeper into the chronic aspects.
Bottom line? For issues that are not too severe, a health coach can help you address and hopefully overcome more surface-level, mild to moderate struggles, and get you back on track or figure out your next move towards your goals.
The Driven Mama offers national board-certified coaching services for busy, high-achieving moms who don’t want to sacrifice health and wellness on their way to achieving big life and career goals. Get started with a free 30-minute consultation and see if it’s the right fit for you and your needs!
