Coaching versus Counseling...

COACHING VERSUS COUNSELING -

WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

When you hear the word “coaching,” what do you think about it? As an athlete, when I first hear the word “coaching” I immediately think about training for some physical goal I might have. There has been a lot of buzz about coaching in the mental health world and it seems important that we take a deeper dive into what coaching means, and how it looks different than counseling. 

Coaching is often referred to as “life coaching,” which is an umbrella term for all things coaching. There are many different types of coaching including business coaching, couples coaching, wellness coaching, and performance coaching to name a few. There are a few things that stand out when differentiating between coaching and counseling.

Time Frame

Coaching is generally more designed to meet a specific goal one might have. For example, if your goal is to create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle, you may want to explore wellness coaching to help achieve that goal. The time frame on this is generally more specific, whereas in counseling, the commitment to the work can sometimes be dependent on the therapeutic approach one might take and the goals of the client. Time commitment is usually laid out early on in the coaching relationship with specific goals along the way. 

Performance vs. Emotion

Coaching generally addresses a bit of the emotional aspects that may be barriers to achieving your goal, however, if there are certain issues that come up with trauma or mental health, a coach will often refer the individual to also work with a licensed counselor. Performance or meeting a specific goal lends to deciding to commit to coaching over counseling. While emotions may show up, coaching works on identifying barriers and implementing systems to help one achieve that goal. Counseling focuses on the emotions that people experience and ways in which one can become aware of these emotions and regulate them. 

Relationship with Coach/Counselor

The relationship one has with both the counselor and the coach is important. Both require building rapport and trust. In general, a coach might feel a bit more inclined to share more personal information than a counselor might. 

Future Work vs. Past Work

We often consider counseling as a way to process past trauma and experiences and focus on the here and now. In general, it is less focused on what the future might look like. Coaching, on the other hand, looks at a future goal and identifies and implements tools to help one achieve that goal. There is not a lot of focus on past experiences or ways of being, but a drive to support one in achieving a specific goal or goals that have been put into place. 

There is a place for both coaching and counseling in life depending on what you might be needed at the time and what goals you might have. This is something we can assess when you contact our practice and we take a look at what your needs and goals are. We are excited to begin providing the addition of coaching to Bridger Peaks Counseling starting in January of 2023. We are happy to support this community and recognize that there is a need to add coaching to the services we provide.

Begin Counseling in Bozeman

Searching for the right services that work best for you can be a long journey. But, taking the time to find the right support will make all the difference in the advantages counseling and coaching have to offer. Our team of caring therapists would be honored to offer support from our Bozeman, MT-based practice. To start working towards your goals or mental health, please follow these simple steps:

1. Make an appointment online

2. Meet with one of our professional Bozeman mental health therapists

3. Start addressing the issues that matter to you most!

Other Services Offered at our Bozeman, MT Practice

We know there are a number of things that you may seek support for in addition to coaching and counseling. We are happy to offer a variety of services including addiction treatment, group counseling sessions, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing for trauma therapy, marriage counseling and couples therapy, postpartum depression and anxiety counseling, depression therapy, workshops, and more. Feel free to visit our blog to learn more!

The Parallel Process...

THE PARALLEL PROCESS OF CLIENT & CLINICIAN

Understanding my identity as a counselor has been, and continues to be, a beautifully paradoxical process for me.

I sit with people helping them find both the skills to cope with distress in their life as well as perspectives that refocus on their own strengths and goodness amid their struggles. I observe it is often easier for my clients to imagine empathetic and kind responses for others they care about than it is for themselves.

Envisioning comforting a child when they are afraid, seeing the ways a close friend’s anger is justified, or holding space for the sadness of a partner can seem simple. However, the fear, anger, and sadness within the client's experience are often criticized and dismissed by themselves. And though I am confronted with this paradox so clearly, I still find myself quick to judge my own emotions.

It is humbling, and I think endlessly valuable, to know I am still very much on parallel journeys with my clients.

There is no amount of schooling, knowledge, or training that can protect me from the experience of being human. And so, I too am learning how to greet my emotions as reasonable, wise, and helpful pieces of myself.

When I am able to compassionately embrace my emotions, there is a profound shift. I move from rigid and anxious spaces to more internal freedom and confidence. It is a daily practice for me to work on this way of being. It feels worth noting that it is often my clients who inspire me to continue doing the work. I have the unique privilege of witnessing people confront pain, fear, or heartache and choose to walk through it.

More often than not, in the words of poet Galway Kinnell, they rediscover their own loveliness along the way.

In this process, I find encouragement for the ways the human experience has so much potential for joy and beauty. If you are a client reading this I want to know that the work you do in sessions is likely more meaningful to your therapist than you might know. The courage to show up and risk being seen and embrace your process is a precious gift you give.

Begin Working with A Bozeman Therapist

Our team of caring therapists would be honored to support you in your therapy journey. Therapy in Bozeman, MT can offer new skills to address the mental health concerns that affect you most. To start therapy with Bridger Peaks Counseling, please follow these simple steps:

1. Make an appointment online

2. Meet with one of our professional Bozeman mental health therapists

3. Start improving your mental health!

Other Services Offered at our Bozeman, MT Practice

Our team understands you may struggle with more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why we are happy to offer a variety of services including addiction treatment, group counseling sessions, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing for trauma therapy, marriage counseling and couples therapy, postpartum depression and anxiety counseling, depression therapy, workshops, and more. We look forward to talking with you soon!