A depression coach can offer a unique approach to overcoming depression, with several advantages compared to conventional treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and psychotherapy. While CBT and psychotherapy are effective for many, they may not be the best fit for everyone, and a depression coach can provide a different kind of support.
- Action-Oriented Approach:
- Unlike some therapies that spend time focusing on past experiences or understanding the root causes of depression, a depression coach focuses on the present and future, helping clients to take action and make positive changes in their lives. This can be particularly appealing for individuals who are eager to move forward and implement practical solutions.
- Coaches tend to focus on what clients can do to improve their lives rather than dwelling on past problems. They help clients set specific, achievable goals and develop strategies for reaching them.
- This emphasis on action can be empowering, especially for those who feel stuck or helpless.
- Empowerment and Self-Reliance:
- Coaching aims to empower clients to take control of their own recovery. A coach helps clients identify their strengths, competencies, and resources so they can help themselves.
- This approach contrasts with some traditional therapies where the therapist is seen as the expert, and the client as a patient. In coaching, the client is considered the expert in their own life.
- A depression coach will help clients build confidence in their abilities to manage future challenges, promoting self-reliance and resilience.
- Solution-Focused Approach:
- A depression coach will use techniques and strategies from solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) that are particularly useful to help clients focus on solutions.
- Instead of focusing on what is wrong, the coach will focus on what is right for the client, identifying their past successes and building on them.
- The coach and client will work together to create a vision for the future and explore what is possible, which can be particularly useful for those struggling with the hopelessness often associated with depression.
- Questions that a coach may ask may include, “How will you celebrate your victory over depression?”, helping the client to imagine a successful outcome and to build hope.
- Flexibility and Accessibility:
- Coaching can be more flexible than conventional therapy. It can be offered in various settings (e.g. over the phone or video call) and can be tailored to fit the client’s schedule and needs.
- This flexibility can make coaching more accessible for individuals who may struggle to attend traditional therapy appointments.
- Coaching may be a more attractive option to some who are reluctant to enter therapy because of stigma, or for whom the traditional ‘patient’ role does not feel right.
- Reduced Focus on Pathology:
- Unlike some traditional approaches that focus on pathology (“What’s wrong with you?”), a depression coach focuses on what is right with the client and on moving forward.
- This can be a more empowering and encouraging approach that helps to transform the problem into something positive: a new and better life.
- A depression coach will also seek to help clients to reframe their negative stories and turn them into more helpful ones.
- Integration with Other Approaches:
- A depression coach may integrate principles from other therapeutic approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). These tools can be used to complement the action-oriented approach.
- A coach may utilise ACT to encourage acceptance of difficult emotions and to help clients move towards their values. They may also use NLP techniques to reframe negative thought patterns.
- Focus on Strengths and Resources:
- Depression coaches often focus on a client’s strengths and resources. This may involve identifying times when a client has coped well in the past or situations that they feel comfortable with, then helping the client build on these experiences.
- This approach can be very helpful for those who may have lost sight of their strengths or feel that their resources are depleted.
- Complementary to Medical Treatment:
- A depression coach can complement medical treatments such as medication. A coach can help clients to understand what positive changes might look like if medication takes effect and to make positive life changes that can enhance the effectiveness of their medication.
- A depression coach will also focus on the lifestyle factors that might help with recovery such as exercise, diet, and sleep.
- Practical Skills:
- A depression coach will help clients to develop practical skills for problem solving and for coping with difficulties, and not just focus on thinking differently.
- This practical approach can include learning to manage stress, set achievable goals, and develop new routines and habits.
- A depression coach will also help their client to think about the value of their life and find new meaning and purpose, which can help people to be more resilient.
A depression coach offers an alternative to traditional treatments like CBT and psychotherapy, with a focus on action, empowerment, and a solution-focused approach. Coaches help clients to set and achieve goals, to build on their existing strengths, and to take an active role in their recovery. By integrating approaches such as SFBT, ACT, NLP, and coaching, they provide a flexible, personalised, and empowering alternative for people who want to move on from their depression and start living better lives.