People are increasingly seeking coaching for depression as an alternative to traditional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and psychotherapy for several reasons, including the perceived benefits of a solution-focused, future-oriented approach and the limitations of traditional methods. While CBT and psychotherapy have been the standard treatments for anxiety and depression, they have some drawbacks that make coaching a more attractive option for some individuals.
Limitations of Traditional Approaches
- Focus on pathology: Traditional psychotherapies, including CBT, often focus on identifying and minimizing negative emotions, exploring past traumas, and addressing deficits or pathology. This can lead to clients feeling like passive recipients of expert care and may strengthen their negative self-image.
- Symptom-focused: CBT often aims to alleviate symptoms such as anxiety and low mood, which is the same approach that clients often take themselves. However, symptoms are not the only problem, and a more significant life is often to be lived behind them. If the focus remains on symptom management, clients may miss important aspects of their life situation.
- Mastery and control framework: Many traditional therapies, particularly CBT, work within a framework of mastering and controlling emotions. Clients are taught to manage their anxiety, but this can be counterproductive, as the struggle to control unwanted thoughts and feelings becomes the real problem.
- Time-consuming: Traditional therapies can be lengthy and costly, and there are often long waiting lists for state-funded provisions, which may be insufficient.
- Drop out rates: Many people drop out of traditional therapies, particularly when required to confront feared situations or events, which can be painful and a deterrent to engaging with treatment.
Benefits of Coaching for Depression
In contrast, coaching for depression, often rooted in solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), offers a different paradigm.
- Focus on strengths: Coaching for depression focuses on increasing positive emotions and identifying clients’ existing competencies and resources. This approach helps people develop a more positive outlook and sense of self.
- Future-oriented: SFBT emphasises the client’s preferred future, focusing on what will be different when the problem is solved, which is an empowering and motivating approach.
- Solution-focused: Rather than focusing on the problem, coaching for depression prioritizes the solution. It encourages clients to imagine the solution and the differences it will make in their lives. This approach helps to widen the array of thoughts and actions available to them.
- Collaborative: In coaching, the coach is not the expert but a facilitator. The client is seen as a co-expert, sharing their knowledge and expertise. This collaborative approach empowers clients and increases their sense of control.
- Change oriented: SFBT focuses on what clients will be doing differently when the problem is solved, creating an expectation of beneficial change.
- Brief and cost-effective: SFBT is typically briefer and less costly than traditional therapies.
- Applicable across contexts: The principles of coaching, particularly SFBT, can be applied in various settings, not just mental health, including work environments, conflict management, and personal development.
- Flexibility: Coaching for depression can be used in combination with other treatments such as medication if needed.
- Reduces Risk of Burnout Therapists and coaches using SFBT methods experience reduced risk of burnout due to the positive and collaborative nature of the approach.
- Improved motivation: Coaching addresses issues of motivation for change by focusing on progress that clients have already made and empowering them to make further progress.
Specific Techniques and Questions
- Coaches often use questions that focus on the client’s strengths and resources rather than deficits, such as, “How did you manage to do that?”.
- Questions focus on the client’s preferred future: “How will you feel when your best hopes are met?”.
- Coaches invite clients to imagine solutions: “Suppose there is a solution, what difference will that make in your life?”.
- Coaches also use scaling questions to identify progress made by clients such as, “How come the point on the scale isn’t lower than it is?”.
- Pre-treatment change is also recognised as a key indicator of progress. Coaches ask questions about changes the clients have noticed since scheduling their appointment, such as “How did you do that?”.
- Eliciting questions are used, such as, “What would you like to see instead of the problem?”.
- Competence questions are also used, such as, “How did you manage to come here today?”.
- When clients report improvements, coaches use competence questions: “How did you do that?”, “Where did you get this good idea?”.
- Coaches invite clients to think about their coping skills in crisis situations: “How did I manage to get out of bed this morning?”.
- Coaches invite clients to consider how they can comfort themselves, and who might be able to support them.
- Clients are asked how they will celebrate their victory over anxiety.
Integration with Other Approaches While coaching offers a distinct approach, it can be integrated with other therapies. For instance, biological treatments like medication can be framed positively by asking clients what the first signs of recovery might look like, how the recovery will manifest itself, and what they can do to support the medication’s effects.
In summary, the growing preference for coaching for depression is linked to its emphasis on strengths, future orientation, and collaborative nature, which contrasts with traditional therapies’ focus on pathology and symptoms. Coaching empowers clients, helps them focus on solutions, and is often briefer and more cost-effective.
Summary: Coaching for depression is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional CBT and psychotherapy. It focuses on strengths, solutions, and future goals, empowering clients to take control of their own recovery. Unlike traditional approaches, coaching is collaborative, brief, and cost-effective, making it a compelling option for many seeking help with depression.
Tags: coaching for depression, solution-focused therapy, SFBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, psychotherapy, mental health, positive psychology, strengths-based approach, future-oriented, client empowerment