People are increasingly turning to life coaches for help with anxiety because coaching offers a solution-focused, empowering, and action-oriented approach that differs from traditional therapy and counselling. Coaching emphasizes moving forward and achieving life goals, rather than just focusing on reducing symptoms, which many find more appealing.
Differences Between Coaching, Therapy, and Counselling
It is useful to understand the differences between these approaches to understand why many people now prefer a coach to a therapist or counsellor.
- Focus:
- Traditional therapy and counselling often focus on the past, exploring the root causes of anxiety and reducing negative emotions and distress. The emphasis is on what isn’t working and may include exploring past traumas and experiences.
- Coaching, in contrast, is future-oriented, concentrating on what the client wants to achieve, identifying their strengths, and describing a preferred future. The focus is on increasing positive emotions and building a better life. Coaching is very interested in what the client wants instead of the problem.
- Approach:
- Therapists often use a medical model, which involves diagnosis and a focus on recovery. Therapists have their own theories of how change occurs.
- Coaches work with a non-medical model, viewing the client as the expert in their own life. Coaching is about the client’s theory of change, empowering them to build on their existing coping mechanisms. Coaches can provide practical tools to help clients build confidence, manage stress, and move forward.
- Techniques:
- Therapy uses techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to change negative thought patterns and may involve delving into core beliefs.
- Coaching uses practical, readily applicable strategies, drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and other fields like NLP. These can include solution-focused questions, mindfulness exercises, relaxation anchors, and techniques to manage stress and emotions. Coaches focus on helping clients access a resourceful state of mind and make positive choices.
- Client Role:
- In therapy, the therapist is often seen as the expert.
- In coaching, the client is viewed as the expert in their own life and is empowered to find their own solutions and information.
- Goals:
- Therapy aims to reduce negative affect and achieve symptom alleviation.
- Coaching focuses on increasing positive affect, building hope, and moving toward a preferred future, with an emphasis on what the client wants to have instead of anxiety. Coaching helps clients align with their values and achieve their goals.
- Time Frame:
- Therapy can sometimes be a long-term process with the aim of recovery.
- Coaching tends to be more variable and individualized, focusing on achieving results through specific actions and practical solutions.
- Scope:
- Some therapies are disorder-specific and based on a specific diagnosis.
- Coaching is a more transdiagnostic approach that can be applied to a wide range of anxiety issues.
Evidence Supporting Coaching
Several factors suggest coaching is increasingly preferred:
- Empowerment: Coaching emphasizes the client’s ability to make changes, making them feel more in control compared to feeling like a patient in therapy.
- Action-Oriented Approach: Coaching’s emphasis on practical strategies and immediate action can be more attractive for those wanting to see quick results.
- Broader Focus: The focus on life enrichment in coaching, rather than just symptom reduction, aligns with a more holistic approach to well-being.
- Positive Mindset: Focusing on positive goals and what the client wants, instead of problems, can build motivation and hope.
- Reduced Stigma: Some people find “coaching” less stigmatizing than “therapy,” making it a more comfortable option.
- Effectiveness: Coaching techniques are effective for clients with mild to severe anxiety.
- Acceptance: Coaching aligns with the growing trend of acceptance based approaches that focus on accepting thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them, while clients pursue their values.
While therapy and counselling are still beneficial, coaching offers an alternative for those seeking an active and empowering way to manage anxiety and achieve their goals. Coaching recognises that coping mechanisms are already present and helps to amplify them, as opposed to therapies which can try to introduce new coping strategies.
Summary
People are increasingly turning to life coaches for help with anxiety because it provides a forward-looking, action-oriented, and empowering alternative to therapy and counselling. Coaching focuses on client strengths, practical solutions, and achieving positive life goals, making it appealing for those who want a more active and effective way to manage their anxiety. Coaching takes a transdiagnostic approach that can be applied to a wide range of anxiety issues and helps clients to live a rich and meaningful life, rather than just focusing on symptom reduction.