When you’re feeling stressed, it’s important to find the right support to help you manage and move forward. There are different professionals and approaches available, and understanding the differences can help you make an informed choice about which is best for you.
Stress Coaches
- Focus: Stress coaches primarily focus on improving performance, managing stress, and enhancing coping skills related to work or life. They teach tools to increase your capacity to think, plan, lead, and manage more effectively. The conversation is often framed around work-related performance, with the aim to help you function more effectively. Coaches do not generally address trauma or deep emotional issues.
- Approach: Coaching is often future-oriented, focusing on what you want to achieve and how to get there. They may help you to set realistic goals and create a timeline to achieve them. Coaches help you to identify your strengths and resources, and work towards a preferred future. They may also work with you to improve communication, assertiveness, and boundary-setting skills.
- What you’ll do: You’ll typically work with a coach to develop strategies and techniques to manage stress, improve time management, and enhance your performance. This may involve completing exercises, setting goals, and reflecting on your progress. You will be expected to take an active role in implementing strategies in your daily life. Coaching is generally shorter-term than therapy.
- When it might be best for you: If your stress is mainly related to work, or to managing performance and effectiveness in different areas of life, and you are looking for concrete strategies and tools to improve your performance, coaching may be a good option. It may not be appropriate if you need to address past trauma or deeply rooted emotional issues.
Traditional Therapy
- Focus: Traditional therapy (such as psychotherapy) aims to help you understand the underlying causes of your stress, anxiety, and emotional distress. It can help you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and to develop new ways of relating to yourself and others.
- Approach: Therapy can involve exploring past experiences, including trauma, to understand how they impact your current feelings and behaviours. It may use various techniques, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which addresses unhelpful thinking patterns. It also can use exposure therapy which can help you gradually face your fears. Some therapies, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), focus on accepting your feelings and moving forward with your values. Therapy may explore your values and goals to help you make meaningful changes.
- What you’ll do: In therapy, you’ll likely talk about your experiences, explore your emotions, and work on identifying patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to your stress. You may learn coping strategies, practice relaxation techniques, and develop a deeper understanding of yourself. Therapy can be a longer term process and requires a willingness to be open and vulnerable.
- When it might be best for you: If your stress is linked to past trauma, emotional difficulties, or significant life events, traditional therapy may be a better option. It can help you gain insight into the root causes of your stress and develop strategies for long-term healing and growth. It’s also appropriate if you are experiencing clinical levels of anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.
Counselling
- Focus: Counselling can help you to manage specific issues, develop coping strategies, and enhance your emotional well-being. It is less focused on past trauma and more on current issues.
- Approach: Counsellors use various talking therapies to help you explore your feelings, identify patterns, and develop solutions to your problems. They often focus on practical strategies and tools to manage stress and improve your well-being. Counselling can be solution-focused.
- What you’ll do: In counselling, you’ll have an opportunity to talk about your concerns with a trained professional in a confidential and supportive setting. You may explore your options, develop coping skills, and make plans to move forward. It may be shorter term than psychotherapy, often with weekly sessions.
- When it might be best for you: Counselling can be helpful if you are dealing with specific issues such as work-related stress, relationship problems, or grief. It is often more appropriate for individuals who have a clear idea of the issues they are facing and are looking for support and practical solutions. It can also be beneficial for those who prefer a shorter term approach compared to traditional therapy.
Key Considerations When Choosing
- Nature of your stress: Is your stress primarily work-related, or is it linked to deeper emotional issues or past trauma? This will influence which approach is best.
- Your goals: Do you want to improve your performance and manage stress, or do you want to explore the root causes of your distress and work on deeper healing?
- Your preference: Do you prefer a more structured, goal-oriented approach like coaching, or a more exploratory, insight-oriented approach like therapy?
- Your budget and time: Coaching is often short-term, whereas traditional therapy can be a longer process. Check if your workplace or insurance can help with these costs.
- Your comfort level: Do you feel more comfortable with a coach who provides direct guidance, or a therapist who provides a safe space for exploration? It is important that you feel a connection and trust with the person you work with.
- Level of Support: Consider whether you want to explore an issue in a group or individual setting.
Questions to ask any professional
- What is your training and experience in this area?
- What is your approach to helping people with stress and anxiety?
- What techniques do you use?
- What can I expect in terms of length of time and commitment?
- What is your fee structure?
Important note
It is possible to combine different approaches; for example, you might benefit from working with a coach for work-related stress, while also seeing a therapist for deeper emotional issues. It is also possible to integrate other techniques into your chosen approach, such as using Havening Touch as a self-soothing technique alongside other practices. Havening touch is a tool and not a therapy itself.
Ultimately, the best approach is the one that best meets your specific needs and makes you feel comfortable and supported. Take your time, ask questions, and choose the path that you believe will help you the most on your journey to better well-being.