To explain what coaching is, first we need to talk about what a “coach” is. Let’s start with what a coach isn’t. A coach is not a psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist. Those are people who have completed University degree education programs and are health professionals. They can offer therapies that have been clinically tested, like for example CBT or cognitive behavioural therapy. Another well-known form of therapy is EDMR or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. These are just two examples of clinical (medical) treatments for dealing with mental health issues. Access to these forms of therapy, as well as many others, comes through being referred by your doctor.
What, or who, is then a coach? Coaches are people who have experienced trauma, hardship, difficult situations in life and overcame them. People like this have invested time and effort in themselves to understand their inner world and be able to tell other people about it. We also happen to have skills that enable us to use what we learnt to support other people in their process of self-discovery. Therefore, it could be said that a coach is a person with formal and non-formal learning experience whom wants to reduce suffering for others. We do this by using conversation techniques and other exercises as well as being vulnerable about our life experience.
Coaching then is a form of asking for help, but with a lower threshold than clinical therapy from a psychologist, for example. I, as a coach, do have training and I read professional literature from the field of psychology. Beside this I keep adding experience and additional training to my skills and competencies. Think of it as a carpenter, which I am as well, who has a box of tools. The carpenter themselves have skills, knowledge and competencies and they use tools to create the best result.
That is what I do as well. I use my skills, knowledge, competencies, training and tools as well as my experience to listen and support you in finding solutions, acceptance, forgiveness and growth, while you strive to live the best version of your life.