March 11th, 2024
This resource article is intended to be for informational purposes only. Any clinical information or advice contained in this article is not intended as a thorough, in-depth delivery of clinical service and does not replace what a clinician would provide during a session in a regular format, and should not be used to form a diagnosis or determine medication usages or frequencies that a physician or other mental health professional would provide. If you or someone you know are facing a crisis situation, please call the BC Crisis Centre at +1.800.784.2433 (1-800-SUICIDE) or visit their website, call 911 or your local emergency line, or visit the nearest emergency room.
“The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well.” – Elbert Hubbard
Believe it or not, the best time to access counselling or coaching services is when things are going well for you, your relationship, your career, and your family. This is the time when you (and those who may be participating with you) have the greatest capacity to not only learn new skills, tips and tricks for navigating the difficult parts of your life or job, but also to implement them when those times (inevitably) come.
Many believe that they should only access counselling or coaching services when a major life event occurs or when something goes wrong: the breakdown of a relationship, an out of control child, the loss of a job, a major career or business shift, the illness or death of a loved one…the list goes on. At Coastality, our clients are of course more than welcome to come to us during these difficult experiences and times of transition, but are always encouraged to come to us before, and after! Our experienced professionals are trained in a variety of modalities and methods to equip you with the knowledge and ability to tackle life’s challenges head on.
Maybe counselling or coaching has been on your “to-do” list, but you’ve been putting it off? No time is a bad time to make your mental wellness a priority. As we enter spring, a season of new growth and optimism, we focus in this month’s resource article on why you may choose to seek counselling or coaching support, and what to consider when you do.
When should I consider seeing a counsellor or a coach?
Aside from the above, individuals may wish to access counselling or coaching support if they are experiencing persistent feelings of anxiety/worry, sadness, grief/loss, and low self-worth. You may have these feelings for any number of reasons such as your job performance, your relationship(s), or maybe just life in general.
Maybe you are seeing other big or small behaviour traits or patterns forming such as sleeping more or less, eating more or less, substance use or misuse, or you’re having difficulty making significant or even minor life decisions or changes.
For parents, you may see in your children more overt behavioural changes such as physical outbursts or tantrums, reclusiveness, an inability to concentrate, irrational fear, or a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed.
Maybe you are seeing other big or small behaviour traits or patterns forming such as sleeping more or less, eating more or less, substance use or misuse, or you’re having difficulty making significant or even minor life decisions or changes.
For couples, maybe you’re seeing issues in your communication, boundaries not being respected (or are non-existent!), an increase in conflict or high emotions, or distancing in your daily lives.
What exactly is counselling, what is coaching, and what’s in it for me?
There are a few points to consider, both related to their purpose and your unique circumstances.
The focus of counselling (provided by a Registered Clinical Counsellor or similar) is typically on better understanding, addressing, and healing emotional or psychological trauma or other concerns experienced in the past that is affecting your current ability to manage life’s difficulties. Counsellors are trained to diagnose and treat a variety of mental illnesses and presenting conditions, and generally sessions are guided by the client.
Counselling from a qualified professional will involve the use of clinical approaches (modalities) such as Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), or Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) to work through the “why’s” and “how’s” of these issues or concerns.
The focus of coaching (provided by a Certified Executive Coach or similar) is typically on working on present concerns, and planning for the future. Coaches are trained to work with clients through a structured process to identify areas you want to address, and create action items and strategies to make progress in those areas.
Coaching from a qualified professional will involve a guided process that allows you to maximize both your personal and professional potential for creativity, productivity, and other skills such as leadership and teamwork.
In summary, if you are looking to address past pain or trauma, how those affect your relationship with yourself and others and your mental state, counselling is the better option for you.
If you are goal-oriented and focused on creating growth and improvement strategies for the here-and-now and the future, coaching is the better option for you.
What should I look for in a counsellor or coach?
After considering your goals (read above!), you should consider a number of factors: your level of commitment (are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work?), your insurance/benefits and finances and what may be covered by an insurer/benefits provider, your schedule, and what types of modalities may resonate with you best.
Read about potential professionals, scan their profiles, look at what they specialize in, and Google the definitions of the various approaches they offer to learn more about them. Make sure that whoever you choose is professionally accredited and registered (i.e. with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors or the International Coaching Federation), and that they are formally trained in their approaches and areas of specialty.
The most important aspect to any counselling or coaching relationship is, of course, your connection with them. Most reputable professionals will offer a complimentary consultation call or session to determine if you are a good fit for each other, and if they can meet your needs.
Your chances of success will be much greater if you feel a sense of connection with your professional, so make sure you feel comfortable and at ease with them. Ask yourself if you could feel comfortable sharing details about your life with them, and if you could see yourself building a trusting relationship with them.
Whether it’s counselling or coaching, your goals should be made a priority, so watch out for the red flags as well: are you not being listened to/heard? Are you being interrupted when you speak? Are your expectations for treatment/approaches not being considered/acknowledged? Do they seem organized and well-informed? Do they seem professional and credible?
Counselling and coaching at Coastality.
We are proud to offer both counselling and coaching services at Coastality offered by a team of qualified and highly-experienced professionals. If you’re ready to “spring” in to greater mental wellness, feel free to take a look at their profiles and get in touch!
Our intake process is simple and quick – simply fill out the contact form, a member of our team will be in touch with you within 24 hours for a 10-15 minute phone call, and you’ll be ready to schedule your first session!