Posted By Miriam Campos Root
Many people understand that they can seek out a psychotherapist for emotional and mental counselling. Psychotherapy has been around for hundreds of years, progressing from the late 1800’s and full development since the 1950’s. Health and wellness coaches have been around for the last 25 years, but have dramatically emerged in the last 10 to 15 years. Both professions provide vital services to the community. Because of the complex nature of modern health conditions with clients, many psychotherapists and wellness coaches work together with a client offering results-oriented programs in facilitating personal wellness goals and improving mental and physical health.
Here are a few main differences:
Psychotherapists generally deal with a client’s past trauma and assumes that emotions are symptoms of possible illness. They provide expertise and guidelines and offer a path toward healing. Coaches on the other hand deal in the present and guide the client to a more desirable future. They stand by the client’s side and assist them in identifying and turning their challenges into victories by holding the client accountable to reach their own lifestyle goals.
There is a diverse array of health and wellness coaches. Some health coaches are licensed health professionals including nurses, psychologists and physicians that assist their clients with chronic medical conditions. Other wellness coaches can have varied backgrounds in the fields of health promotion, education, fitness training and wellness management. Although they may differ in their level of education and training, they both use similar coaching methodology to offer guidance to clients in achieving well-being related goals. Most wellness coaching sessions are somewhat consistent with procedures outlined by the International Code Federation Core Coaching Competencies. These principles include setting the foundation, co-creating the coaching relationship by establishing trust and developing coaching presence, establishing effective communication asking powerful and open-ended questions, and facilitating goal-oriented results through creation of wellness plans, strategies, progress, and accountability.
Both professions apply positive psychology emphasizing well-being, strength-based philosophy and strategizing approach to overall happiness. Psychotherapists and wellness coaches engage with their clients mind-body relaxation therapies. Therapists demonstrate mindful practice while wellness coaches facilitate the learning of mindfulness with their clients. Both professions follow empathic listening and support the growth of self-efficacy, and follow the lead from the client.
Many individuals like to start out with a health and wellness coach with lifestyle and health related issues. In some situations, coaches may discover that serious issues such as chronic eating dysfunction, personality-driven behavioral patterns, abuse, or chronic pain problems are best handled by a mental health therapist. In general, wellness coaching may be the direction a client wants to take to meet their wellness-related needs involving health habits, wellness, exercise, weight, nutrition, stress management, or general health and well-being.
Today, more and more clients are primarily trying to manage their daily lives and find themselves overwhelmed and stressed with all their responsibilities. In some instances, they are experiencing chronic stress and that has led to health condition. Almost everyone experiences some level of stress that can eventually impact their health if they don’t address it sooner than later. To this point, wellness coaching can be regarded as a necessity rather than a luxury. The highest priority for health and wellness coaches is creating quality relationships with their clients and can offer caring attention, empathy, connection, active listening, and mindfulness. Researchers have suggested that these factors may be the most influential factor for changing behavior.
If you constantly struggle with stress, juggling priorities, with a health condition, and you feel aspects of your life is out of your control, a health and wellness coach may be just what you need to get your life and well-being in balance!
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