Are you confusing therapy and coaching?

How would you feel about telling your friends you had a coach?

Some of my clients have shouted it from the rooftops, others have felt slightly embarrassed and not even told their partners.

Why embarrassed? Well, sometimes people put therapy and coaching into the same category. And some people don't want to admit to seeking help from a therapist because they feel it shows they have an issue and need to be fixed.  There is no need to be ashamed of asking for any kind of help at all. But the stigma is there for some people.



But coaching is not therapy. People who are at the top of their game, either as CEOs or performers of some sort, all have coaches. They aren't being 'fixed'; they are being coached to be their very best. One of my former clients, a CEO in the City, said everyone should have a coach. Here was a successful high flyer, who still needed to talk over their performance in a board meeting, or how to get the best out of their team, and how to manage their work-life balance.

Coaching is not superficial. It's not a case of 'Right, what are your goals for the next two weeks' (and nothing else.) We do dig deep into patterns of behaviour that may affect your confidence, your relationships at work or home, even how your parents' attitudes to you have had a lasting effect. But unlike therapy, I will ask 'What are you going to do about it now? What will help you?' And you will set an achievable goal.

You aren't showing a weakness by seeking out coaching. Being pro-active, acknowledging you value professional support to be your best, is not a weakness. 

If you are thinking of seeking a coach, don't be embarrassed. Having a counsellor is no longer a hushed secret - it shows a desire to make life better. So does having a coach. Does that make you feel a bit better? 

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