While coaching and mental health counseling share the same common end goal of improving a person’s overall well-being and satisfaction with life and work, there are a few key differences between the two.
In both instances, whether through counseling or coaching, the first order of business is developing self awareness and the ability to recognize how emotions and mental health may be affecting areas of their life, like work, for example.
The biggest difference is that counselors are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues while coaches help clients with developing skills, unlocking potential, shifting mindset, and achieving personal goals.
Since a career coach has a limited ability to help clients with mental health concerns, it’s important to understand that, for some, there may be a need for both a counselor and a coach.
Individuals may choose to work with both simultaneously, or one and then the other.
For example, this could look like addressing their mental health challenges with a therapist first, then working with a career coach to optimize their outlook and skills for the future.
We know that offering mental health support in the workplace is crucial for employee well-being, but what about coaching?
One study conducted by BetterUp Labs found that professional coaching improves:
🌱 Self-awareness
🌱 Self-efficacy
🌱 Social connection
🌱 Emotional regulation
🌱 Stress levels
🌱 Life satisfaction
🌱 Resilience
🌱 Individual sense of purpose
It’s important to look at coaching as one component of a larger holistic approach to well-being. We can’t address skills and future goals unless we get our minds right in the present first.
For someone battling chronic depression or anxiety, coaching won’t be as effective as therapy, but a combination of the two can really help them thrive.
VitaliTeam Workplace Wellness provides solutions at the intersection of organizational health and individual wellbeing.
Learn more at www.dradeolamead.com/vitaliteam