What is Coaching Counseling?
I am so glad you asked! Coaching counseling is a hybrid that I came up with to describe they type of therapy that I do. Over the last 18 years of practicing therapy I realized that people really do want feedback and options on the “how to” part of making changes.
Traditional therapy comes from the medical “sick” model and coaching comes from a healthy model. However, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has always assumed that a person can practice new tools in thinking and behaving in order to make changes in life. You do have to be “well” enough to practice the tools so I have always practiced CBT coming from a “wellness” perspective.
In a nutshell, coaching is more question oriented and tends to give concrete tools to take home and use. It also serves as a way to have accountability for doing homework and practicing the skills. Therapy tends to be more insight oriented and also looks for patterns of behavior from the past. Therapy also asks questions and makes observations to think deeper about.
I have always been drawn to, and have practiced CBT from this wellness perspective. Then coaching became the rage and people flocked to it. I realized that I ultimately was doing coaching and counseling since I use aspects of both. By using the two modalities together, “coaching counseling” describes my style of therapy.
I am an interactive therapist that helps you with insight and understanding yourself to see patterns of behaviors that you want to change. I give feedback and make observations for you to think about. I also use concrete tools and skills in the form of handouts and books to read that provide a roadmap for you to follow to make concrete changes in your life.
Like any map, you are welcome to follow it, get lost, take the scenic route or just enjoy where you are right now. There is no “right” or “wrong” way for you tofollow the map but it can help to have a roadmap with an idea of where you want to go and how to get there!
If you would like to learn more about the “roadmaps” in life I teach, give me a call at my San Diego office to set up your coaching counseling appointment today! 619-687-9013