| Mental health professionals grow in numbers and | | | | counselor or therapist it can be a challenge to adapt to |
| classifications as society continues to provide | | | | a coaching setting; it is necessary in order to have a |
| stressors that contribute to the overall statistics of | | | | successful coaching relationship. The following |
| mental illness. According to the National Institute of | | | | psychotherapy and counseling approaches may offer |
| Mental Health, one in four adults over the age of 18 | | | | the most similarities to the ideas promoted by coaching |
| suffer from a diagnosed mental disorder in a given | | | | professionals: |
| year and in 2004 that estimate was close to 58 million | | | | Reality Therapy focuses on an individual's ability to |
| people (Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. | | | | choose his or her behavior, the present versus the |
| Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month | | | | past, movement toward a solution rather than |
| DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey | | | | accentuating problem, and goal setting with in a realistic |
| Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, | | | | action plan. |
| 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27). This does not take into account | | | | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a combination of |
| a more recent upsurge of unhappiness as a result of | | | | behavior therapy and cognitive theory. Among the |
| our economic downturn resulting in loss of jobs, homes, | | | | principles used in this mode of therapy include |
| and security. There are various types of treatable | | | | relaxation techniques, practiced behavioral responses, |
| mental illnesses and professionals specific to each | | | | accountability, affirmation, imagery, Neuro-linguistic |
| disorder. Among those professionals working with | | | | programming, motivation, and exploring opportunities. |
| these adults are psychiatrists, psychologists, addiction | | | | Rational Emotive Therapy, based on an emotional |
| counselors, religious counselors, therapists, psychiatric | | | | behavioral connection, promotes self acceptance, |
| nurses, and social workers. | | | | empowerment, an understanding of the client's |
| Mental health professionals, genuinely, have good | | | | perspective, activity towards change, assertiveness, |
| listening and communication skills, are analytical and | | | | and a collaborative therapist/client relationship. |
| problem solvers, and enter the field because they | | | | The coaching relationship is collaborative in nature, |
| enjoy helping others. This is also an accurate | | | | concentrates on a client's present situation, his or her |
| description of a life or executive coach. Are the two | | | | motivations and goals, behaviors, and action plans to |
| compatible? It may depend on the orientation of the | | | | achieve those goals, and employs affirmation |
| mental health professional and how well he or she is | | | | statements based on NLP. Appropriate coaching |
| able to transcend into a primary role of asking | | | | candidates exhibit good mental health and are ready |
| questions as opposed to also giving answers. After all, | | | | and able to make changes in their lives. Mental health |
| these professionals are well educated and work to | | | | professionals looking to enter into the coaching arena |
| earn licensures to be able to offer solutions to their | | | | may consider making a conscious effort to stay clear |
| client's problems. Very much like a physicians, they are | | | | of interchanging therapy with coaching techniques as |
| paid to give a diagnosis and workable treatment plan, | | | | to avoid a misinterpretation of the objectives of the |
| supporting their "patients" until they enter into a state of | | | | relationship. |
| well being or are able to cope with their crisis. As a | | | | |