Therapeutic Coaching
What does it mean?
Therapeutic
- Relating to the healing of disease
- Serving to maintain health
- Having a beneficial effect on the mind or body
- Contributing to a sense of well-being
Coaching
- Giving guidance or instruction on a particular subject
- A purposeful conversation between two people, which inspires them to step out of their comfort zone and take the steps towards being who they want to be and doing what they want to do
Therapy and Coaching
'Coaching' and 'Therapy' are usually seen as quite separate disciplines. Purportedly: therapy focuses on the past, coaching - on the present and future; therapy is driven by unresolved issues or feelings, coaching - on setting goals and taking action; therapy explores the root of an issue and offers understanding, coaching - focuses on exploring solutions and is results-based. The list goes on...
My view is that there is an obvious overlap between coaching and therapeutic practices, and when integrated in just the right way, it can not only help an individual to explore, understand and effectively address a current or recurring problem but also to refocus and create new goals to develop and reach their fuller potential, in any chosen area of life.
Clarity > Decision > Flow > Transformation
Holistic medicine looks at the bigger picture. Our living environment, work, relationships, lifestyle, past experience and point of view can all produce intolerable stresses and strains. Looking at the interplay of all of these aspects in our life can help us find a new, expanded perspective and realize all the choices we actually have.
And this concept is integral to my experience as a practitioner. An holistic or whole-person approach takes into account how past-present-future are also inter-connected. By bringing perspective, healing and balance into this 'timeline' in a person's life, as well as taking action to move forward in new, more supportive ways, the results can be transformational!
Therapeutic coaching gives you the opportunity to consider and resolve often long-held issues whilst supporting you in identifying realistic and achievable goals for the future. As a result you will understand and trust yourself more. You will learn that you can achieve clarity on what is important in your life and start plotting your course towards it. You can realize that, as a human being, you have the natural ability to learn, grow and create direction in your own life. And that there will always be even more of your potential to explore and develop.