Coaching And Counseling: What Is Normal?

By Author: Ken Edelston
Total Articles: 4
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This article addresses the differences between coaching and counseling. Most people want help with "normal" problems. Why diagnose then?
What is the difference between therapy, counseling, and life coaching? Let's compare and contrast these methods. Psychotherapy and counseling are nearly indistinguishable. They are both treatment options for mental health problems. Psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and sometimes psychiatrists practice psychotherapy. Counselors come in a variety of flavors, clinical, pastoral, alcohol and drug, to mention a few. There are many methods delivered by professionals who have varied initials. Without going into the details, counseling and therapy are similar enough, but quite distinct from coaching. For the sake of simplicity, I will call mental health services psychotherapy. Psychotherapists provide mental health services for individuals who have some kind of emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or organic disorder. The therapist's initial task is to accurately diagnose the presenting problem. The statutes of the State of Maine require a diagnosis as a part of treatment planning. ...
... You might go to a therapist because you are unhappy, feeling down, confused, or anxious. In order to receive therapy, a diagnosis will be determined. This might be Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Adjustment Reaction, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or many others. These categories are all listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual in its 4th addition. This book was originally set up to provide psychiatric diagnoses; however, the manual is also used by other psychotherapists. The basic idea is that psychotherapy is designed to address abnormal behavior, emotion, or thoughts. When you walk into the psychotherapy office, it is assumed that you are sick and that you have come to a professional to assist in healing. Some therapists do not practice like this; yet, if one does practice out of the box, so to speak, insurance companies will not pay for services. Coaching, whether it be for life or business issues, is designed to address normal life stresses, confusions, dilemmas, obstacles, or even more importantly, coaching focuses on the gap between where you are and where you would like to be. The work has nothing to do with pathology, diagnoses, or mental illness. Mental illness must be treated by the appropriate mental health professional. Addictions must be treated by those professionals who understand addictions. Let's talk about normal processes that are often viewed as appropriate for professional therapists. It is quite normal to be confused as an adolescent. It is quite normal to not have a clue what you are going to do professionally as you finish high school or college. When someone close to you dies, it is totally normal to grieve. There is no normal grieving. (As a matter of fact, there really is nothing that is normal. Normal describes the average or the median. Out of a hundred people, there may be none who are truly right smack dab in the middle. Most, if not all of the people, are spread out either on the low side or the high side.) Grieving happens when we experience a death, but it also happens when we move from one job to another, move from one house to another, leave high school, leave college, separate from your spouse, when your children grow up, when your children go to school, and even when you have a tooth removed. Grief is simply a reaction to loss. Everyone does it differently. Grieving can become crippling, which may present a mental health issue, but for the most part, this process is simply part and parcel of life. When we move into a new job, or go to a new school it is normal to be scared or anxious. This is not dysfunctional, nor is it a sign of impending discomfort or mental pathology. We are simply scared. We are new and don't know the ropes. We are not sure what is expected of us and how to fit in. We have left friends behind and are surrounded by strangers. Those of us, who are naturally extroverted, don't much mind these kinds of new situations; but, those of us who are the least bit introverted (shy) do not take this transition easily. Sometimes we are at a loss about what to do to patch up a relationship or to deal with a child who is belligerent. Most of us have been given assignments either at work or at school that seem to be overwhelming. We may be very scared inside and not know what to do about it or whom to talk to. Some of us have had a hard time getting started, in careers, in relationships, or in some kind of beneficial activity. We may want to develop good habits like eating properly, but never succeed for more than a few days or weeks. None of the situations above require psychotherapy. Yet, often, we do not know whom to turn to for an unbiased and straightforward idea about how to get jump started. I also want to make it clear that the above life situations do not require coaching either. Coaching may or may not be helpful. Rather, the point is that humans need one another. This need is healthful, not a weakness. Needing honest reflection and guidance is not an admission of weakness. It is the essence of community. About the Author Ken Edelston MS is a life and business coach. He has extensive experience in counseling teens, adults, and couples. For over 20 years, Ken has specialized in treating the effects of addictions, parenting adolescent issues, and conflict resolution. His coaching practice focuses on helping individuals, families, business persons, and couples identify ineffective patterns of behavior and then exploring and implementing real change.