How Mental Health Coaches Can Transform Your Life

Young athletes learn many values through sports.

Teamwork, resilience, commitment, and honesty are four values that come to mind when I think of values instilled within me as a young athlete.

When I look back at that critical stage in my young life, one person always stands out– my coach.

We know that coaches play a crucial role in winning a football game, running a marathon, or winning a championship, as coaches provide motivation and encouragement to their athletes, but is there a role for coaches in the mental healthcare setting?

It's essential that we first distinguish the role of a mental health coach from other mental health professionals, such as therapists.

Both therapy and coaching focus on working through emotional discomfort and setting life-enhancing goals. However, while psychotherapists assess and diagnose, a health coach does not diagnose or offer the client a prescribed set of rules.

A health coach provides additional support outside of the traditional clinical setting, allowing for a unique and valuable partnership between the healthcare professional and the client. This includes identifying measurable health goals, creating action plans, and identifying and overcoming barriers.

A mental health coach plays a vital role in supporting an individual's journey towards better mental well-being.

There is no single correct way to coach an athlete. The same holds true when it comes to health coaching. Experienced mental health coaches will attest to the fact that there is no single way to respond in a coaching conversation and that being in the moment and actively listening is when insightful moments and solutions may emerge.

A common misconception is that health coaches are problem-solvers, and the role of a health coach is to advise their clients on what to do and what to change. Empathy is a trait health coaches hold, and so the ability to have all of the answers or solve all of an individual’s health concerns is a power I am sure we all wish we possessed; however, in actuality, mental health coaches must actively listen to a client’s challenges and ask powerful and illuminating questions.

By actively listening and providing reflective responses, mental health coaches are able to openly communicate with their clients and understand barriers they have faced or are currently facing in their journey towards better mental well-being.

The client-centered approach that a mental health coach is able to provide allows for a partnership in which the client is empowered and able to make sustainable and modifiable lifestyle changes.

Have additional questions regarding mental health coaching?

Reach out to one of our National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coaches today!