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What is coaching
What is coaching?
Coaching is an evidence based methodology that supports clients to work on challenges they are currently experiencing. As a coach I work with you to identify thought patterns or behaviours that may be limiting you from achieving the goals you desire. We do this by setting achievable goals all while providing accountability to ensure you follow through with the changes you have identified you want to make. The essence of coaching is trust. The process is based on a non-judgemental environment.
Coaching can occur in individual or group settings, online or in person and the duration of the process is unique to each person and challenge they are looking to overcome. Coaching and therapy are often confused for the same process, however they are quite different: While therapy focuses on understanding the past and how past events shape our current responses, coaching focuses on the present by identifying a problem and designing a plan for moving towards a desired future. As a coach, it is not my responsibility to act as an “expert” nor is it to provide advice. I support my client to reflect on their situation, listen to their options and identify actions that will serve them and their goals the best.
It is for that reason that coaching is:
Non-directive
The coach shouldn’t tell you want to do.
Non-judgemental
The coach won’t judge what is going on inside you they haven’t lived your life.
Goal orientated
The coach will support you to identify actions that are right for you and help you to stay accountable to them.
- How is it different to counselling?
Coaching is present and goal focused in its true form. Through the coaching process an individual to identify things from the past could be impacting their present that they wish to explore and make sense of. And in that case the coachee may identify themselves that engaging with counselling could be an action that they wish to take.
- How is it different to mentoring?
Mentors are experts in a topic and give guidance and advice. Coaches do not give guidance or advice, they are expert in the process of “coaching” and do not need an understanding of a topic to effectively coach. An individual may identify that they could benefit from mentoring as a result of coaching and may action this as a goal from the coaching process.
