The Situation
Many people who get stressed seek the professional help of psychiatrists, consult with psychologists, and depend on medication prescribed and handed upon payment by pharmacists. It becomes a trend in very busy people, either emotionally, physically, spiritually, or mentally.
A successful psychiatrist will cost several hundred to thousands of dollars throughout the program, and will actually be stressful enough on the budget. Those who are well off and can afford this type of help are fortunate compared to those who are conscious of their budget. Life coach methods are not utilized in this manner.
The bad side of professional help in this manner is that it is not deep enough to leave a lasting effect that could enable the individual to actually help himself and be independent.
This may temporarily help alleviate the causing stress for the individual and resume work or chores, but sooner or later stress would build up again and soon, he is back into the psychiatrist’s office, propped on the sofa, and cashing out hundreds of dollars again.
The Approach
The life coach therapy is more than just guiding the individual to self realization and acceptance. Life coach by profession is more of a guidance counselor, seeing to it that the problems causing the stress to an individual is not only handled properly, but looked upon as a positive sign that these problems are and will always be present, and that the individual’s responsibility for better stress management is to include the problems into daily routine.
This life coach therapy is a co-active approach wherein the one helping is also immersed in the situation as if he was actually part of it. This is needed to understand the level of healing a troubled person needs for recovery. Instead of just being a spectator to the events of the individual, a life coach would actually inculcate the way the same stressors trouble the client.
The Cheerleader
A life coach is a cheerleader in a way that he is there to initially place the client in a positive mood in preparation for a more positive outlook throughout the conversation. Proper communication techniques are employed wherein the life coach allows the client to speak out freely of his woes and troubles and concerns.
A life coach in this manner becomes your morale booster in the initial phase of the healing process of the person in trouble. A life coach has the responsibility to initially maintain the little morale that is left in the person in need.
The Big Difference
This may be so much similar with psychiatrists and psychologists but a life coach goes beyond just a client – doctor relationship. It becomes more of a friend – friend relationship, with the life coach following up on the status of the troubled individual, offering philosophical advice rather than diagnosing the problem of the individual.
This manner helps the individual feel less like a robot just waiting for repair parts to be given, and make them feel more of a human being, being cared for and being given concern.
Rather than direct scientific approaches are administered to them by psychiatric and similar methods, a more personal and social approach of life coach techniques are instead identified.
There is a broad range of life coaching techniques, from personal to business type of coaching. Whatever the objective a person in need has, different approaches may be utilized. It is similar to having a best friend guarding and supporting your back whenever you feel down and hopeless.
