Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Coaching and counselling

I see coaching and counselling as two very different processes.
As a coach, I am directing the client to take the actions that he needs to take to achieve the goals that he has told me he wants to achieve.
As a counsellor I am actively listening to the client and reflecting back what I hear and observe.
I think there is an enormous unmet need for counselling. Nearly everybody I see has unresolved issues that they carry around with them. There are many secrets that they are unwilling to tell anybody. It seems to me that all families have this huge web of interwoven threads of unresolved issues that stand in the way of people relating openly and honestly with each other. I have been shocked as I hear how long each person has been burdened by every one of these issues. I now feel sad as I observe what is going on, though I feel much joy whenever I can facilitate the resolution of one or more of these just by actively listening and being there for the person.
I wonder why so many people keep judging instead of accepting each other, as I enjoy life so much more when I do not judge. If more people were able to accept others instead of judging them, I believe there would be much less need for counselling.
Some clients have situations where coaching is more suitable. They may need to be made aware of the resources that will get them toward their goal. There are skills that they may need to develop. The client leaves the session with a list of actions to take, and can report back to me with their progress. For me, I tend to feel more excitement in coaching, and more joy in counselling.
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