Kairos Moments, LLC believes that people should fulfill their God given potential. Guidance can come from life coaches, counselors or psychotherapists. One of the most frequently asked questions is what is the difference between coaching and counseling?
According to the American Counseling Association (ACA), Professional Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. The ACA Code of Ethics states, "Counselors encourage client growth and development in ways that foster teh interest and welfare of clients and promote formation of healthy relationships." The manner in which a counselor goes about encouraging client growth and developments varies based on the needs of the client. This may range from pychological first aid and assistance coping with grief and loss at one end of the spectrum to planning career goals at the other end of the spectrum (the former calls for support of a client in emotional distress, while the latter presumes the client is free enough from acute psychological distress to apply the necessary cognitive processes.
Coaching is a specialized approach for assisting clients who are relatively free from acute psychological distress and who appear able, in the eyes of the counselor, to apply their resources to the pursuit of the goals, actions and outcomes they have identified. Life coaches focus on enhancing the lives of clients by often talking about balance, goal-setting and 'integrating' one's life. Also, life coaching is not considered a mental health service per se and is therefore not reimbursable by health insurance.
Questions often asked about Counseling:
· What is counseling?
Counseling (Mental Health) is a dynamic, holistic, strength-based and psycho-educational discipline grounded in Developmental Theory with underpinnings in prevention and wellness.
The counselor’s focus on personal problems goes beyond treating dysfunction or pathology to addressing client self-awareness, personal growth and wellness. Counselors are able to be objective, serving as skilled listeners who help you to clarify issues, discover feelings and deal effectively with problems.
· How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
- Addressing suicidal thoughts
· Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
· Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.
· What is therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
· How long does counseling usually last?
Length of counseling varies. Some problems lend themselves to a one or two session consultation. Others require a series of appointments, the length to be decided by you and your counselor.
· Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another person.
· Other than speaking one-to-one with a counselor, how can I address my concerns?
Sometimes a problem is better addressed through group counseling than individual appointments. Talking to others who have had similar experiences provides support and perspective. A counseling group can be powerfully healing. Kairos Moments periodically forms groups to address specific areas.
· What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
· Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Questions often asked about Coaching:
· Are you a certified life coach?
Certification is not required for life coaching at this time. I am licensed as a professional counselor and psychotherapist. Additionally, I have completed The Mentor Coach Foundations Training Program, which is a training program recognized by the International Coaching Federation.
· What are the advantages to working with a life coach whose background is in counseling?
I have over 10 years of counseling experience, and I really understand how to connect with people as they seek to improve their lives. I am sincere, non-judgmental and possess sensitivity and insight which benefits my clients. As a personal life coach, I help you find your own answers, recognizing people are more likely to take action if it is something they themselves have come up with and not been told to do.
· How much does life coaching cost?
Life coaching services and programs start at $225 per month, depending on the number and length of the sessions. Typical clients receive life coaching for approximately 2 hours a month, divided up into either (3) 45 minute sessions or (4) 30 minute sessions. Services are flexible and can accommodate the wishes and needs of clients. Fees are paid upfront on a monthly basis. It is important to understand that coaching can pay for itself in increased productivity and quality of life.
· How do I start the life coaching process?
Contact us to schedule an appointment. This session will form the foundation of our work to follow. Our initial discussion will explore values, focus areas and goals. During this conversation, we will decide what kind of schedule would work best for you. All coaching is conveniently handled over the telephone.
Feel free to contact us :
Kairos Moments, LLC
Phone number: 443.463.1517
Email Address: [email protected]
Founder & President: Sheri T. Brown, MS, MSW, NCC, LCPC
Mail: 8894 Stanford Blvd., Suite 103, Columbia, MD. 21045