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Counselor or....Life Coach?

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Depression
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Posted 9/15/2015 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all:

I have a host of health issues. I have read that for chronic conditions, depression can be brought on. I do believe that I am dealing with depression, anxiety, mid-life issues, etc. As such, I am wondering, whether seeing a counselor would be best, or, a life coach? And, what should I expect? I do not expect the person to solve my problems, but I am hoping perhaps for them to help me see things more clearly which will lead me to a better perspective and ability to make wise decisions to help solve problems.

Thanks. I hope you all feel better.
Posted 9/16/2015 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi BookRea66. I only have experience with seeing a counselor. He saved my life! He helped me to see that just because I couldn't 'work' anymore, it didn't mean I had no value as a member of society. He helped me with my perspective on things.

I hope you find what works for you. Thank you for the kind thoughts.
Posted 9/16/2015 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
I see a psychologist for counseling. She is very good. I have been seeing her now for a few years. Actually quite a few years.

I don't know about "life coaches", I have never had the opportunity to know what one is even like. I guess that is why I recommend a counselor.

I hope that whichever you choose, that it helps.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 9/16/2015 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
psychiatrist for meds and head, therapist - for life and coping skill management and release, general practioner for health. as a team, with me at the forefront, we are a strong force. keep strong. same ethos for my physical health. cardiologist, gp, etc.
Posted 9/16/2015 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
Bookread,

Welcome.

From what I now of LIFE COACHING it is to meet goals and progress to rungs on ladders of wanted success; or close to that in a nutshell. A person can become certified quickly over the internet.

Counceling and therapy requires college and internships. Plus these people have to have a year of therapy themselves before they can start seeing clients.

To me, therapy is the correct choice. We need coping skills and awareness of our emotions. Not more goals to me.

Once I learned to balance my emotions, with coping skills, decisions became easier for me. I use mindfulness to put space between myself and impulses. This stops the buyers remorse.

I hope this helps you.
Peace
Trina
Posted 9/16/2015 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Life coaching--from Wikipedia
Life coaching is the process of helping people identify and achieve personal goals. Although life coaches may have studied counseling psychology or related subjects, a life coach does not act as a therapist, counselor, or health care provider, and psychological intervention lies outside the scope of life coaching.

From lifecoaching.com
Life Coaching is a profession that is profoundly different from consulting, mentoring, advice, therapy, or counseling. The coaching process addresses specific personal projects, business successes, general conditions and transitions in the client's personal life, relationships or profession by examining what is going on right now, discovering what your obstacles or challenges might be, and choosing a course of action to make your life be what you want it to be.

My take is that life coaching is oriented towards reaching tangible goals--organizing, cheering, support system. Professional and personal goals are the focus by providing situation-specific courses of action.

It is not therapy. Therapy is for intangible things-depression, coping skills,anxiety,family dynamic issues, relationships, communication.

Personally, I would never consider a life coach. It seems pretty vague to me as to what they do--and that seems determined by each individual. One difference I read was that the coach deals with the present to the future, and a therapist deals with the past to the present.

Since I have multiple chronic conditions aside from depression, I want my practitioner to be well-versed in medicine, my conditions, and trained and certified in order to know where I come from.
Posted 9/16/2015 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Myself, and I agree with you. A therapist or counselor is professionally trained and I think people with depression would be best coached with a licensed therapist. Just my opinion.

Hope you all have a good day. Nice here...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 9/17/2015 6:03 AM (GMT 0)
ditto.
Posted 9/18/2015 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all.
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