• What is the difference between Coaching & Therapy? I have a Masters degree in Social Work. I will not be prescribing medication, but can refer you to a psychiatrist. I am also not focused on diagnosing mental illness. If you are looking for a diagnosis I can refer you to a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, or licensed therapist in the area in which you live. As a Mental/Behavioral Health Coach, I am willing to help you heal from the past but the primary focus is the present and the future. A therapist focuses primarily on healing the past and present challenges. 
• How is coaching more effective than if I learn on my own? Coaching shouldn’t stop you from learning on your own. A coach will help you learn more about yourself and apply what you learn in the real world (which you can’t do by reading or taking a course). They will help you develop solutions for you and your team that fit your unique situation and specific goals. Plus, you’ll have a safe space to process your thoughts with an expert outside your company.
• How can a coach help me without walking in my shoes for a day? Coaching is less about giving you the answer, and more about helping you find the best answers for your situation. Coaches specialize in helping people learn about themselves so they can either find the obstacles holding them back or the opportunities that can move them forward.
• How can I find the time for one more thing when my week is already full? Coaching is a key company & individual priority right now. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we’ll work with you to create the time and headspace you need to devote to your coaching sessions. 
• A Mental Health Coach Can Help You with mental illness: While mental health coaches aren’t therapists, they can still draw on principles and practices from evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Extensive research backs the use of these interventions in a clinical setting to treat conditions like depression and anxiety. And mental health coaches’ use of these techniques for common problems like stress is promising. 

Many people choose a mental health coach vs. a therapist if they want professional support, but don’t have a complex mental health condition such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, or suicidal thoughts. Emotional wellness coaches can help clients manage emotions, change their way of approaching problems, improve relationship skills, and reduce stress and anxiety—all of which bolster mental health. 

*I do have over 10 years of experience in direct service/clinical Mental Health provision. If you have one or more of the above diagnosis and would still like to receive coaching services, you can. Depending on your needs, after further assessment you and I can talk about details and which direct you need to take for your overall health and wellbeing. 

• Is a Mental/Behavioral Health Coach Right For Me?

Here are some key questions to ask yourself in deciding whether mental health coaching is the best type of support for you.

1. Do you have a mental health condition that significantly affects your life? If you live with significant anxiety or depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, or another complex condition that you have never received a formal diagnosis for or prior treatment, you may need a level of mental health care that a mental wellness coach cannot provide.
2. Are you using, or would you like to use, medication to help manage your mental health? A mental health coach cannot prescribe medication, and therefore may not be the best fit for you.
3. Do you need to supplement your existing mental health treatment? A behavioral health coach can be a great addition to other types of mental health treatment. In a situation like this, it’s important to have a transparent conversation with your therapist and coach to ensure the care you’re receiving in each location is unique and appropriate for separate concerns.
4. Are you struggling with problems that are mainly situational or temporary, such as career troubles, grief from a recent loss, or stress? Behavioral health coaching may make sense.
5. Are you seeking a proactive approach to mental health? If you aren’t experiencing a pressing mental health concern but want to be proactive with your mental health, mental health coaching could be the solution.
6. Are you looking to become a better leader, employee, or member of your family and community? This kind of self-development is something that emotional wellness coaches excel at addressing.

• Will my employer, family member, friends, etc. know what I discuss with my coach? A. Thomas Coaching & Consulting has a confidentiality policy  & HIPPA policy that strictly prohibits the sharing of any specific details discussed with a coach. You should feel comfortable knowing a coaching session is a safe space to be honest about what you’re really thinking and experiencing so your coach can help you break through challenges and achieve your goals. If you want this information discussed with anyone or to extend a group coaching session, a ROI (Release of Information) form will need to be completed prior to that exchange.