I previously had a client (who I will refer to as “Sarah” for confidentiality purposes) who came to me because she was at a crossroads in her career and unsure what she wanted to do. In that same initial consultation, Sarah told me about a traumatic event that she had never shared with anyone before. As someone with 9 years of therapy/counseling experience and 6 years of coaching experience, I am uniquely positioned to help people determine whether they would benefit from counseling or coaching (or both, or a different resource). So we spent some time talking about the difference between these services (see below graphic and the FAQ page of my website for more information).
In Sarah’s case, there was no evidence that her emotions associated with this past event were negatively impacting her daily functioning or decision-making ability. So, the choice was hers to make. At that time, she really wanted to focus on figuring out her next career move, so she elected to pursue coaching with me. She also knew that she could always pursue separate counseling services to process her past trauma, if/when desired.
Within three months of beginning our coaching work together, Sarah had undergone a complete transformation. She ultimately decided it was time for her to retire from the Air Force for personal and family reasons. She had taken multiple steps to prepare for her next career, including completing some online classes and obtaining a new certification. Her newly discovered passion and increased energy level were palpable. Despite managing additional health and family-related stressors that also occurred during this period, Sarah effectively moved herself forward to create the next life chapter she desired.
Of course, everyone’s story and journey is different. If you (or someone you know) are feeling stuck at work or in life and are wondering if you might benefit more from counseling, coaching, or some other resource, contact me for a free consultation.