A question for each month of 2021
January 1, 2021
A wish for 2022: To live in harmony with my values
December 31, 2021
The coronavirus pandemic has brought a series of changes in our lives, from how we live our daily lives and work, to our relationships with others and ourselves. Managing this crisis is anything but easy, and that's why many people need the help of a professional in their lives. But what should you choose? Coaching or psychotherapy?;
It's a reasonable question that I'm asked by several clients who are having difficulty managing the changes the pandemic brings to their professional and/or personal lives.
First, let me clarify some of the differences between psychotherapy and coaching:
Psychotherapy | Coaching |
| Focusing on the past for the purpose of healing psychological trauma or managing negative unhealthy emotions | Focusing on the present with the aim of achieving goals in the future |
| The Psychotherapist guides the Client to understand the source of his/her problem and provides psychological support with psycho-education and solutions. | The Coach facilitates the Client to utilize his/her own resources and find the solutions that suit him/herself. |
| Long-term intervention that focuses on managing unhealthy negative emotions, e.g. anxiety, anger, depression, guilt, jealousy, etc. | Short-term intervention that focuses on achieving a specific goal for the client |
There are other differences, which I hope will become clear through your spontaneous response to the following questions:
- I see change as
- a) a challenge that helps me learn and grow
- b) an obstacle that makes it difficult for me and I'm afraid to manage
- I liken change to a
- a) uphill path that I want to walk
- b) tunnel without light that I avoid entering
- Change to me looks like a
- a) mountain that I feel strong enough to climb
- b) a well that I'm in and to get out I need someone to pull me out
If your answers to the above questions are mainly (a), then perhaps coaching is a process that will make it easier for you to set goals and achieve them. If your answers are mainly (b), then maybe the psychotherapy is more suitable for you at this time. Of course, it is important to clarify that things are not only (a) ή (b), as it is not always just black or white. There are areas that need further exploration, so that you can choose between coaching and psychotherapy, or even combine the two approaches. I suggest you have a conversation with a certified professional Coach, to make it easier for you to understand your real need, so that you can manage the change brought by the pandemic, as well as any change.
I wish you good luck!
