Life coaching: Is it renaming psychotherapy?
The answer is yes and no! Life coaching seminars and institutes seem to be popping up everywhere. Some have raised concerns that the concept is a backdoor entry into psychotherapy without proper training or credentialing. Some life coaching advocates differentiate the process from psychotherapy in that its emphasis is on results, here and now, and not the past.
Although in some situations ‘coaching’ might be helpful, it should not replace proper clinical evaluation of a situation. It is similar to resolving a headache with cold compresses and tension reduction. If the headache is caused by a tumor, however, it needs to be properly evaluated, diagnosed and treated. Similarly, if a person is stuck in a career path because of minor faulty habits or assumptions, a bit of skill training and encouragement can be quite helpful. If however the issue is chronic depression, anxiety, ADHD, or more severe psychiatric conditions, a sophisticated and involved analysis is needed, preferably by team of skilled professionals with years of training and experience.