Takeaway: You’ve done healing work before, but life happens. New stressors are bound to come up, or old wounds might resurface. Emotional wellness coaching can help you move forward with increased self-awareness and compassion.
Your wellness matters.
Have you ever found yourself reacting disproportionately to something and thought: “Wait a second … I thought I moved past that?”
While it may be momentarily discouraging to revisit something you previously thought was complete, it can be a doorway into another layer of healing.
Mental health coaches can help you process that next layer of healing so that you can develop an even deeper level of self-awareness and self-acceptance.
What to expect from mental health coaching
No two people are the same, so it makes sense that your healing path will be completely unique as well. Whether you're experiencing emotional health challenges, personal and professional challenges, or negative thinking patterns, mental health coaching can help.
You'll work together with your mental health coach to create a plan that's tailor-made for your needs, values, and goals. Your coach's role is to be part of your support system: not tell you what to do.
While mental health coaches use their professional training and lived experience to offer feedback and guidance, they recognize that you know what feels best for you.
During your work with your mental health coach, you'll examine the emotional patterns that are keeping you stuck. Are you noticing negative self talk resurface? Are you struggling to manage stress in your day to day life? Does the idea of finding a healthy work life balance feel out of reach?
Whatever you're going through, your mental health coach will help you figure out how to deepen your insight and self love. Together, you'll identify the steps needed to reconnect with your life purpose and become the best version of yourself-and help you take action to get there.
The mental health coaching process
Healing and growth is a journey, not a destination. Your coach is here to help you on that journey. While each coach may take a slightly different approach to address mental health issues and help clients manage emotions, here's a general idea of what you can expect.
In the first coaching session, you’ll have the opportunity to share your story. You'll also identify your goals and desired outcome.
From here, you and your coach will clearly identify the areas of your life where things feel challenging, the history behind it, and why it’s coming up for you in this moment.
Using modalities that resonate best with you, you and your coach will then begin the work of going deeper to process the things that need attention.
When coaching is complete, you’ll walk away with a greater sense of self-awareness so that you can continue to process and grow in your journey toward emotional well being.
Who emotional & mental health coaching is for
Many different people can benefit from working with a coach. Here are just a few examples of who coaching is for.
You've done the work before.
You’ve been to therapy or have worked with a coach to process aspects of your life. You want to continue your own work. You want to have a resource on-call for when you need that extra support.
You're navigating a change or living through a season of life that feels particularly overwhelming.
Change can be uncomfortable and bring out insecurities we thought we had resolved. You need someone to support you and your emotional responses as you move through change. Your coach will help you find a positive outlook as you navigate life's challenges.
You find yourself reacting instead of responding.
It feels as though your emotional wounds have been reopened. You are realizing that your reactions are rooted in something deeper that needs additional healing. A new layer of healing is being revealed and you want to continue the work.
FAQs about working with an emotional & mental health coach
Many people are new to the idea of emotional and mental health coaching. Here, I've answered some of the common questions I hear as an emotional wellness coach.
How are mental health coaches different from therapists?
Coaches and therapists both provide important mental health services. However, there are important differences. A therapist is trained in treating complex clinical problems that may require a diagnosis or specialized treatment.
Working with a mental health coach bolsters mental health in a different way. It's often a good fit for people who need less intensive-but equally meaningful-support. You'll still learn (or refresh existing) ways to challenge negative thinking patterns, improve
relationship skills, and find a greater awareness of yourself and your emotions.
Additionally, mental health coaches (like myself) are able to work with people all over the world. On the other hand, a licensed mental health professional has restrictions on where their clients are located.
Therapists also have to complete certain education and professional requirements in order to practice. While coaches don't have the same requirements, many receive specialized training, often in some of the same modalities used by therapists. Some examples include Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and more.
What can mental health coaches help with?
Each person has different life experiences and struggles (as well as strengths). While this isn't an exhaustive list, here are a few issues that emotional well being coaches can help you navigate:
Stress management
Anxiety and depression
Difficulty managing emotions
Feeling unfulfilled
Problems in relationships
Lack of motivation
Desire for personal development and growth
Working with an emotional wellness coach can help you get more deeply connected to yourself
It's tempting to think that emotional well being is something to achieve. After all, things would be a lot easier if we could follow a formula to get perfect mental health. It can take some painful unlearning to realize that's not how it works.
However, I'd argue that the reality is even more beautiful: instead of staying stagnant, we have the ability to continue deepening our self awareness, building our self esteem, and striving for personal growth throughout our entire lives.
My mental health coaching business was born out of my own journey with mental illness, trauma, and serious life changes. Through my own experience and my work with clients, I've seen how transformative and empowering inner work can be.
I can help you live your life from a place that is deeply rooted in self-awareness, self-compassion, courage, and grace. It’s a place where you’re not reactive to life, but are responding to it, and finding joy in the process. Reach out today to get started.
