{"id":73990,"date":"2024-09-02T00:02:33","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T04:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=73990"},"modified":"2024-09-02T00:02:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T04:02:33","slug":"is-coaching-a-shortcut-to-mental-health-care-not-so-fast-%e2%88%92-here-are-key-differences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/is-coaching-a-shortcut-to-mental-health-care-not-so-fast-%e2%88%92-here-are-key-differences\/","title":{"rendered":"Is \u2018coaching\u2019 a shortcut to mental health care? Not so fast \u2212 here are key differences"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nLife coach, wellness coach, business coach, weight loss coach, breakup coach \u2013 the list goes on and on. All are different titles for similar jobs, with the same limitation: Anyone can claim to be an expert.<\/p>\n

Health \u201ccoaching\u201d alone is\u00a0a US$7.6 billion market<\/a>\u00a0in the United States, linked to the wellness and\u00a0lifestyle medicine industries<\/a>, as well as social media influencer culture. With\u00a0ongoing shortages of physicians<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mental health workers<\/a>, many Americans see coaches as a more personalized alternative to traditional physical and mental health care.<\/p>\n

Yet the profession\u00a0is poorly regulated<\/a>, which can make it\u00a0a utopia for scammers<\/a>; untrained people providing advice about\u00a0health<\/a>,\u00a0psychology<\/a>\u00a0and nutrition<\/a>; and, in some cases,\u00a0cult-like behavior<\/a>, such as a coach encouraging customers to cut ties with family and friends.<\/p>\n

And now that\u00a0AI health coaching<\/a>\u00a0has entered the chat, these problems are\u00a0likely to grow<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As\u00a0a licensed clinical social worker<\/a>\u00a0who specializes in mental health and public health,\u00a0I have observed<\/a>\u00a0coaching\u2019s growing popularity and how patients\u2019 interest appears to stem from a lack of affordable and accessible mental health care.<\/p>\n

Coaches have the potential\u00a0to fill a gap<\/a>\u00a0and work alongside therapists to assist clients. Many people seek coaching to help them make a big decision or hold them accountable for making progress toward a set goal \u2013 from launching a business to sticking to their wellness routines. Because the industry is unregulated, however, it\u2019s important for people to understand its limits before using a coach\u2019s services.<\/p>\n

Why is coaching so popular?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In broad terms, coaches assist someone in creating a plan for achieving specific goals \u2013 for example, making a change in their career, diet or relationships. It can be effective in\u00a0helping people manage chronic conditions<\/a>,\u00a0such as diabetes<\/a>, between doctors\u2019 visits and to follow\u00a0their treatment plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Amid COVID-19, physical and\u00a0mental health care<\/a>\u00a0became\u00a0more difficult to access<\/a>, which may have contributed to\u00a0coaching\u2019s popularity<\/a>. People who were already skeptical of the health care system have turned to coaches in hopes of one-on-one, specialized treatment.<\/p>\n

Another contributing factor may be\u00a0the rise of the gig economy<\/a>, with coaching appealing to people\u00a0wanting to be self-employed<\/a>.\u00a0Social media<\/a>\u00a0and the internet also have fueled coaching\u2019s popularity by making it easier to research and receive health advice,\u00a0regardless of whether that advice is accurate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Is coaching therapy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The simple answer is no. While\u00a0resembling therapy<\/a>, coaching does not require licensing, credentialing or formal education. Practicing therapists, on the other hand, are required to be in good standing with the law, have years of training,\u00a0are regulated<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0governing bodies<\/a>\u00a0and professional associations, and abide by\u00a0licensing bodies\u2019 guidelines to keep the client safe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a common stereotype that coaching is for \u201chigh-functioning\u201d people and is\u00a0oriented toward the future<\/a>, while therapy is focused on the past and finding problems with people. As a licensed, practicing therapist, I think this could not be further from the truth. Therapists focus on helping a person process their past, focus on the present and work toward goals in the future.<\/p>\n

In my experience, I find that these falsities reinforce the\u00a0stigma around mental health<\/a>\u00a0and keep people from\u00a0getting appropriate help<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to one academic study,\u00a025% to 50%<\/a>\u00a0of people engaging with a life coach have mental health conditions that require a higher level of support. And even though many coaches are\u00a0savvy in \u201ctherapy speak,\u201d they often lack<\/a>\u00a0the training to recognize when the client\u2019s needs are beyond what they should be providing.<\/p>\n

Risks and regulation<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One of the biggest concerns<\/a>\u00a0about coaching is that it lacks a central governing body to regulate and oversee members. The industry has\u00a0taken some steps<\/a>\u00a0toward better oversight<\/a>, and there is one established, accrediting body \u2013 the\u00a0International Coaching Federation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is not a requirement, however, for people identifying as coaches to join this organization. Certifications can be provided by anyone or any program, but training is not standardized.<\/p>\n

This lack of regulation means anyone can provide coaching, including\u00a0therapists who lost their licenses for unethical conduct<\/a>. It has also led to social media coaches and influencers spreading\u00a0misinformation and confusion<\/a>\u00a0about mental health conditions<\/a>. This is concerning because nonlicensed providers, including coaches, are\u00a0legally not allowed<\/a>\u00a0to diagnose mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety,\u00a0or provide treatment for them<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another concern is coaching clients\u2019 vulnerability to being\u00a0scammed financially<\/a>, mistreated or\u00a0given dangerous advice<\/a>, such as abusive child-rearing suggestions. Coaching clients do not have the legal rights that therapy clients have, such as\u00a0patient confidentiality<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finally,\u00a0life coaching relies<\/a>\u00a0heavily on positive psychology, which focuses on personal strengths and positive traits for happiness \u2013 in short, to look on the bright side and not focus on the negatives. Since its founding, positive psychology has come under\u00a0scrutiny for debunked scientific claims<\/a>\u00a0of the therapy\u2019s success. And while this approach works for some,\u00a0others find that<\/a>\u00a0it is too individualistic, not giving enough weight to\u00a0how external issues<\/a>\u00a0such as systemic racism can play a role in mental health.<\/p>\n

What to look for<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Ultimately, each person\u2019s needs are individual, and a life coach might be helpful. However, there are\u00a0some considerations<\/a>\u00a0to keep in mind during an initial consult:<\/p>\n