Life Coaching & Clinical Psychology: The Therapist as a Life Coach Wendy Steedman...

Life Coaching & Clinical Life Coaching & Clinical Psychology: The Therapist as Psychology: The Therapist as

a Life Coacha Life Coach

Wendy SteedmanWendy [email protected]@orangerocket.co.nz

A a r o n J a r d e nA a r o n J a r d e [email protected]@orangerocket.co.nz

This presentation was made This presentation was made possible with the support of:possible with the support of:

University of Canterbury University of Canterbury Orange Rocket Life Orange Rocket Life

CoachingCoaching Canterbury Branch of the Canterbury Branch of the

NZCCPNZCCP NZCCP NZCCP

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline Purpose of this presentationPurpose of this presentation Overview of life coachingOverview of life coaching Life coaching and clinical psychologyLife coaching and clinical psychology

DistinctionsDistinctions SimilaritiesSimilarities

Case study – “Mary”Case study – “Mary” Benefits of life coachingBenefits of life coaching Transitioning to or incorporating life coachingTransitioning to or incorporating life coaching ResourcesResources

Purpose of PresentationPurpose of Presentation

Our main purpose today is to inform clinical Our main purpose today is to inform clinical psychologists about life coaching, because:psychologists about life coaching, because: currently there is confusion as to what exactly ‘life currently there is confusion as to what exactly ‘life

coaching’ iscoaching’ is many clinical psychologists are interested in becoming life many clinical psychologists are interested in becoming life

coaches or incorporating life coaching into their practice coaches or incorporating life coaching into their practice many want to know the benefits of life coachingmany want to know the benefits of life coaching

Our other purpose is to provide a case study Our other purpose is to provide a case study example, because:example, because: by seeing an example of how life coaching can enable by seeing an example of how life coaching can enable

change, you will be in a better position to understand change, you will be in a better position to understand what exactly life coaching involves and how this is what exactly life coaching involves and how this is different from clinical practicedifferent from clinical practice

What is Life Coaching?What is Life Coaching?

Definitions.Definitions. "Coaching is an ongoing relationship, which "Coaching is an ongoing relationship, which

focuses on clients taking action towards the focuses on clients taking action towards the realization of their visions, goals, or desires. realization of their visions, goals, or desires. Coaching uses a process of inquiry and personal Coaching uses a process of inquiry and personal discovery to build the client's level of awareness discovery to build the client's level of awareness and responsibility, and provides the client with and responsibility, and provides the client with structure, support, and feedback. The coaching structure, support, and feedback. The coaching process helps clients both define and achieve process helps clients both define and achieve professional and personal goals faster and with professional and personal goals faster and with more ease than would be possible otherwise" - more ease than would be possible otherwise" - International Coach Federation, 2003. International Coach Federation, 2003.


"Life coaches assist people to discover what they want in "Life coaches assist people to discover what they want in life and unlock their own brilliance to achieve it. Life life and unlock their own brilliance to achieve it. Life coaching is about people generating their own answers, coaching is about people generating their own answers, not looking outside of themselves for solutions. This not looking outside of themselves for solutions. This process is not about teaching what you already know or process is not about teaching what you already know or about clients acting as students. Instead, life coaching is about clients acting as students. Instead, life coaching is empowering people to invent something new - to think empowering people to invent something new - to think something they've never thought before and to say something they've never thought before and to say something they've never said before" - Ellis, 1998. something they've never said before" - Ellis, 1998.

"A life coach facilitates, encourages and motivates you to "A life coach facilitates, encourages and motivates you to set and reach effective personal or professional goals for set and reach effective personal or professional goals for a more successful life – the life you want!" - Molloy, 2003.a more successful life – the life you want!" - Molloy, 2003.


LLife coaching is about closing the gap between where a person is ife coaching is about closing the gap between where a person is and where they want to be. In a sense it is simply moving from A and where they want to be. In a sense it is simply moving from A to B - A being where they are and B being where they would like to B - A being where they are and B being where they would like to be. In closing this gap the role of the life coach is threefold. to be. In closing this gap the role of the life coach is threefold. Firstly, they help the person fully understand, appreciate and Firstly, they help the person fully understand, appreciate and discover where they are in their life - what we call 'understanding discover where they are in their life - what we call 'understanding A'. Secondly, they help the person determine what it is that they A'. Secondly, they help the person determine what it is that they really want and crave out of life - or what we call 'understanding really want and crave out of life - or what we call 'understanding B'. Lastly, through the coach integrating life enhancing activities, B'. Lastly, through the coach integrating life enhancing activities, teaching individually tailored skills, and using various techniques, teaching individually tailored skills, and using various techniques, they help the person close this gap between A and B. Through a they help the person close this gap between A and B. Through a lot of hard work, setting better and more appropriate goals, lot of hard work, setting better and more appropriate goals, learning new abilities and knowledge, and making advantageous learning new abilities and knowledge, and making advantageous choices, the result is a positive change towards a more enriched, choices, the result is a positive change towards a more enriched, successful and happy life. successful and happy life.

What is Life Coaching?What is Life Coaching? Terminology.Terminology. The term ‘life coaching’ is increasingly popular, The term ‘life coaching’ is increasingly popular,

however is also frequently misunderstood. Other however is also frequently misunderstood. Other popular terms for ‘life coaching’ include:popular terms for ‘life coaching’ include: personal or life development coachingpersonal or life development coaching mind coachingmind coaching life traininglife training cognitive behavioural coachingcognitive behavioural coaching

Terms range in variability primarily because the Terms range in variability primarily because the profession is so new. profession is so new.

Terms also vary because a life coach plays many Terms also vary because a life coach plays many different and distinct roles – i.e., the role of a mentor, different and distinct roles – i.e., the role of a mentor, a motivator, a support person, a trainer or a coach. a motivator, a support person, a trainer or a coach.


How does life coaching work? How does life coaching work? A life coach assists and facilitates an individual’s A life coach assists and facilitates an individual’s

personal and professional development, by personal and professional development, by helping them realise their true potential. A coach helping them realise their true potential. A coach does this by helping does this by helping themthem close the gap between close the gap between A & B. A & B. In some circumstances a coach provides knowledge and In some circumstances a coach provides knowledge and

expertise on how an individual can best make changes expertise on how an individual can best make changes in their life in the most appropriate fashion (i.e., thought in their life in the most appropriate fashion (i.e., thought empirically validated research). empirically validated research).

In other circumstance they elicit the knowledge and In other circumstance they elicit the knowledge and expertise from the individual by asking, and helping expertise from the individual by asking, and helping them ask, the right questions. them ask, the right questions.

What is Life Coaching?What is Life Coaching? The fundamental principal underlying life The fundamental principal underlying life

coaching is that change is driven from the client coaching is that change is driven from the client firstfirst, not from the coach, as it is the client that , not from the coach, as it is the client that makes all the choices and completes the required makes all the choices and completes the required actions in order to move forward. actions in order to move forward.

This makes the client accountable for their This makes the client accountable for their behaviour, but also, more importantly, behaviour, but also, more importantly, responsible for their successes.responsible for their successes.

What is Life Coaching?What is Life Coaching? What does life coaching involve?What does life coaching involve? Most life coaches see clients roughly once a week, for about 3 Most life coaches see clients roughly once a week, for about 3

months. The reasoning put forward for this time frame is that months. The reasoning put forward for this time frame is that this is the minimum amount of time it takes to make, this is the minimum amount of time it takes to make, reinforce, and solidify reinforce, and solidify majormajor changes in a person’s life. changes in a person’s life.

Weekly meetings usually last slightly longer than therapy Weekly meetings usually last slightly longer than therapy sessions - between 1 & 1 ½ hours, and it is also common for sessions - between 1 & 1 ½ hours, and it is also common for there to be no definite end time. there to be no definite end time.

During these meetings, a specific process is sequentially During these meetings, a specific process is sequentially worked through which covers the three integrated areas of:worked through which covers the three integrated areas of: where the client currently is in their life where the client currently is in their life where the client wants to be in their lifewhere the client wants to be in their life how they can best close this gap between the two positions. how they can best close this gap between the two positions.

What is Life Coaching?What is Life Coaching? ‘‘Where the client currently is in their life’ involves Where the client currently is in their life’ involves

helping them to fully understand, appreciate and helping them to fully understand, appreciate and discover where they are in their life, and entailsdiscover where they are in their life, and entails things such as:things such as: completing a global ‘life assessment’ completing a global ‘life assessment’ completing a ‘values assessment’completing a ‘values assessment’

‘‘Where the client wants to be in their life’ Where the client wants to be in their life’ involves involves determining what it is that they really determining what it is that they really want, desire and crave out of life, and want, desire and crave out of life, and entails entails things such as:things such as: incorporating the life and values assessmentsincorporating the life and values assessments Utilising appropriate and realistic ‘goal setting’Utilising appropriate and realistic ‘goal setting’

What is Life Coaching?What is Life Coaching? ‘‘How they can best close this gap’ entails things How they can best close this gap’ entails things

such as:such as: developing ‘action plans’ developing ‘action plans’ utilising effective ‘planning’utilising effective ‘planning’ learning ‘relaxation skills’ and controlling ‘stress’.learning ‘relaxation skills’ and controlling ‘stress’. implementing and managing ‘self-care’ strategiesimplementing and managing ‘self-care’ strategies ‘‘simplifying’ their lifesimplifying’ their life increasing ‘energy’increasing ‘energy’ tackling ‘self-limiting beliefs’tackling ‘self-limiting beliefs’

Which particular activity is utilised depends on Which particular activity is utilised depends on which life domain is the focus and the challenges which life domain is the focus and the challenges that are present. that are present.

What is Life Coaching?What is Life Coaching? What do people use life coaches for? What do people use life coaches for? People use life coaches for a wide variety of reasons. People use life coaches for a wide variety of reasons.

Common uses include a combination of:Common uses include a combination of: ways to manage stress better ways to manage stress better becoming healthier – lose weight, stop smoking, etc. becoming healthier – lose weight, stop smoking, etc. balancing their work and personal lives betterbalancing their work and personal lives better kick-starting or rejuvenating a career kick-starting or rejuvenating a career redesigning or finding a focus or direction in life redesigning or finding a focus or direction in life enhancing workplace effectiveness or increasing motivation enhancing workplace effectiveness or increasing motivation becoming more organised and managing their life better becoming more organised and managing their life better increasing confidence increasing confidence achieving to the best of their ability and potential achieving to the best of their ability and potential setting and obtaining wanted goals, and obtaining them fastersetting and obtaining wanted goals, and obtaining them faster communicating bettercommunicating better

What is Life Coaching?What is Life Coaching? How successful is life coaching? How successful is life coaching? The main principle underpinning life coaching is that the The main principle underpinning life coaching is that the

coach helps the client help themselves. As the client coach helps the client help themselves. As the client makes all the decisions and completes all of the required makes all the decisions and completes all of the required actions, it would be irresponsible of the coach to actions, it would be irresponsible of the coach to guarantee ‘success’. guarantee ‘success’.

What we emphasize is that if a client puts in 100 percent What we emphasize is that if a client puts in 100 percent effort and energy into making changes in the areas of effort and energy into making changes in the areas of their life that they are unsatisfied with, listen and think their life that they are unsatisfied with, listen and think about the questions the coach is asking and consider their about the questions the coach is asking and consider their advice, they will succeed in improving their life – they will advice, they will succeed in improving their life – they will close the gap between where they are and want to be. close the gap between where they are and want to be.

Thus, the more relevant question is: ‘how much’ will they Thus, the more relevant question is: ‘how much’ will they succeed? - as it is really more a matter of degree. succeed? - as it is really more a matter of degree.

Life Coaching and Clinical Life Coaching and Clinical Psychology: DistinctionsPsychology: Distinctions

Clinical PsychologyClinical Psychology Life CoachingLife Coaching

FocusFocus

Part of personPart of person Whole lifeWhole life

Relieve pain & Relieve pain & symptomssymptoms

Attain goals & desiresAttain goals & desires

Fix & restore Fix & restore functioningfunctioning

Create personal Create personal fulfillmentfulfillment

Past and presentPast and present Present and futurePresent and future

Why?Why? How? How?

Needs Needs WantsWants

Life Coaching and Clinical Life Coaching and Clinical Psychology: DistinctionsPsychology: DistinctionsClinical Clinical

PsychologyPsychologyLife CoachingLife Coaching

ConteContextxt

Medical or clinical Medical or clinical modelmodel

Educational or Educational or developmental modeldevelopmental model

Diagnosable illnessDiagnosable illness Personal growth & Personal growth & desirable goalsdesirable goals

Old & established Old & established professionprofession

New professionNew profession

Paradigm of Paradigm of pathologypathology

Paradigm of possibilityParadigm of possibility



RelationshiRelationshipp

Therapist as Therapist as expert, client as expert, client as patientpatient

Coach as co-Coach as co-creator, equal creator, equal partnershippartnership

ResponsibiliResponsibilityty

Therapist is Therapist is responsible for responsible for process, direction & process, direction & outcomesoutcomes

Coach is ‘largely’ Coach is ‘largely’ responsible for responsible for process, client for process, client for outcomesoutcomes



StyleStyle

Limited personal Limited personal disclosuredisclosure

Personal disclosure Personal disclosure aids learning & aids learning & motivationmotivation

Negative languageNegative language Positive languagePositive language

Limited client Limited client generationgeneration

Unlimited client Unlimited client generationgeneration

Life Coaching and Clinical Life Coaching and Clinical Psychology: SimilaritiesPsychology: Similarities

Basic similarities. Basic similarities. As with (most) therapy, a life coaching client wants to As with (most) therapy, a life coaching client wants to

change. change. The coach is in a professional helper role. The coach is in a professional helper role. Ongoing and confidential relationship. Ongoing and confidential relationship. The dialogue is the primary vehicle for delivering The dialogue is the primary vehicle for delivering

service. service. Sessions are regularly scheduled. Sessions are regularly scheduled. Assumption that change occurs over a period of time, Assumption that change occurs over a period of time,

rather than ‘quantum change’. rather than ‘quantum change’. Like a therapist, a life coach provides an objective and Like a therapist, a life coach provides an objective and

impartial viewpoint. impartial viewpoint.


Transferable skills.Transferable skills. listeninglistening conceptualisationconceptualisation reframingreframing positive regard and empathypositive regard and empathy interviewing skills – e.g., note taking, agenda setting, interviewing skills – e.g., note taking, agenda setting,

assigning homeworkassigning homework process skillsprocess skills dealing with difficult issues and roadblocksdealing with difficult issues and roadblocks

In addition, as Williams and Davis mention, “your In addition, as Williams and Davis mention, “your academic preparation and training as a helping academic preparation and training as a helping professional…is highly applicable and relevant to professional…is highly applicable and relevant to the coaching relationship” (2002, p. 49). the coaching relationship” (2002, p. 49).


Converging theoretical integration. Converging theoretical integration. Many forms of more recent therapeutic interventions Many forms of more recent therapeutic interventions

are very similar to, or incorporate, life coaching are very similar to, or incorporate, life coaching principles or strategies. For example, Williams and principles or strategies. For example, Williams and Davis mention that “over the past 20 years, some Davis mention that “over the past 20 years, some schools of therapy have begun to look more like schools of therapy have begun to look more like coaching programs” (2002, p. 49). coaching programs” (2002, p. 49).

For example, in ‘motivational interviewing’ by Miller For example, in ‘motivational interviewing’ by Miller and Rollnick (2002), “change is motivated by a and Rollnick (2002), “change is motivated by a perceived discrepancy between present behaviour and perceived discrepancy between present behaviour and important personal goals or values” (2002, p. 39). important personal goals or values” (2002, p. 39). Motivational interviewing, similar to life coaching, also Motivational interviewing, similar to life coaching, also

endorses collaboration and autonomy.endorses collaboration and autonomy.

Case Study: MaryCase Study: Mary Mary, a 26 year old office supplies sales manager, Mary, a 26 year old office supplies sales manager,

lived with her partner (26) and younger brother (19) in lived with her partner (26) and younger brother (19) in a rented house. a rented house.

Mary presented with challenges around:Mary presented with challenges around: handling stress handling stress having no direction in her careerhaving no direction in her career work / life balance issueswork / life balance issues struggling to cope with the death of her farther 6 years earlierstruggling to cope with the death of her farther 6 years earlier controlling her financescontrolling her finances

Initially, Mary appeared:Initially, Mary appeared: high functioning and competenthigh functioning and competent easy to work witheasy to work with enthusiastic and motivated enthusiastic and motivated

Case Study: MaryCase Study: Mary The three key areas Mary chose to work on The three key areas Mary chose to work on

included:included: careercareer financesfinances recreationrecreation

Mary set a combination of short-term and long-Mary set a combination of short-term and long-term goals, and developed action plans to target term goals, and developed action plans to target these goals, for example:these goals, for example: career – changing careercareer – changing career finances – paying off overdraftfinances – paying off overdraft recreation – spending more time with friends and doing recreation – spending more time with friends and doing

enjoyable activitiesenjoyable activities

Case Study: MaryCase Study: Mary Overall, Mary:Overall, Mary:

became more productive with her timebecame more productive with her time learnt how to manage and be proactive about stresslearnt how to manage and be proactive about stress put in place many strategies in order to simplify her lifeput in place many strategies in order to simplify her life became more confident – primarily by understanding more became more confident – primarily by understanding more

about what she valued and testing certain self-limiting beliefsabout what she valued and testing certain self-limiting beliefs established a good self care program established a good self care program learnt a better strategy for making important decisionslearnt a better strategy for making important decisions learnt how to communicate better, both in her professional learnt how to communicate better, both in her professional

and personal lifeand personal life discovered how to identify and overcome roadblocks and discovered how to identify and overcome roadblocks and

challengeschallenges learnt how to set goals and use action plans in order to learnt how to set goals and use action plans in order to

achieve themachieve them

Benefits of life coachingBenefits of life coaching Pays betterPays better

because of over demand and undersupply, life coaches because of over demand and undersupply, life coaches charge around $100-150 per hour/meeting. charge around $100-150 per hour/meeting.

Less stressfulLess stressful the clientele group are generally high functioning, the clientele group are generally high functioning,

motivated, and well resourced. motivated, and well resourced. More rewardingMore rewarding

the amount of change, because of the whole life focus, is the amount of change, because of the whole life focus, is usually larger and more global. usually larger and more global.

Additional VarietyAdditional Variety provides a slightly different framework from clinical provides a slightly different framework from clinical

practice, with slightly different challenges. practice, with slightly different challenges.

Transitioning to Life CoachingTransitioning to Life Coaching Approach a specific life coaching training agency. Approach a specific life coaching training agency.

For example:For example: www.resultslifecoaching.com.auwww.resultslifecoaching.com.au www.coachfederation.org/trainingwww.coachfederation.org/training http://http://www.coachingplus.co.nzwww.coachingplus.co.nz

Approach a local life coach and negotiate a Approach a local life coach and negotiate a mentoring and supervision scheme. mentoring and supervision scheme.

Read life coaching books and web sites. Read life coaching books and web sites. Undertake life coaching. Undertake life coaching.

Best Resources Best Resources BooksBooks

Williams, P., & Davis, D. C. (2002). Williams, P., & Davis, D. C. (2002). Therapist as life coach: Therapist as life coach: Transforming your practice.Transforming your practice. New York: New York: W.W. Norton & Company. W.W. Norton & Company.

Neenan, M., & Dryden, W. (2002). Neenan, M., & Dryden, W. (2002). Life Coaching: A Cognitive Life Coaching: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach.Behavioral Approach. New York , NY. Taylor & Francis. Articles New York , NY. Taylor & Francis. Articles

WebsitesWebsites www.orangerocket.co.nzwww.orangerocket.co.nz www.lifecoachtraining.comwww.lifecoachtraining.com www.coachfederation.orgwww.coachfederation.org

ArticlesArticles Hart, V., Blattner, J., & Leipsic, S. (2001). Coaching versus therapy: A Hart, V., Blattner, J., & Leipsic, S. (2001). Coaching versus therapy: A

perspective. perspective. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice & Research, 53(4),Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice & Research, 53(4), 229-237.229-237.

Q u e s t i o n s ?Q u e s t i o n s ?

If you have any further questions, please e-mail:If you have any further questions, please e-mail:

a a r o n @ o r a n g e r o c k e t . c o . n a a r o n @ o r a n g e r o c k e t . c o . n zz

Life Coaching & Clinical Psychology: The Therapist as a Life Coach Wendy Steedman...

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