Mindful Living Coach
Mindful Living for Today, Planting Seeds for Tomorrow
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What is the relationship between therapy and ADD coaching?
Treatment for ADD in adults has typically included medication and therapy. Coaching is emerging as another form of help that can benefit people with ADD. Medication can improve focus and reduce other symptoms of ADD. However, medications alone cannot teach the patient how to compensate for life skills never learned.
A therapist and a coach each establish a helping relationship with the client, with the overall goal of helping the client to grow and to live a better life. Both coaching and therapy deal with feelings but a coach does not get involved with emotional, cognitive, or behavioral problems of clinical intensity (depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, addictions, etc.). Coaching deals with feelings in terms of what motivates the client's behavior and helps or blocks goal achievement.
Therapy focuses on your feelings and healing past wounds. ADD coaching focuses on practical changes. Coaches learn how the symptoms of ADD play out in the daily lives of their clients and then provide encouragement, recommendations, feedback, and practical techniques.
Coaching is based on a holistic or "wellness" model, intended to improve daily functioning and well-being. Many therapists are referring to coaches so that they can help the client clear the behavioral "clutter". Coaches focus on what, when, and how - never why.
Coaching completes the bridge between biology and behavior and narrows the gap between ability and performance. Just as an athletic coach motivates an athlete, ADD coaches motivate their clients with ADD.