Why Choosing A Personal/Life Coach Could Work Better For You Than A Therapist

Why Choosing A Personal/Life Coach Could Work Better For You Than A Therapist

As the stigma is slowly lifting over people getting help for mental health issues (bi polar, PSTD, OCD, Schizophrenia etc), personality disorders (Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Sociopath and Psychopathy), trauma and toxic relationships and/or getting support for their personal and professional goals, there is a proliferation of therapists and life coaches offering their services.  For many trying to choose the best person that can work for them is pretty confusing.  While life coaches do tend to get a bad rap because many aren’t credentialed, promoting manifestation techniques or aren’t trained to work with people who have mental health issues or personality disorders, there are some life coaches who are actually in a better position to work with clients than even some therapists.  And I say this with the utmost respect to the profession of therapy and psychology because there are some damn good ones, if you can find them like a good life coach can also be hard to find. Coaching and therapy are useful tools but like anything else, it is important that you do your research, ask questions and feel comfortable with the person you are entrusting to share your story and support you on your journey.  Remember if you have serious trauma or feel suicidal please contact a mental health care practitioner.  Here are some reasons why you might want to work with a personal/life coach instead of a therapist/psychologist.  

• Many Therapists may have the credentials and have studied theories related to mental illnesses, however may side-sweep issues that are not part of their training such as racism, sexism, classism, patriarchy, and homophobia
• Many Therapists many be skilled at working with people who have mental health and/or personality disorders but do not have the skill set to work with people who have been abused or traumatized by people who have mental health issues and/or personality disorders
• Many Therapists are rigid and have been trained not to discuss with clients anyone who isn’t in the therapy session with them, so if you want to unpack issues related to your toxic boss or abusive boyfriend, you may be out of luck
• Personal/Life Coaches have more flexibility in terms of what they can offer their clients and aren’t stifled by strict regulations, for example some personal life coaches have studied personality disorders and their effects on survivors
• Many Therapists lack the additional training that a personal/life coach may have such as ethics, law, human rights, social justice, micro aggressions and health
• Many therapists have been trained not to pathologize people with mental illnesses or personality disorders so they may not be able to sympathize with those who have been victimized by people who fall into these groups and therefore unknowingly do more harm to their clients
• Many therapists still haven’t had the requisite training on personality disorders 
• Many personal/life coaches have expansive backgrounds (meditation, healing techniques) that can help their clients manage stress.
• Many therapists haven’t been trained to understand narcissistic abuse and its wide ranging effects
• Therapy can be very narrow
• Therapists due to training may not be comfortable distinguishing the discussion of Narcissistic Personality Disorder as apart from Narcissism
• Personal/Life coaches hold space, listens to your story and helps you to unpack
• Some personal/life coaches can better understand cultural issues, intersectionality, grief, career, legacy issues and toxic relationships
• A personal/life coach can support you in your professional and personal life and help you to see the broader picture
• A personal/life coach can help you to do shadow work to help break patterns and uncover your blind spots