Do I need a coach, therapist, or mentor?

The process of seeking self improvement is a rewarding but daunting venture. With the abundance of professionals and resources at our disposal, it can be overwhelming for someone to choose who might suit them best. 

This was a common experience shared by the panellists for our latest talk, the aptly titled ‘Do I Need A Coach,Therapist or Mentor?’ - Sabrina, CEO & co-founder of Calm Collective, Triston Francis, Leadership Institute Design Manager at Boston Consulting Group, and Catherine Le Liboux, Personal Leadership And Mental Fitness Coach. 

In the talk, each speaker shared their views on the role of each professional, the intersectionality between these disciplines, and the benefits related to each professional. 

Here’s a roundup of the key lessons from the discussion:

1) It’s not about who you need, it's about what you need.

The importance of identifying your needs prior to seeking out a professional was highlighted by every speaker. 

Catherine highlighted that in spite of the unique intersectionality between each professional’s services, their unique messaging and purpose provided could result in a situation where a coach would be more suitable than a therapist, or vice versa. However, she also shared that seeking help from all 3 domains could also be beneficial.

Triston also agreed with this notion, sharing a unique personal experience when he faced multiple adversities - each professional provided him with a unique solution which propelled him to subsequent success. With the support of his mentors who guided him through his assignments by sharing their experiences, coaches who aided him with clarity in this unfamiliar situation, and therapists who equipped him with inner peace amidst living alone in a foreign country, Triston was able to overcome the combination of challenges he faced and gained a newfound perspective on the unique role each professional offered. 

Adding to this, Sabrina highlighted how the process of visiting a therapist and coach simultaneously led her to a similar experience of finding inner peace and clarity respectively.

2) Effective, open communication is an important component of a good relationship - whether it’s with your therapist, coach, or mentor.

All 3 speakers highlighted the different circumstances that led them to seek the aforementioned professionals, and how their positive experiences were solidified through communicating their needs and issues thoroughly.

In particular, Catherine highlighted how coaches could also function as mentors if clients require an element of both entities in their process. She shared how her previous experience of being ‘mentored’ by her ‘coach ‘ taught her that conveying her needs were the most important factor in this cathartic process and how recognising the unique intersectionality between each role bolsters our ability to communicate our needs comprehensively.

Triston agreed with this, highlighting how the experience of finding a mentor who had gone through a similar experience that he had gone through provided him with pertinent guidance to fulfil his tasks with creativity and vigour. Additionally, he shared his struggles with dyslexia and how finding a coach who dealt with these needs equipped him with the relevant strategies to overcome the challenges he faced in the workplace.

Sabrina also highlighted the importance of maximising the value of  ‘discovery sessions’ with her coaches and therapists. She stressed the benefit of articulating your issues comprehensively to discover sources of synergy - a key foundation for a fruitful relationship with a coach, therapist or mentor.

3) A good relationship is forged on common values, regardless of the professional.

All 3 speakers agreed that the professionals we seek need to share similar values with ours to develop a long lasting relationship.

In particular, Sabrina shared the eye-opening process of approaching a variety of coaches whom she found online, and how a lack of alignment in values and experiences functioned as an intuitive indication that this professional would not be a good fit. She shared how the commonality in values and experiences she shares with her coach have proven incredibly effective in the long-term. 

Catherine agreed on the importance of utilising your intuition in choosing a  professional to work with. 

Admittedly, the process of finding the right person can be an arduous venture. However, Triston highlighted the value of this process stating that his experience in scouring for the right professional was a valuable venture. It taught him the value of finding someone who was willing to reciprocate commensurately in order to ensure an enriching experience.

While the role of each professional may differ, your needs, values and desire for improvement do not. Given that, we should approach professionals with our needs/ values at the forefront rather than approach them based on conventional definitions. By doing so, we can embrace the journey that we’ll take with each (or every) professional in our progress towards self improvement. 

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