Why Hire a Coach?
A coach is a professional who gives you specific advice and feedback
to help you reach your goals and realize your potential. Coaches
are not required to have a specific license or degree, but Dr.
Sandeen and Dr. Brooks are both clinical psychologists with specialties
in cognitive-behavioral psychology. That means that you can be
sure that you’re working with a professional with extensive training
and experience.
Coaching is different from therapy. Therapy is focused on diagnosing
and treating mental illnesses. Often, therapy involves discussion
of painful past events and emotions.
On the other hand, a coach will help you access your
core values and goals, and will give you specific guidance
and feedback on ways to achieve your goals and manifest your values
in your life. You’re not obligated to meet every week in a private
office. In fact, most coaching sessions happen over the phone,
at a coffee shop or even by e-mail.
For example:
If you’re having difficulty with your boss, you might work
with a coach before your next meeting with her. Your coach can
talk through what might happen in the meeting and let you try
specific new strategies. A client can ask a coach, “What
should I say when my boss does this?” and get several new
suggestions on what to try.
If you’re a parent and you’re not sure how to handle a conflict
over homework, TV, eating habits, or any of the day-to-day issues
that parents struggle with, you can talk it over with your coach
and get specific ideas about what to do. A parent can ask a
coach, “Should I make my son go to soccer practice when
he doesn’t want to?” and get a good, clear answer that
make sense for the situation.
If you are struggling with a life transition such as a divorce,
a coach can help you identify your core values and needs and create
a practical roadmap to achieving your goals in your new life situation.
Think of a coach as a highly trained professional who can give
expert advice outside of the more structured setting of psychotherapy
sessions.
Why Choose Southwest Coaching Psychologists?
All coaches are not created equal. Many coaches working now do
not have advanced degrees or experience. Dr. Sandeen and Dr. Brooks
are both trained as cognitive-behavioral psychologists with a
combined 35 years of helping individuals and groups overcome barriers
and effect positive change in their lives. Their combination of
education and expertise allow them to provide you with truly cutting
edge knowledge and techniques that allow for rapid and effective
change.
What is your coaching philosophy?
Dr. Brooks and Dr. Sandeen use many techniques from the “positive
psychology” movement. Put simply, the idea behind positive
psychology is that we can all learn from people who are happy,
healthy, upbeat, and successful in relationships at home and at
work.
In coaching, you can try positive new changes that have been
proven to be effective. Most importantly, positive psychology
focuses on discovering your core values, beliefs, and strengths,
and building on those. Dr. Brooks and Dr. Sandeen are both cognitive-behavioral
psychologists, which means that they are focused on helping you
make positive, specific changes to achieve your goals.
What is the Coach-Client Relationship Like?
A coach will focus on your inherent strengths and capabilities.
Instead of a “doctor-patient” relationship, the relationship will
be an active collaboration. You are the expert on yourself,
while your coach’s expertise is in human behavior and change techniques.
The partnership between coach and client is key.
When people seek out therapy, they may need to work with a psychotherapist
for months or even years. A coaching relationship can be as short
as a couple of sessions, or can last much longer, depending on
your needs. You can meet with a coach in person, over the phone,
or even by e-mail. Your coaching sessions can happen in private,
or with your family, or with a small group of co-workers or team
members.
When is a coach not appropriate?
Coaching works best for someone who is high-functioning, independent,
and who is not dealing with a mental illness, a very difficult
past, or a dangerous situation.
We recommend that anyone who may have a mental health issue such
as clinical depression, severe anxiety, or post-traumatic stress
disorder seek therapy rather than coaching sessions. For a person
who is struggling with abuse or suicidal thoughts, therapy is
absolutely a better choice than coaching. Neither Dr. Brooks nor
Dr. Sandeen are accepting new patients into their private psychotherapy
practices at this time, but they can make referrals if appropriate.
What’s the first step?
You’ll start with a FREE and honest assessment
of your situation and your readiness for coaching. You’ll fill
out a short questionnaire, and follow that with a 30-minute telephone
consultation with either Dr. Brooks or Dr. Sandeen.
Whether or not you decide to work with Southwest Coaching Psychologists
further, you’ll find this free, initial consultation useful.
Let’s get started
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