Perception of Therapy and Coaching: When it’s Time to Help Yourself

There’s an outdated notion that there is something wrong with people who seek therapy or coaching. To combat this implicit bias, we must acknowledge the reality, deconstruct the myth, and rebuild the truth. As professionals in the legal field, we specialize in stress-transfer. We take on individuals and corporations, with their most complex problems, and make them whole. We offer encouragement, reassurance, support, and guidance. But as the stress drains from our clients, it rises within us. That stress and urgency doesn’t just magically disappear. So, what do we do with it? Some superbly well-adjusted individuals with never-ending energy find creative or physical outlets, like art or mountain biking. But what about the rest of us? What if you are more of an external processor than a yogi? Are you doomed to bottle until you burn out or the stress gives you an anxiety disorder? No. There are other options, like therapy or coaching, that are often overlooked because of ignorance or fear of stigma.  Let’s break it down. Therapists are licensed individuals that diagnose and address underlying mental and behavioral disorders. Not all disorders are completely debilitating, like anxiety, but they do affect how we connect to life and how we work. Therefore, therapists can help individuals identify triggers, provide effective coping mechanisms, and increase someone’s quality of life. Life Coaches help professionals identify and understand self-imposed obstacles in order to improve their outlook on life, enrich personal and social relationships, and achieve desired goals. If an athlete wants to compete at the top level, they get an athletic coach. If a student wants to excel at a test, they get a tutor. Therefore, if a professional wants to succeed or feel empowered to do better at work and at life, they get a Life Coach. It’s that simple. There is no shame in empowering yourself to do better and be better. In fact, there is great strength in acknowledging limitations and overcoming them.