Need Therapy at Work? Try Executive Coaching

The pandemic drove several changes in the working world. Hybrid work has become commonplace, the balance of power shifted from organizations to employees (for now), and frequent job transitions have grown commonplace. Relatedly, key positions in organizations remain unfilled, putting increased pressure on everyone else to pick up the slack. Another important change stemming from these shifts has been a sharp increase in anxiety, depression, and burnout that exceeds the mental health system’s capacity to handle it. Which begs the question: can coaching fill the gap? The short answer is, “maybe.”

It’s important to know, coaching isn’t mental health counselling. Therapists are licensed mental health professionals with extensive training in psychology and counselling. They’re able to diagnose mental health challenges and offer interventions that enable patients to work through their difficulties using techniques like Cognitive or Dialectic Behavioral Therapy. These aren’t methods that coaches typically have knowledge of or faculty with. In short, if you might need treatment for a specific disorder or prolonged exploration of how your thoughts impact your mood for example, a coach isn’t qualified to help.

But if you’re facing a performance-oriented challenge at work caused by counterproductive thoughts or behaviors, a partnership with a professional coach can make a major difference. Coaching isn’t intended to solve challenges directly; a coach partners with you to raise your awareness of what might be causing your issues while helping you identify choices available to address them. In addition to being an empathic listener and thought partner, a good coach encourages you to face reality, prioritize, and take action. They also work on your behalf to hold you accountable. The last bit—helping you stay accountable—can be especially helpful. Keep in mind, the overall premise of coaching is that the patient—or in this case client—can solve their own problem. The coach, not to solve, but to unlock problem-solving thinking and motivate action.

If you’re trying to cope with a significant mental health challenge, your best option is a licensed mental health provider. But if your difficulties stem from uncertainty regarding decisions, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, unhelpful behaviors, or an unclear future, an trained coach may be beneficial.

For another perspective on the value of executive coaching, visit the Economist.