Therapy, also known as psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychology, or counselling, is generally a long-term process where a client works with a Mental Health Professional to diagnose, recognize, and resolve unhealthy beliefs, behaviors, relationship issues, emotional and physical responses created by past traumas.
A coach comes alongside their client to brainstorm, provide information, and examine potential decisions. A therapist can do all these things, but they often also need to intervene at a deeper level to direct care, prescribe behavior and make choices on behalf of their client. A coach never takes that much control over a client’s life. We believe that the client has what it takes within them, to heal and we help them to see that. Coaches educate their clients about the effects of Complex Trauma and developmental needs, educate on the neuroscience of trauma, psychoeducation, somatic work, alternate modalities that may be helpful, plus normalize where the client is at, how healing happens, and what growth looks like.
The difference between Coaching and Therapy is Trauma Recovery Coaches acknowledge the past traumas, and work with the present for each client. Coaches acknowledge a client has been inundated in past traumas, therefore all focus is brought into the present to ensure clients experience a safe environment, and do not experience re-traumatization. We acknowledge with gentle curiosity maladaptive coping mechanisms, and unhealthy behaviors that are a result of broken core beliefs that traumas taught our clients.
Trauma Recovery Coaches Do Not:
- Treat, diagnose, or assess their client’s mental health and/or prescribe treatment.
- Prescribe or give advice about medication.
- Work outside their scope of competence – coaches do not work with clients who are at risk of self-harm or harming others.
As a coach I’m committed to:
- Provide a safe container, free of judgment and shame in order to build a trusted relationship so that you can open your heart and soul with confidence.
- Listen with respect and ask yourself the questions that help you get to know yourself better, discover your healing goals and recognize your values, strengths and abilities to achieve it.
- Accompany you throughout the coaching sessions, offering Psychoeducation, tools and suggestions to better understand your healing process. I will support you and go as far as you want to go, always respecting your healing map and recovery goals at all times and encouraging you to strengthen your motivation.
- Provide you with safety and support in an environment where you can feel confident to explore. Also, will share my personal experiences to let you know that are not alone in what you’re facing, helping normalizing the process. To be your peer and guide through this time.
- Support you to find your skills so that in the future you will be able to move towards your projects enjoying the journey and facing difficulties with a positive and resolute attitude.
As a client, I expect from you to:
- Be aware that you as client are the sole decision-maker in the coaching process and that you are willing to work on your recovery journey. You will dedicate your focus during our coaching time on our work for the entirety of our session.
- That you will attends to sessions as previously established in the place or platform at the scheduled time. Sessions will be offered through online platform or other means of communication.
- That you are in a position of openness to change, that you experience new perspectives and positive behaviors and new healthy copying mechanisms. This can sometimes be pleasant and sometimes not so much, since it will make you leave your “uncomfortable comfort zone”, in order to heal, grow and evolve.
- That you will commit to your recovery goals objectives and the action steps, to achieve the results that are important and established by you. That you express your opinion to recognize that the process is valuable and meets your needs.
- Please let me know if you feel triggered during a session or if there is something you need from me while working together.
- That you make all the progress and achievements yours. Only you are responsible for free decision-making and its results.
Confidentiality and Disclosure
As a coach I’m committed to:
- Treat the information you provide, at all times, with absolute confidentiality, adopting the necessary precautions for it. Zoom is not HIPPA compliant and, therefore I cannot guarantee, with 100% certainty, that information shared through Zoom will be safe from a data breach. However, I do keep all client records secured in ways that anyone other than myself does not have access to them.
- Not to use disclosed information for purposes other than those of the process of coaching, nor to disclose or reproduce it without your written consent. Documents and information will not be used or be valid for legal purposes.
- As a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach™, I act as a Mandatory Reporter, as outlined by The International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching. This means that if I become aware that a minor, disabled person, or elderly person is currently being abused I am mandated to report the abuse to the appropriate governing agency. The confidentiality will be break if I you are in danger of harming yourself or another person, or if I receive a legal subpoena to release your records.
- Although there are no guarantees on the outcomes from coaching, we will work together to set attainable goals, and we will also spend time evaluating how you feel you are progressing, and my observations.
Disclaimer
- As a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach™, I’m not equipped or train to work with crisis, therefore I will not work with clients with history of suicidal ideation, who have an active drug or alcohol addiction. But if you are in crisis during session, we will trigger the Escalated Care Protocol and will contact another professional who has the expertise with whatever safety issue. In the Resources page you will find the places and resources to reach out to.