My initial reaction to this article was excitement, what a fabulous idea and how progressive of this council leader to implement it. Then I thought about it a little, as I read down to the bottom of the page. Life coaches do help clients deal with weight and fitness issues (frequently), but depression? Anxiety? These are not within the realms of a life coach, these are counselling areas. The two are very different. Coaching is non-directive, or should be. If someone is in the depths of depression, how can they be expected to see the wood for the trees, let alone see the path out of it? As a professional Life Coach, I would refer them to their GP or a specialist mental health professional. I may offer them some yoga or meditation, which has been shown to help, but I would certainly not look to ‘treat’ mental health conditions.
It may just be that the story wasn’t reported clearly, and that the additional training the volunteers will receive may well cover the counselling side of things. In any case, I’m sure this initiative will help a great many people, not to mention lighten the burden on the provision of health services locally. Taking a more holistic approach to health care provision is long overdue and I salute Ian Stewart (pictured) and the team who will implement this great idea.
Life Coach for Every Resident.....
Photo of Ian Stewart, Mayor of Salford, courtesy of Manchester Evening News
It may just be that the story wasn’t reported clearly, and that the additional training the volunteers will receive may well cover the counselling side of things. In any case, I’m sure this initiative will help a great many people, not to mention lighten the burden on the provision of health services locally. Taking a more holistic approach to health care provision is long overdue and I salute Ian Stewart (pictured) and the team who will implement this great idea.
Life Coach for Every Resident.....
Photo of Ian Stewart, Mayor of Salford, courtesy of Manchester Evening News
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