Mental Health and Illness
The Life Coaching Approach...How can a life coach help those sufferring from a mental illness?
A Standard approach
Generally speaking, when a person struggles with mental illness like depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety and so on, the common approach is to see a psychiatrist for medication, and possibly some type of therapist as well. We absolutely support the use of psychotropic medication when prescribed correctly, and therapy can never hurt. So how can life coaching by PARADIGM further help the client?
Common mental illnesses include:
– Depression / Clinical Depression
– Anxiety / Generalized Anxiety Disorder
– PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
– OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
– Bipolar Disorder
– Personality Disorders
– Mood Disorders
– Substance Use Disorder
PARADIGM Life Coaching: An Enhanced Approach to Mental Health through “Therapeutic Life Coaching”
If you’ve scoured the web for an experienced, credentialed life coach, chances are you have noticed that many, if not most in fact, are not credentialed and basically operate on the basis of life experience. And without question, life experience is a key part of the equation, but when it comes to helping one to recover (and persevere through) their mental illness, life experience is merely secondary to science, academics and relevant clinical experience.
Why is PARADIGM different? This isn’t just coaching, this is “Therapeutic Life Coaching.” While it is quite rare to find a credentialed life coach that is also a well-established licensed therapist, that is in fact who we are and why our ability to help a client often extends beyond what other traditional approaches can offer. We have the clinical expertise to examine the client’s past, which is where the therapist traditionally excels in, while having the expertise to help map out and guide the client throughout future points in time, which is where the skills and experience of a life coach come into play. Together, they offer a powerful combination that is rarely seen!
Diagnosing and Treating Mental Illness & Dual-Diagnosis Disorders
Diagnosing a mental health illness for the purpose of prescribing medication is done by a psychiatrist, or in some cases by a nurse practitioner at the psychiatrist’s office. Those not seeking a medication approach can often be diagnosed by a therapist instead. In no scenario can a life coach legally make such a diagnosis.
It has come to be known over the past 20 to 30 years that many people with substance abuse issues, and other addictions, are also suffering from various mental health illnesses like, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, and others. In fact, many drug addicts & alcoholics that struggled with years of relapse and/or countless return trips to drug rehab have later found that an underlying mental illness was, to some degree, standing in the way of attaining prolonged sobriety.
PARADIGM is here to help! Whether mental illness is a standalone condition or co-occurring with something else, our owner, Alexandra Birenbaum, MA, CAP, CSAT & Certified Life Coach, can absolutely help. She holds a masters degree and is a Certified Addictions Professional. She is also a CSAT Therapist and of course a Certified Life Coach from CTA and a member of ICF.
How it works…
PARADIGM offers its life coaching services nationwide by phone or video. In-person options are available to those living in South Florida, specifically Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
It is important to understand that, regardless of licensing and depth of experience, PARADIGM does not operate as a therapist or therapy service of any kind. Therefore, we do not make any type of clinical diagnosis, regardless of what type of mental illness the client suffers from. However, for those needing more insight on any potential mental illness they may be dealing with, we can certainly help in that regard. This offers the added benefit that no diagnosis would be entered into your medical records, which is important to some people.
We call our approach “Therapeutic Life Coaching.” Over the years I have worked with men women suffering from a myriad of mental illnesses, many times more than one. And it is much the same for people struggling with substance abuse or other addictions like sex, gambling, internet/gaming, etc.
So whether you’re struggling with depression or anxiety or bipolar disorder or another mental illness, or even think you are, call us 7 days a week at (561) 351-3447.
Live greatly while having a mental illness
Suffering from a mental illness is no longer the big elephant in the room. Society not only accepts the broad existence of mental illness, but now encourages people to address it. I promise you this: “There are definitely people in your life who come across as stable and strong in so many ways, yet some are in therapy, some take medication, and some do both.”
