In March of 2020, none of us had any idea of what we were heading into. All of us were called home and began working in our bedrooms, at our kitchen tables, and if we were lucky, our home offices.
I lost clients. Some didn't want to do telemed. It was the only option I could offer since my kids were also now home from school each day. Mornings were filled with checking in with teachers, hopping on zoom to get the daily instructions, setting the kids up with worksheets, books, assignments, then grabbing a bottle of water before "heading" to work. Thankfully, the month before (February 2020), I had picked up a bargain of an executive desk - needed a new handle here, a new knob there, filled with scratches. I took a kitchen chair in and had myself an office space. That chair was not too uncomfortable since I initially only used it for short stretches.
As the days and weeks wore on, some who initially did not want to do telemed decided to give it a try, new clients started calling, and before I knew it, I was full again. Long days sitting in a kitchen chair were wearing on me, so I bought a nice office chair thinking it would be great to have even when we returned to the office.
The months wore on and no sign of things slowing down. If I didn't have an opening, I had some folks I could refer to. It might be a few weeks before I or someone else could see them, but we were making it work.
Now, we are here. 2 years later. Those counselors I had been referring clients to are full. No openings. Not now and not weeks from now. There is a waitlist, but they are no longer adding names to the waitlist. Local agencies are not taking new clients. Psychiatrists are booked for months and months out, with some no longer taking new patients. What are the people who need help now supposed to do?
There are a variety of options available. In many of the people that I speak with each week, the pandemic highlighted some issues that were already present but overtime and isolation became unbearable. Anxiety and depression are being diagnosed at an alarming rate, but there are also many "life" skills that seem to be lacking and the pandemic has put a spotlight on them. People that are married and struggling to communicate with each other. Parents unsure of how to help their children. Families uncertain of how to create community when the previous community structure has been stripped or altered.
This is where coaching is such a help! Not all married couples having problems need counseling! Some married couples simply need to learn how to communicate with each other. Some parents just need a little guidance. Some families need a little nudge.
Counseling should be reserved for those with a clinical diagnosis.
Coaching is not covered by insurance but it doesn't matter where you live! Because most coaching is done via telephone or online via zoom, you can see a coach anywhere in the country. And because coaching is action oriented and focused solely on setting and reaching goals, your time with a coach is likely to be much more abbreviated (read less expensive).
Counseling is typically covered by insurance, but you are limited in that you are only able to receive counseling services by an individual licensed in the state in which you reside. So, I am in Georgia, I am licensed in Georgia, and can only see clients who also reside in Georgia.
In this time, when counselors are full and often not accepting new clients, it may be worth exploring if coaching might be a good fit for you.
Check out the homepage for more differences between coaching and counseling. If you would like to speak further to help you decide which is the right fit for you, just contact me and I will be happy to assist you in finding the right help.
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