The last few years have left their mark on our mental health. No wonder, as no one just goes through a pandemic, high inflation rates, or a war without impact. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, they said 40% of adults in the states that they suffered from symptoms of anxiety or depression during the pandemic. This is about 30% more than was reported before the pandemic.
This is practically crying out for therapy! Unfortunately, this is not a solution that many consider. There are several reasons for this. One of the reasons is the lack of qualified therapists who can help people with their problems. Additionally, many cannot afford a therapist, even though it is an investment in their mental health.
Therefore, coaching seems to be a more attractive alternative for many. Coaching is an excellent option for mild symptoms of mental disorders, allowing therapists to focus on serious issues in the field of mental health. Coaches are also more accessible in terms of cost than therapists and can start practicing their profession earlier.
That it is a less stigmatized form of treatment and prevention for some mental health issues also supports coaching. Because of this whole stigma, many avoid therapy, even when a therapist would be available to them.
Recent research also supports coaching. The team behind Modern Health has found promising results. According to a study published in the “Journal of Technology of Behavioral Science,” 58% of people who began coaching with symptoms of depression reported a clinical improvement after at least one session. Their overall well-being increased by 76%.
This all relies on previous studies, which have proven that multiple sessions lead to lead to a better outcome. This study also found that the therapeutic alliance between clients and their coaches in the context of virtual individual support was just as strong as between clients and their therapists..
One can conclude from this that coaching can be very well compared to traditional therapy based on the patient relationship and the outcomes.
Source
Sagui-Henson, S. J., Welcome Chamberlain, C. E., Smith, B. J., Li, E. J., Castro Sweet, C., & Altman, M. (in press). Understanding components of therapeutic alliance and well-being from use of a global digital mental health benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal observational study. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.
