Counselling, Coaching, Supervision or Business Training
Which One is BEST For You?
At a glance, professional counselling, coaching, supervision and business training may seem to be very similar in nature. They are however, very different services with very different skill sets that can help people in unique and life-changing ways.
Professional Counselling Services
Counselling primarily focus on building awareness around feelings, thoughts and beliefs. Counselling often works with issues from the past that often impact someone’s ability to create the life they want in the present or future. Though counselling can help people identify, understand, cope with and improve their emotional and mental well being, the process may be slower and more emotionally challenging than coaching, as the issues are often subconscious. Counselling often focuses primarily on perceptions and feelings and as such may often involve emotional processing exercises which are intended for emotional release. Counselling always requires the completion of an in-depth intake assessment form that reviews the client’s background and relevant history. The Counsellor offers little to no personal disclosure in this process. Our focus is to assist the individual to identify treatment goals and then through new knowledge and improved insight, embark on healthy choices and progressive steps, albeit a somewhat self-directed process. Counselling does involve risk-taking, observation of family system patterns, and may provide take away assignments, which are designed to improve client outcomes. This designation of Counselling does not involve any diagnosis or the means of providing any prescription medication. It does not allow for recording of sessions and it is outside our scope of practice to work with those clients involved in legal issues or pending claims. In accordance with our policies and our governing laws, clients may request a copy of their client file or request that their file be forwarded to another professional in accordance with our terms. Counselling is covered by some extended health insurance and medical plans.
Professional Coaching Services
Coaching focus primarily on identifying a goal and creating an action plan to get there. Its focus lies more in the present and the future, and tends to move in a more rapid and measurable fashion than counselling and does not follow a specific curriculum like training does. The Coach assumes a much more collaborative role with the client. Theory is taught and priorities are client centered and more organic than training. At times, by way of example, coaching offers a higher level of personal disclosure and input (as appropriate), while still assisting individuals to determine their own needs, steps and answers. Coaching does not emphasize deep emotional excavation or emotional processing. It does not require an intake assessment or family history at the beginning of our work. Coaching is largely based on personal or business goals, learning new skills and new perspectives, overcoming barriers and measuring progress via a plan. Coaching often involves take away assignments designed to improve client outcomes. In accordance with our policies, coaching sessions are recorded but clients do not have access to their client file and may not request that it be forwarded to another professional. Coaching is not covered by insurers, but may be paid for by employers or result as a viable tax deduction in certain circumstances.
Professional Business Supervisor for Counsellors & Psychotherapists
Counsellors and/or Psychotherapists who participate in our online Private Practice Business Programs may opt to use appropriate parts of this program as a means to meet their association’s annually requirement of 1) continued education hours or 2) supervisions hours. Counsellors and/or Psychotherapists must keep track of their own continued education hours and may annually request a letter from Global Alignment that details your hours on our letterhead for submission to their association. Those professionals who want to use our business program to also accumulate annual supervision hours are considered business program participants and business supervision clients. Business supervision is a legitimate component of overall clinical supervision, but our Supervision is topic-specific to business alone. It deals with the professional’s emotional and intellectual challenges, skill development and entrepreneurial mindset as it relates to starting, running and marketing a private practice business. Because this service is “topic specific supervision,” it is not considered “counselling supervision” or “clinical supervision” and does not address issues related to providing counselling/psychotherapy service such as client dilemmas, treatment plans, ethical considerations, note taking, etc. Individual and group business coaching time may be counted as supervision hours. Counsellors and Psychotherapists are required to first sign a “Business Supervision” contract in order for individual or group training time to be counted as supervision hours. That contract defines the roles and responsibilities of both parties. It is the Counsellors/Psychotherapists responsibility to have both parties sign a “Business Supervision” contract PRIOR to any supervision hours being accumulated. Under no circumstances may documents be backdated in an attempt to retroactively gain hours for past session. Business supervision sessions may be recorded but may not be shared with others. Copies of Supervisee/Program Participant files may not be obtained by the Supervisee and may not be requested to be sent to another business coach or professional. Supervision is not counselling and those two services would never be provided to the same individual at the same time. As such, I offer a higher degree of personal disclosure for the sake of improving learning outcomes.
Professional Business Training
There may appear to be similarities between business training and business coaching, however they are quite different. Business coaching is more organic in nature, pace and topic. If focuses on a goal and the client’s needs equally, being very client centered in nature. Business Training is focused on delivering a specific curriculum, taught in a specific order, with specific assignments and in a specific time frame. Emphasis is placed on participants understanding, integrating and applying that curriculum to their business real time.
Counselling, Coaching, Supervision, Biz Training: What Fits Your Needs?
When it comes to which option is right for you, it’s not uncommon for people to want a bit of coaching, business training, counselling or even supervision rolled into one. However, because these are very different services, we ask that you focus on starting with the one that is best for you and we may then opt to switch services as you progress. Contact Us to help you determine what is best suited for your current needs.
Professional counselling, professional coaching, business training and supervision are conveniently offered on line, anywhere on the globe. Part of the success of our services is a result of the universal and inclusive relationships that are cultivated with our clients from around the world.
For more information see our service pages or Rates pages. For more information about our Private Practice Business Program, please see our services pages or reach out to us via our contact page. For information about Supervision for Counsellors/Psychotherapist also reach us via our Contact page to ask any questions or arrange for your FREE online 30-minute consultation.
