Coaching vs. Therapy

Coaching and therapy are not the same thing.

Coaching and therapy are both great, but they offer different things for different reasons.

You may decide to start therapy or you may sign up to work with a coach. But, they can also be great together. They're like the peanut butter and jelly of ADHD self-care—a great combination.

With so many options, it can be hard to decide whether you need coaching, therapy, or both.

Recently on Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast, we spoke to ADHD Coach and entrepreneur, Maggie Isley. During our discussion, she discussed her duty as a coach if she notices a client who should be prioritizing therapy over coaching.

But I am like, "Hey, tell me a little bit more about this, that, and this, that. I think it's stemming from this, this, this... I need you to go to therapy. I know you want to build your business tomorrow, but you're not ready for that." And I also ask clients to stop working with me until they process things. So, I have clients leave after three months because I don't want to work with them anymore until they process things.

Process things

What did Maggie mean when she said 'process things'?

Basically, it means working through any internal barriers holding you back from what you want to do or who you really want to be.

You could be stuck for a million different reasons: comorbid conditions like anxiety or depression, past/current traume or PTSD, fear, or something else.

The point is, until you work through that thing holding you back, you're going to be fighting against yourself to move forward.

Here's another great snippet from our conversation with Maggie:

And then, see what the root cause is because yes, you can change superficially, but look, until you figure out what that root cause is, you're going to revert. I know because I still have moments where I revert, and it's a human nature... It's okay. This is a shame-free zone. It's okay. But [I know] that therapy helps.

Asking for help isn't a weakness

No matter who you are, where you come from or where you want to go, it is never a bad thing to ask for help when you need it.

In fact, I believe asking for help shows a lot of bravery and positive self-awareness and self-care.

If you're not sure where to start, try dicussing things with your primary healthcare provider or a trusted mentor. Sometimes having that outside perspective can help you pinpoint where the root of the problem is.

Whether you ever decide to attend therapy or try coaching, be open to learning and growing through the guidance of someone who wants to see you succeed.

You can do this!

Want to hear more from Maggie?
Listen to our whole conversation with Maggie Isley

Thank you for your time and attention,

-Nikki