Therapy vs. Wellness Coaching

Therapy vs. Wellness Coaching:

What sort of help do I need?

Here at Triangle Balanced Therapy (TBT), we consider Therapy and Wellness Coaching to be complimentary services that not only help you manage life’s struggles, but also help you fulfill your human potential. A therapist or coach should act as a companion in a metaphorical dark wilderness, there with you to shine a light on the trail, so that you can take steps forward with awareness and purpose, making progress and living a meaningful life. No matter your starting point, progress is always possible, whether that means moving up from rock bottom and/or helping you move toward self actualization. How do you know if you’re better suited for Therapy or for Wellness Coaching? Let’s explore what opportunities are provided by each service so that you can make a call about the best fit for you.

Blaine Barbee is a Duke trained and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach at TBT. Here’s what she has to say about Health and Wellness Coaching: 

Health and Wellness Coaching is all about identifying who you are, who you want to be, and how to get there. We partner together through the behavior change process to take sustainable action steps toward enhanced well-being that aligns with your values. This starts with a self-asseessment of your current state, envisioning what you want and selecting your desired area of focus. Together we come up with goals and action steps. Whether your desired focus is better sleep, nutrition, more physical activity, self-care, improved social relationships, stress management practices, or honing executive functioning skills there is a path to get you there. If any of these basic pillars of your health are out of balance, you may experience the sensation of feeling “unwell”. It is important to address these factors by creating lasting values-driven changes that support your mental health as well as overall sense of health and well-being. Cultivating strong healthful habits and routines is the foundation to reaching your human potential.

Jason Roberts is a Licensed Therapist at TBT. Here’s what he has to say about Therapy: 

Therapy is all about becoming aware of mental afflictions in order to break unhealthy patterns of behavior that arise when we live in ignorance of them. Through cultivated insight about deeply held insecurities and injuries, one can course correct and make different choices about how to be in the world. Brave, curious and direct conversation is the vehicle through which therapy accomplishes this course correction. It is a great fit for someone who is ready to face hidden narratives that give rise to problematic behaviors and relationships. I might be the right fit for you if you want to be challenged to work hard to cultivate awareness that can open the door to healthy behavior change.

The Human Potential Pyramid below depicts the scope of the human experience that can be addressed in Wellness Coaching and Therapy. The bracketed sections roughly show the areas best addressed through each service. 

While Therapy can include an individual’s daily habits and routines, Wellness Coaching is likely a better fit, if the primary work needed is at this level. It’s worth noting that Self-Actualization is a state rarely achieved in any sustainable way, though simply pursuing this state has an abundance of value and both Therapy and Wellness coaching can lead to insights towards Self-Actualization.