Psychotherapy and Coaching are two different venues. The roles are in potential conflict thus you must decide which venue is appropriate for your issues. Toward that end I will define the major distinctions between the two. Coaching is a short term commitment--4 weeks to 6 months depending on the extent and number of changes you wish to make. It requires very active participation on your part as well as on the part of the coach thus you must be psychologically stable, in good physical health, and not have allot of distractions to your progress such as addictive behaviors, excess chaos in your life, or being in an acute crises, ie recent divorce, loss, or trauma. Coaching can largely be done PHONE with email and in-person visits as a supplement to your work. Coaching is designed to rapidly improve your communication and problem solving skills and encourages you to make immediate behavior changes. Examples of coaching issues include but are not limited to: Completing or taking action on long-delayed personal project or goal where fear or confusion may be paralyzing. Enhancing job performance or career satisfaction-this could include a complete career change. Designing a program for improving communication and intimacy skills in relationships with peers, friends and/or significant others. Creating and expanding passion in the spiritual, emotional, sensual, creative, mental and/or physical pheres of your life. Re-structuring what has become an addictive or imbalanced lifestyle - i.e. workaholic/burnt-out, or stay at home mom wanting to return to work. The other half of the formula is all up to you, choosing to be very active in your own behalf. Your tasks, should you undertake this mission, are: To co-create all goals, timelines and commitments. To be willing to take risks, get out of your comfort zone, and try new approaches. To evaluate your own progress and talk to me about where it is not working and re-design/re-frame the goal(s). To be compassionate with yourself through the change process which can be like a roller coaster at times. To commit to high degrees of self care during this time-eat well, drink lots of water, exercise, sleep adequately, and minimize distractions. Choose to eliminate all guilt, not believe in/promote fear, be grateful each day for all you have now and participate in at least one activity per day which brings you a sense of passion and joy! Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is a medium-to-long-term commitment--6 months minimum, one-to-two years average and can be longer. Change is structural in nature as opposed to focusing on problem-solving. It takes time , compassion and trust to re-structure long term trauma experiences and their side effects, re-wire self-defeating beliefs and attitudes and re-design dysfunctional behavior patterns. Psychotherapy clients often begin in an emotionally vulnerable place where they need, for a while, to rely on someone else to assist them until they get back on their feet. There is a need to share highly sensitive/private experiences and to have those experiences be held sacred and be processed through gently. The psychotherapy client often has symptoms in the first phases of therapy which are interfering with daily functioning in the personal or work sphere. Examples include depression (difficulty sleeping, eating, relaxing, enjoying, being motivated), anxiety (with physical or emotional components), a moderate to strong feeling of disconnection from intimacy with spouse, significant other, children and/or the divine. In short, therapy is a slower, more gentle process which involves alleviating symptoms of stress, understanding personality, family and/or work dynamics which created the symptoms, and some patience to heal. The similarity between psychotherapy and coaching is the end result- a distinct, measurable, heartfelt improvement in your quality of life, more Joy, more fun and more inner peace. One venue is not better than another, it is a discernment (decision made based on compassion vs judgment ) that will tell you which one is better suited to your needs. Certainly if you are on the border between the two consult with me and I will help you choose. For further information and appointments, contact Jenny at (650) 595-3343 or email her at jennyengland77@gmail.com.