When and Why of Coaching, Therapy, and Training

Where does coaching fit into the puzzle?

The new calendar year can inspire us to make changes we have noticed and possibly pushed off.  Many of those changes could use an extra, expert guide, teammate, or helper.  It can be confusing, however, to decide how to make the changes AND who to have on-board.  Here is some insight into when to work with a coach versus a trainer in your climbing and wellness goals.

One important step is considering what you want or need.  Is it growth and change?  It is healing and strengthening?  Maybe exploration or skill development?  This starting place will begin to guide your next steps.  Taking that insight, here is some perspective on when to utilize coaching and when you might opt instead for training.

Simply put, coaching is about growth.  It is focused on moving toward and into your fullest potential, often goal-driven, but always about moving toward where you want to be.  One common metaphor for coaching is that is it the view through the front window of the car; it is the view of forward momentum, regardless of speed or the type of vehicle you might find yourself in at any given moment.  The beauty of coaching is that, when done well, it taps us into our true capacity, accentuating the innate wisdom, clarity, drive, and resilience in all humans. 

Coaching reminds us of our “best selves,” helps us hear their desires, and live ever more closely to our true nature.

Coaching in this way is quite distinct from therapy, especially how is it practiced at large.  Therapy is more about healing; it is the view of the rear-view mirror that holds the past and its pains and sufferings that still impact us in the present.  The primary work of therapy is processing and releasing those past pains and suffering, making sense of their impact, and creating new patterns where old pain-riddled ones existed. 

It is difficult to strengthen a hurting system.

Coaching can include exploration of the past and how it shows itself in the present.  In the same way, therapy will often support us to grow into our potential.  They are powerfully complementary and can be highly effective when utilized in tandem.  Sometimes, however, therapy is the necessary first step.  Indeed, there are often experiences from our past that are so overwhelming or consuming that our true nature is very deeply hidden.  In those cases, therapy is the important first step. 

From healing to strengthening.

One important distinction between coaching and training, is that coaching typically focuses more holistically or on the mental, emotional, lifestyle elements of a person goals.  Sometimes, though, we need to focus more specifically on building physical strength.  Especially for those of us with sport or health goals, the physical aspects of those goals are going to be significant!  Working with a trainer is best when we want to a guide and helper just on the physical body.  Trainer is often well combined with coaching, and sometimes therapy (either mental/emotional OR physical therapy!) depending on how deeply you are wanting to work and progress. 

Our mental, emotional, and physical body systems do not operate in a vacuum.  In fact, they are all impacting each other in any given moment.  You may find that you begin pursuing a goal with a certain support system and that you have to add and subtract based on what you uncover along the way.  That’s great!  It is the natural clarity that comes from getting started.  And hopefully these perspectives support you in getting started with some insight and direction.  Either way, you can always pivot your course as it educates you.