Both coaches and unregistered counsellors are considered non-clinical practitioners. Non-clinical practitioners are not certified by a clinical authority and therefore are not licenced or authorized to assess, diagnose, or treat mental illness, or offer psychotherapy. We know the seriousness of preserving the clinical practice with all its standards and regulations, designed to protect patients and limit harm. Neither do we talk of healing and recovery in the traditional sense of these terms, for both concepts are also clinical. Instead non-clinical practitioners use active listening and different techniques to help clients talk through their problems and concerns.

Counselors vs Coaches

Counselors and coaches differ in approach and philosophy. Non-clinical counsellors give feedback, unpack problems and behaviours, and offer advice, feedback, strategies, and techniques to manage your stress and other issues. They often have a specialization such as a focus on relationships or setting boundaries. Coaches, on the other hand, see their role as helping you build your skills and abilities through the careful application of psychological insight. The character Ted Lasso is a good example of a coach who uses psychology to help his athletes excel. There are many areas where coaches specialize, but the approach is usually the same, identifying goals and skills, and working towards business or personal improvement, stability, and strength.

Jungian Coaches

Jungian coaches have expertise in the models and techniques developed and tested by Dr. Carl G. Jung. They generally don't counsel you on changing your behaviour or give you ways to cope with stress. Instead they listen for themes and patterns in your life, explore your dreams and synchronicities, and support you to examine your shadow and complexes (parts). The desired outcome is individuation, rather than a specific set of goals. We believe that individuation will better align your inner parts under a unified sense of self, and this in turn will give you the clarity, confidence, and insight to make the changes and decisions that are best for you in the long run.

Individuation

Individuation is the process of exploring the different parts of yourself, those you are aware of and those you have repressed, supressed, or ignored. The process fosters a growing realization of your own uniqueness as distinct from those around you, and it involves the creation of a harmonious inner system. In this system your ego (the "I" you think of as yourself) finds its place as an agent of conscious integration, coordinating your roles and functions under the leadership of the Self with a capital S. This Self is sometimes referred to as your higher Self, True Self, or your connection to the divine, but the model does not require a particular view of God and can work for atheists as well as people of faith. Jung understood the Self as the guiding archetype drawing each person towards wholeness.

Flow over Goals

A whole self is not just acquiescence to ego-driven wishes. A whole self is a state of being where triggers and unhelpful patterns have been reduced or resolved. This is why we don't focus on achieving goals like other types of coaching. Instead we put effort into helping you experience more flow in your life, or what is called, "states of absolute being." We facilitate dialogue with the various parts of the psyche, conscious and unconscious, which ultimately improves the ego-self relationship, fostering a trust between these two central layers. Flow is both a facilitator for this relationship, and also the result of a state of balance within yourself. The more centered in your self you are, the easier it is to concentrate and follow your interests and calling.