CHASING THE BLUES AWAY

Often when I am coaching someone we begin to talk about obstacles that stand in the way of something they are trying to do or achieve. As the communication opens up I can make an assessment of the degree of sadness, depression, worry , anxiety or "low kinds of feelings" that are occuring for this individual. Being a licensed therapist allows me to understand and qualify needs that my clients might have accurately and that allows our sessions to really pin-point blocks or obstacles that they are confronting so that we can move beyond that.

Everyone has the blues now and then from women to men , (like the photos here are used to respresent the idea) teenagers and even very young children. Facial expressions don't always give people away, but sometimes posture, eye contact, lack of verbal interaction and socially withdrawing makes it painfully clear.

Examples of "deep sadness" presenting situations can be anything from a grief reaction over the loss of a loved one, death of a beloved pet or to the breakup of a relationship. Then again some depressed feelings can consist of long term chronic awareness of situations in which one feels trapped, or not being able to find a job, not having a partner to share life with or ongoing money problems. And having the blues can be short lived , but sometimes intense feelings of worry, or boredom or emptiness that fades or disappears when the next time something more enjoyable is happening.

When someone is trying to cope with depression and resulting behavioral probems , or a drug or alcohol addiction, I will refer that person to work with a competent psychotherapist. I refer to people I know and whose style of therapy I am familiar with. Although I am qualified to do that work myself, the field of coaching is not counseling and problems such as these require a different approach in providing help and usually longer therapy and work.

With individuals not needing counseling- we start with what the problem or area of desired understanding or improvement is right now. The process calls for getting the full picture, but for moving in the desired direction immediately. No weeks and weeks of getting childhood memories or dysfunctional family of origin limitations before the actual work of moving forward can happen. This is one of the true joys of coaching; progress happens from the first visit.

Feel free to give me a call at 760.956.3310 to discuss what it is you'd like to do and see if coaching is just what you might be looking for.