Coaching
Coaching is an ongoing relationship that guides clients to take action toward realizing their visions, goals or desires. Coaching uses techniques to 1) improve a client's self-awareness, 2) discover and clarify what a client really wants to achieve, 3) develop a specific action plan for achieving the desired outcome and 4) create client follow through to achieve success. This process may end with the achievement of a specific goal, or it may continue as the client realizes the next step to being fully successful.
Coaching is not Psychotherapy, Behavior Therapy, or Treatment for any Medical Condition. Psychiatric "Therapy" is traditionally understood to be medical treatment for a disorder that causes a significant impairment in normal adaptive functioning. Psychiatric disorders are the conditions defined in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). Some health insurance plans with a Mental Health Benefit will cover the cost of treatment for designated DSM-IV disorders, but usually only when the treatment is required to prevent serious deterioration, immediate harm, or disability.
Some problems may be significant, but still not meet your insurance policy's definition of a covered medical expense, for example Learning Disabilities, Marital Problems, Under Achievement, Unconscious Barriers to Success, etc. Some medical insurance policies only cover the most severe psychiatric disorders, and these severe conditions are the only ones protected by Mental Health Parity Laws. HIPAA regulations specifically allow your health insurance company to obtain and use information about your psychiatric diagnoses and treatments.
Are you interested in learning more about Coaching or in Psychotherapy?