5 Reasons Coaching is the Right Support for You

If you caught my last blog post, you know that coaching is similar to, but definitely NOT therapy!

Today we are going to dive in a bit deeper, to highlight why, for some people, coaching is actually a much better fit. By the time you’re finished reading, my hope is that you’re horizons will have expanded to see beyond what you’ve always been told is available to you. You’ll have more information to consider your options for short-term, effective support that matches what you actually want.

5 Reasons Why Coaching Is Right for You:

1. Increased privacy and flexibility (and NO Diagnosis!)

Think of hiring a personal coach like you would hiring a fitness coach or trainer. There’s no third-party gatekeeper that tells you who’s in your “network” or limits how many sessions you can have. Nope, you have the freedom to hire the professional you want, one who inspires you to reach your goals (and actually helps you achieve them)! 

The privacy and self-determination offered via coaching might be especially attractive to those of you who are in the military and first responders, who would prefer to keep their personal growth and support resources private. If keeping your personal and professional life separate matters to you, coaching is an ideal resource.

Do you work long hours or do shift work? That’s cool – coaching can work around your crazy schedules with more flexibility, because we aren’t worried about finding you that coveted “spot” in the schedule to meet on a consistent, ongoing basis. Most coaches will allow you to schedule by the session or set up a routine. Either way, it’s not super rigid and isn’t a months or years-long commitment. 

And my Favorite part?! There are no diagnoses in coaching. This means no labeling you, no reporting that label to your insurance company (which is required for coverage in treatment), and no potentially stigmatizing medical record to follow you around and interfere with your future goals.

Coaching is all about you setting goals that matter to you and receiving kick-ass support to help you reach them – fast, fun, effective.

2. You know what you’re agreeing to from the start.

Coaching is time-limited, so transparency is key.

When you work with a quality coach, you agree ahead of time on the details of the coaching experience.

How much will each session cost? Are there payment plans or packages that offer promotional rates for paying up front? How long will my coaching sessions be? How long will we work together? Four weeks? Eight weeks? Will there be an option to end sooner or extend a bit? 

Since coaching focuses on assessing the present problems, setting goals and finding solutions for the future, you’ll know what to expect from each session (i.e.: no surprise conversations about your childhood!)

3. You get the benefit of working with a therapist, without going to therapy.

Ok, so it’s important to highlight that you will only get this benefit if you choose to work with a coach who is also a licensed therapist. As I highlighted in my previous blog post, anyone can be a coach – the personal coaching profession is not regulated like that of the mental health treatment profession. This is why I really recommend finding a coach who is also a licensed therapist, because…

As a licensed therapist and a communication coach, I have the years of training, experience, knowledge, skills, and insight of a therapist, but as a coach, I’m not going to ask you, “So, how does that make you feel?” We won’t be digging into the past or exploring how your attachment wounds are effecting your relationship. BUT, if that’s something you determine you what to do, I have an arsenal of quality referrals and can help you to transition into the therapy space smoothly.

But as a coach, i’ll be more like an OG teammate. Skilled, reliable and enthusiastic, ready and waiting to be called into the game to help you win. Then happy to warm the bench when you’re confident you’ve got this.

4. You get to be the problem solver of your own life.

Let’s face it, you’re a problem-solver at heart (at work and home, probably, too). You have the ability to see problems and identify different solutions to fix them. It’s a real gift.

Now, if only people would just listen to you!? 

I know it can be incredibly frustrating when you provide others with logical, helpful solutions and, Instead of embracing them with gratitude, your ideas are ignored, rejected, or debated. 

In coaching, we’re here to lean into to those problem-solving strengths and embrace them as a true superpower! Only in our work, you won’t have to wait for others to embrace your talents – YOU get to do that for yourself!

You won’t have to exhaust yourself trying to fix everyone else’s problems (which, let’s face it, is endless, fruitless and can leave us feeling pretty resentful). Instead, you’ll get the space and the time to benefit from your own strengths, so that you’re ready for action at the end of each session.

Then you can sit back and reap the rewards of all your hard work, which is just so damn satisfying!

5. I might really get what you're going through...

Finding the right fit is the key to success in any personal growth journey. However, in a therapeutic relationship you won’t (and shouldn’t) get too many details about your therapists own journey. The nature of coaching, however, offers freedom for getting to know who your coach is on a more personal level. This might help you find one that you think will really “get it.”

And when you find the right fit – it’s a game changer.

To determine who is (and who isn’t) the coach for you, you’ll want to know a bit about who your coach is and what they can offer you. Since you’re here, I’ll give you an example by sharing a bit more about me. Then you can to determine for yourself if coaching, with me, would be the right path for you.

I’m a Kathryn, but I go by Katie. I’m also a whole human and i’ve been through some stuff. I am a childhood abuse survivor, a former licensed massage therapist, an animal shelter volunteer, and a Karaoke-loving red-head. I’m a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community AND a proud partner of a First Responder. These two intersections of my life are often exciting and interesting, but can sometimes challenge how I see the world and where I fit into it. 

I am really passionate about helping others learn to communicate effectively, because healthy, connected relationships are foundational to our existence. As Esther Perel said, “It is the quality of our relationships that determines the quality of our lives.” I truly believe that.

I especially enjoy helping those in First Responder relationships, because I have first-hand experience with that struggle. In our 10 years together, my wife and I have navigated MANY obstacles (tripping and falling a lot along the way) that come with the First Responder life – and we’ve come close to calling it quits.

Looking back now, I see that we had no framework about what to expect or how to overcome the challenges we would face. For years, that left us both feeling hurt and unsure about how to create a caring, collaborative, and connected partnership.  

I know all about the unpredictable schedules, the “critical incidents” (AKA potentially traumatizing events), the secondary trauma partners experience when we hear about the horrific things our other-half has been through, the lack of quality time, the ongoing need to decompress…the list of challenges can go on and on.

The bottom line – I’ve been through a lot and learning to communicate well has changed my life so much. I’ve learned how to reduce conflict, find more fulfillment, express myself authentically (even when my guilt shows up) and way more meaningful connections (even some that I thought would never be possible). I want that for you too.

And there you have it! A little bit about me, to help you decide what the right next steps are for you.

If you think that’s working with me, check out the details below for more info and to book a FREE communication coaching consultation call. 

Katie Bingner, MS, LCPC-S, is a integrative trauma-informed psychotherapist and communication coach, who’s spent the past 16 years in the health and wellness industry. Katie has dedicated the past 8+ years to helping others (and herself) navigate mental health challenges, Learn the skills of connection, live and embrace our shared humanness.

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