LOSS OF MARKERS OR MEANING, ROMANTIC BREAK-UPS OR EVEN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE DAILY CHALLENGES THAT CAN IMPACT OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING ARE NUMEROUS.
TAMARA CANCELA, FSP DOCTORAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA, EXPLAINS HOW A MENTAL COACH CAN SOMETIMES HELP US MOVE FORWARD.
Navigating life with peace of mind is not always easy. A particularly actual fact, while the containment imposed by the pandemic continues to test our mental health. To face the obstacles and difficulties that may arise in front of us, a mental coach can provide invaluable help. The psychologist FSP Tamara Cancela, doctoral student at UNIGE, itemises for us the benefits of this type of consultation.
Tamara Cancela: In a broader sense, mental coaching consists of support performed through a consultancy process. Overall, it is more or less a targeted assistance, which may for example aim to get to know each other better, regain a certain motivation or even mobilise concealed resources. Also note: this practice is based on in-depth knowledge and university training in psychology.
It is quite possible to take work by yourself or develop an action plan in a personal way, without necessarily calling on the expertise of a coach. Some people have sufficient mental strength or resilience for this. However, the coach, as a benevolent external expert can bring an additional aspect, especially in terms of taking a step back. By building an alliance with the person that he is monitoring, the psychologist will allow him to achieve things by himself, to benefit from a better overview of his problem and to find forgotten or unsuspected resources. Without giving an ideal solution, he will give keys and nudges to get better and achieve his goals.
Life is all about painful or complicated moments and it is okay not to be okay all the time. So, we should not worry about the slightest glitch, or every time we are not okay. On the other hand, when a malaise seems to persist, or even to manifest itself recurrently, it is beneficial to call on the expertise of a professional. It is the same when we feel helpless or when the situation weighs on us with a feeling of helplessness, like “it is too much”.
Every situation is different, and it all starts by listening to the psychologist. But overall, we may say the fact that coaching results in a certain degree of action. In this sense, the determination of the person being monitored is essential because he will have to become actively involved in the process. This could mean keeping a journal of his emotions, writing lists, accomplishing tasks, or even developing a schedule. Between each consultation, the person will thus perform homework or exercises to move forward.
It depends. Rather, we will resort to mental coaching on an ad hoc basis, without necessarily extending the process over long periods. In a process related to personal development; however, we can have a little longer follow-up. Remember too that, in general, psychological coaching is aimed at people who already benefit from good mental health. It is therefore not a therapeutic approach.
Psychology and its benefits are proven at all times, may it be pandemic or not. However, we note that the current situation exacerbates many factors of stress, anxiety, and conflicts. Confinement can notably promote family conflicts and the loss of social and professional references. It is also more difficult to project yourself and to give a clear meaning to your life, even to your profession or to your projects, when the current context is unprecedented. This is why mental coach (once again) becomes a key player to turn to in an attempt to clean up this turmoil.
written by Thomas Pfefferlé
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