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Comment by christalwang

2 years ago

The closest sister discipline our coaches practice is Health & Wellness coaching, but we also draw on the foundations of positive psychology, CBT, etc. depending on the member's situation. The practices of coaching & therapy, although they have some overlap, are largely different in both practice and outcomes. For example, in the context of ADHD, coaching is very focused on future-oriented outcomes and tactic-oriented skills, whereas therapy is often focused on disentangling thoughts, unpacking trauma, etc. Also, coaching is aimed at taking a person upwards to their goals, and you don't necessarily need a diagnosis of any sort to be here. I may have rambled a bit, but the bottom line is, we don't practice therapy on our platform.

Right now coaching is not covered under most insurance plans, unfortunately. Some members have been able to work with their employer benefits to get Shimmer covered but it's definitely a case by case basis right now. However, we try our best to work with our members (we have a needs-based financial aid package and have something in the works that's a bit bigger than this!) where we can!

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christalwang

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cauthon  2 years ago

> For example, in the context of ADHD, coaching is very focused on future-oriented outcomes and tactic-oriented skills, whereas therapy is often focused on disentangling thoughts, unpacking trauma, etc

Respectfully, in my experience therapy is very focused on outcomes and skills. (A very short list of examples: CBT's thought records, DBT's DEAR MAN, ACT's defusion.)

Is the distinction pedantic, or does it have more to do with the qualifications or certifications the provider holds?

  • xeniaangevin  2 years ago

    Firstly, it’s a pleasure to meet someone as informed in the current debates across the helping professions as you are.

    As a coaching psychologist and a member of Shimmer team, I should firstly confirm that we work in close alliance with the other helping professions in the clinical and psychotherapeutic space and we understand each other’s limitations.

    And while each of the helping professions pay attention to the outcomes and skills, ADHD coaching we do at Shimmer is characterised by the relentless focus on the future vision, goals and tactics to help the ADHD folk get there. Think regular coaching supercharged by the power of prospective psychology, coaching psychology, health psychology and neuro-developmental perspectives.

    We all stand on the shoulders of helping professions’ giants, but our focal areas are different. And considering the time limits involved in helping, the focal areas do matter.