Coaching & Consultation
Consultation
Bringing a psychologist into a setting, whether it be a business or a couple who is seeking divorce, can be helpful for making transitions and changes. The principles of family therapy and dynamics can be applied to make beneficial changes in many group or business settings.
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The First Steps in Consultation:
1 ) Understanding the goals by examining the current dynamics in the setting.
With businesses, this means understanding:
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The hierarchy (for businesses)
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Patterns of communications
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Expectations of each person’s role.
2 ) Once this information is collected, Dr. Baron can begin to examine where the breakdowns are occurring.
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Example Consultation for Businesses:
One of my clients was operating two businesses. Issues arose because she had the same expectations of her secondary business employees as she had for her primary business employees; yet, the businesses were completely different (attorney versus service industry). After she sought out Consultation, she could acknowledge the need for changing her expectations. When her expectations evolved, so did the way she communicated. As a result, feelings of frustration and let down decreased and she was much happier with the outcome and running her businesses.
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Consultation for Divorce:
In the case of a couple who is divorcing, it is imperative to ascertain the goals they hope to achieve. In this situation goals are often: maintaining an amicable divorce, gleaning information and learning when and how to tell the children. Divorce situations are often challenging because the couple is being asked to work together in a way that they have not been previously successful, hence the impending divorce. The work of the consultation is much like with coaching, the purpose is to keep the focus on the goal: an amicable divorce for the children.
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Goal Oriented Coaching
Coaching is different from psychotherapy in that the focus is highly goal oriented (e.g., wanting to get a promotion or write a book) and does not address psychological issues that one may be facing. For instance, if you would like to write a book we would set goals to help you achieve that outcome. However, if you are not meeting your goal due to a contributing reason like depression, then you would be referred for treatment of the depression.
That distinction aside, many of the same principles from psychology are used in order to assist you in meeting your goals. Prochaska’s model of change is helpful in understanding where you are at in the change process and how action (the necessary component for change) can be implemented and achieved.
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The Steps in Coaching:
1 ) Formulate the main goal you are hoping to achieve.
2 ) Break down the main goal into smaller, manageable goals with the help of Dr. Baron.
3 ) Tie collaborative deadlines to each of these goals.
4 ) Get support with accountability and stumbling blocks. If goals are repeatedly not met, then these
roadblocks are examined and a new path forward is developed.
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Learning from Stumbling Blocks
I had a young man who had envisioned a way to bring in a second stream of income. However, he continued to put no effort toward this goal. After further reflection, he realized he did not truly care about the project although he did claim to be motivated to achieve a second stream of income. After re-examining his passions and interests, he was readily willing and able to develop an avenue for his second stream of income, as he was genuinely interested in the project, not just the outcome.
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