The AC Podcast 175: How Coaches Can Better Support Clients’ Mental Health
David Britten, dual-trained therapist and coach, joins our host, Maxine Bell, for a deeper dive into what mental health and illness are, and what coaches and supervisors need to know and be able to do. David explains the difference between functional suffering, dysfunctional suffering and mental illness, and the importance of language and perspectives in shaping a holistic understanding of mental health. Emphasising the need for self-awareness and the role of supervision and supervisors, David also debunks the argument that therapy and coaching should be kept very separate. An insightful and necessary conversation that will benefit any coach or supervisor.
You will learn:
· The three functions of supervision for coaches supporting clients' mental health: normative, formative and restorative
· What supervisors need to know to support coaches around mental health
· The transformative potential of integrating coaching with therapeutic elements, especially for those grappling with mental health challenges
“Supervisors need to have a theoretical understanding and an awareness of the fact that there are different ways of framing mental illness, psychological distress, different languages for it that have different connotations for, for how we practice and what we see.”
For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:
· WhatsApp Global Resources for Suicide Prevention
· Samaritans UK: Tel: 116 113 – Emergency helpline and suicide support
· Samaritans Ireland Tel: 116 123
· SHOUT Text SHOUT TO 85258 - A UK-based emergency mental health text helpline
· Find a Helpline Worldwide – just type in your country and topic