My Confession as a Coach

At the start of my journey as a counsellor and psychotherapist in advanced training, I was very pure and never ventured into this territory. As a newbie coach completing my advanced diploma in coaching, I was rigid around this too.

So what’s my secret confession? Well, I sometimes give my clients advice, even though the idea of coaching is that the clients come up with all the answers. I’ve come to see coaching as part of a continuum that starts with psychotherapy at one end, graduates to counselling, then coaching and consultancy at the other. As I reflect on my journey, I recognise that I am moving to the right of that continuum, i.e. closer to the boundary between coaching and consulting as opposed to counselling and coaching.

I work with artists, artist managers, label executives and others, all under enormous pressure to deliver, with minimal time and the constant threat of failure hanging above them.

I work with artists, artist managers, label executives and others, all under enormous pressure to deliver, with minimal time and the constant threat of failure hanging above them. Over the years, I have naturally noticed several patterns and themes in client situations and problems. Based on my perception of the client need, I may therefore choose to shortcut the process occasionally and provide a mix of information and advice. This can either support the individual immediately or give them a short-term lift to get to a new awareness or solution that resolves the issue or takes them further on their journey towards their stated objectives.

With other clients, I might choose to offer the odd comment or give direction/a steer where I believe it will support their coaching journey or when they are in a jam, stuck for time, have exhausted all possibilities and don’t know what to do next. Is this a crime? I don’t think so. Does it build trust and rapport? Yes. Does it give the client what they want from coaching? Yes.

So there we are, I have confessed, that’s me. I explain to my clients how coaching works and how I will work with them. If I give advice, I always frame it outside of coaching and my personal view. In this busy industry, everyone is strapped for time, and they need a response from coaching that supports them to move forward, and that’s what I deliver.

Stephen Daltrey