MINISTRY WITHOUT HATING IT.​
Resources for Ministry Leaders, by Ministry Leaders
Coaching & Counseling
As a general rule of thumb, Counseling focuses on helping people in mental health and through emotional difficulties. Coaching focuses on helping people grow, learn and take focused action in their personal and professional goals.
Read below for some further explanation on both.
What Coaching is...
Coaching is a professional relationship that helps people grow in their personal and professional life. Clients learn the skill sets for self-awareness and human flourishing. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life.
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In each meeting, the client chooses the focus of the conversation, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions. The interaction creates clarity and moves the client into action. Coaching accelerates the client's progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice. Coaching concentrates on where clients are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future. Coaches recognize that results are a matter of the client's intentions, choices, and actions, supported by the coach's efforts and application of the coaching process.
It’s not therapy. Although many of the communication techniques are the same, like active listening, reflecting, use of questions, limited advice giving, etc., therapy focuses on mental health and working through emotional difficulties to unblock a person to move ahead. Coaching is future and action-oriented, creating a clear plan for moving forward and thriving.
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It’s not authoritarian. Did you have a tough sports coach who used to yell at you and make you do a million push-ups if you made a mistake? That’s not coaching. Your coach will push you beyond what you might think you can do, but will always be supportive. You are in control. The responsibility to decide and act is yours.
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It’s not training. In training, the trainer sets the agenda. Change comes from outside the participant, via the trainer. In coaching, you set the agenda. Coaches use adult learning principles of self-discovery to motivate change from within you.
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It’s not mentoring. Mentors are experts in a particular field who seek to pass on their expertise to a person. Mentors provide knowledge, advice, guidance, correction, and encouragement to people who are newer and junior—by experience if not by position or age. They may use some coaching techniques, but mentors usually play the roles of advisor and teacher to guide and impart knowledge and wisdom.
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We believe Coaching works because it brings out your best – what God already put in you! Coaches believe you can create your own best answers and are trained to support you in that process.
What Coaching Is Not...
About Counseling
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a way to help people with a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase well-being and healing.
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Why do individuals, couples and families typically seek therapy?
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There are many reasons persons seek the support of psychotherapy, ranging from anxiety or depression, to difficulties in creating and sustaining stable and nurturing bonds with others, to fears of expressing themselves authentically or trusting others. Some seek the assistance of psychotherapy to understand anger or conflicts with family members, spouses or other persons with who they are engaged romantically, collegially or as friends or lingering influences from their early lives that affected them adversely.
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Others seek the help of psychotherapy to develop new ways of responding to circumstances that have been habitually problematic, to develop more capacity for intimacy or to experience more joy and contentment in their lives. Sometimes a particular experience, such as a separation, divorce or a turbulent disagreement, or a milestone, such as marrying or becoming a parent, may also precipitate a decision to seek counseling; at other times a long-standing and vague sense of feeling lost, confused and disengaged from others. The reasons as are vast and as varied as people themselves, but most persons share a desire for a more gratifying experience of their lives.
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In what ways is therapy typically found to be helpful?
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According to a study conducted through the auspices of Consumer Reports, psychotherapy has been proven to be as effective as medication in helping to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It has also been shown to be useful in assisting persons to (1) Develop more psychological awareness and insight, (2) Learn to communicate more effectively, (3) Learn to resolve both internal and interpersonal conflicts, (4) Manage, reduce or relieve symptoms of emotional distress, (5) Develop more social, relational or vocational functioning, (6) Pursue personal growth and development and (7) Reconstruct their lives in the aftermath of trauma and abuse.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Odyssey Haven Located, and do you offer services in-person?
While we are based in Marion, IA, we currently only offer Coaching and Counseling services via online meeting platforms (Zoom, Skype, etc.)
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Due to state licensure restrictions, currently we can only offer counseling therapy services to persons residing in the states of Iowa, Indiana & Wisconsin.
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There are no geographic restrictions to receive coaching services from Odyssey Haven.
How long are sessions, and how often will we meet?
Counseling: Individual sessions are generally 50-60 minutes in length and occur weekly or biweekly, however occasionally we may recommend longer or more frequent sessions. Therapists may also schedule longer appointments (the equivalent of a session and a half or two appointments) for couples.
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Coaching: Sessions are usually 50-60 minutes and the frequency is often determined by the project and goals you’re working on. Generally it’s best to meet at least once a month, but it’s not uncommon to meet bi-weekly or weekly if needed for the project.
How long should I expect to meet for?
Counseling: The length of therapy is dependent on many factors, including your goals, how frequently and consistently you attend sessions, your level of motivation for change, and the type of concerns or issues you are addressing in therapy.
In general, recent situational stresses or problems can be addressed in fewer sessions than longer-standing issues, or situations involving trauma or abuse. Of course, therapy is a collaborative process, and we encourage you to share your preferences with your therapist. Even longer-term goals can be pursued in “chapters” if you prefer.
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Coaching: The length of coaching is always chosen and determined by you. Our approach is to evaluate your goals and determine the desired outcome and time it will take to work on your project. Project commitments can range anywhere from 3-12 months. Ongoing coaching is also available.
How much does it cost?
Counseling: Our Full Fee is $50 per one hour session.
If you are not able to work, or are experiencing a loss of income or income security, please speak with us about your needs. Although we may not be able to extend you an indefinitely discounted fee, we may be able to assist you Sliding Fee Scale upon request.
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Coaching: Our fee is $65 for a Single 60 minute session, or $55 per session with a 3-6 session commitment. There are additional discounts available for full payments on 3+ session commitments, and also accept partial (often half), or monthly payments towards the total project cost. Your Project's total cost will be given upfront in a detailed and customized proposal with no hidden, or additional fees.
We believe in coaching for ministry leaders, and that it shouldn't be cost prohibitive. Although we may not be able to extend you an indefinitely discounted fee, we may be able to assist you Sliding Fee Scale upon request.
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