Therapists vs. Mental Heal Coaches, Fight! – Mental Health Coaching #4 – Purity 1346
Purity 1346 05/08/2024 Purity 1346 Podcast
Purity 1346 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of the Catskill Mountains on the horizon as the sun shines and is reflected on an unknown body of water comes to us from an unknown FB friend who shared this tranquil scene on social media on or around August 28th, 2020. If I had to guess I would say that this could be a view from the unnamed lake at the Olan State Historic Site near the Rip Van Winkle Bridge outside of Hudson, but it could be a part of the Hudson River, or somewhere else. If this photo is yours, give us a heads up and we will update the blog after the fact to provide the location and the photo credit you so richly deserve.
Well, it’s Wednesday, and as much as I am haunted by the way the sun and skies are reflected in this twilight photo, I chose it because of the mountains, that familiar outline just has to be part of the Catskills, and I figured it’s presence was enough to visually represent our arrival to another “hump day”. I am rejoicing today because I am proud to say that even though we are just arriving at the midpoint of another work week, I already have surmounted some major mountains that were before me! Not only did I recently form an LLC for my Christian Life Coaching practice, and do major upgrades to my web presence with mt4christ.com, mind you on the heels of completing another online Freedom in Christ course for FICM, yesterday I submitted all my work to complete my certification as a Deeper Walk Prayer Minster and I feel like a significant weight has been lifted from my shoulders! So I feel good and I think the best thing about it, other than receiving some excellent training and growing in my skills as a prayer minister, is that receiving the certification has been put in its proper place, as I have come to realize that these degrees and certificates don’t make our break our lives. They are good to receive and accomplish but they don’t “complete us” as people or define us as caregivers. Often we can put our sense of self-worth into titles or positions when in fact God is concerned about our character. He wants us to identify as His children and represent his kingdom with our conduct and I don’t think He is impressed with our titles if we don’t use our knowledge and wisdom to help others, nor does our not having tittles or degrees excuse us from doing what we can to help others.
I faced this dilemma personally because even though I have a masters in Christian Counseling, I would be fighting an uphill if not futile battle to become a licensed counselor because my school isn’t recognized as an accredited institution by the state of New York. So I am not a licensed counselor, and until recently, I thought that was a major obstacle to accomplishing my desire to offer my help to others in getting free from their mental health struggles. But then I learned of the existence of “Mental Health Coaches” and Mental Health Coaching certification programs and the fact that it’s not just a theory – people are actually operating in this role to help people manage their mental health conditions.
And this brings us to our current series on Mental Health Coaching. Yesterday we shared a portion of Matthew Boone’s 2023 blog post ((https://www.lyrahealth.com/blog/what-is-mental-health-coaching/) to tell us what a Mental Health Coach is (https://mt4christ.com/2024/05/07/what-is-a-mental-health-coach-mental-health-coaching-3-purity-1345/), and today we share from his work to tell us the difference a mental health coach and a therapist. Boone writes:
“Mental Health Coach vs Therapist
While a mental health coach and therapist both work to help you improve your mental health, there are several important differences.
- Credentials. Therapists hold at least a master’s degree in psychology or a related field, and must complete licensing requirements in their state, along with a certain number of supervised clinical treatment hours. Certain types of providers, such as psychologists, hold a PhD or PsyD.Mental health coaching, on the other hand, usually requires a certification program. Many of these programs are accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF) or other coaching organizations.”
This was my stumbling block to being a Therapist – one I may choose to overcome someday by getting yet another master’s degree, good grief, from an accredited institution and by getting a job to get those supervised clinical hours (although my previous experience as a residential – non licensed – mental health counselor (that’s what they called me) or as a non-licensed psychiatric technician for a mobile crisis might have been able to fulfill). As it stands, I received my certification as a Mental Health Coach and as a Professional Life Coach from Light University, and thus with my education, experience, and completed certification programs I decided to establish my business as a Christian Life Coach specializing in Christian – Mental Health Coaching, Recovery Coaching, Spiritual Formation (Discipleship) Coaching – and Freedom/Healing Prayer Ministry).
Boone continues with the second difference between a Therapist and Mental Health Coach as:
- “Area of focus. Behavioral health coaches help their clients focus on the present and future. Therapists, psychologists, and counselors are more likely trained to help clients heal from past and present challenges.”
And this is where I identify more with a Mental Health Coach than a Therapist. Although my coaching would undoubtedly address issues from the past, the area of focus for my clients would be how they could use the Lord’s help and their potential to overcome those issues by focusing on the here and now and by making plans to move forward in freedom and victory. Yeah the past was tough, it’s a good thing we don’t live there. Let’s process those things by giving them to the Lord and let’s move forward with Him into the new life He has for us to live.
Boone writes that the next difference is:
- “Medication. Mental health coaches do not prescribe medication. They can recommend a client see a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner if medication may be helpful.”
I don’t have a license to practice medicine and I am fairly certain that I won’t be getting one. I understand that medication will be necessary for some clients and as a Mental Health Coach, I will make a referral for them to see a doctor or psychiatrist if the need arises.
- “Diagnoses. Behavioral health coaches cannot diagnose mental illness, although they can recommend that a client seek a diagnosis from a therapist.”
Again without a license to practice medicine or counseling, Mental Health Coaches don’t diagnose mental health conditions, we refer clients to a therapist or doctor to do so. But we can help someone with a diagnosis to manage, decrease, and prayerfully eliminate their symptoms. I know that might seem like an ambitious statement, but I know from my own experience that “spiritual therapy” – which incorporates prayer , Bible Study, and “renewing the mind” or “cognitive therapy” can transform people’s lives. I have personally seen, and experienced symptoms of depression, anger, and anxiety virtually disappear without the use of medication or a licensed counselor, so I know how valuable a “Mental Health Coach” could be to someone willing to be responsible for their mental health.
So yes, there are some major differences between Mental Health Coaches and Therapists, but we don’t have to “fight” about them. They are both on the same side helping those with mental health problems who need it.
Tomorrow we will continue the series to address some common myths and misconceptions about Mental Health Coaching. Until then, whether you have a license with the state to practice medicine or to provide counseling or not, the Lord calls us all to use our license to help those in need in whatever way we can and to love our neighbors as ourselves. So keep walking and talking with God, and don’t let some silly things like a degree, license, or certification keep you from being kind to those you could help.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/ .
Today’s Bible verses come to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
( While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Scripture-Reference-Counseling-Kruis-ebook/dp/B00CIUJZT2?ref_=ast_author_dp )
This morning’s meditation verses come from the section on Death and Eternal Life
Hebrews 11:9-10 (NIV2011)
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Today’s verses fall under the twenty-fifth point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on Death and Eternal Life.
25. With our spiritual father, Abraham, we can, as pilgrims, look forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God.
Today’s verses point to the promise of living in cities built by God, which will be fulfilled when we walk the streets of gold in heaven or when Jesus comes back to rule and reign on the earth for a thousand years, before the new heaven and earth are called into existence.
As Christians, our future is so bright we should wear shades because our eternal life with God is guaranteed when we put our faith in Jesus, and we could possibly see three different versions of cities built by God depending on when Jesus comes back. We don’t have to fear death or the future because God has us in the palm of His hands and will provide us with a place to live with Him for all eternity. Now that’s good news, amen!
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from “According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament” By Stephen F. Olford – A Collection of Devotional Journals: 1940-1941.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Olford’s books for your own private study and to support his work. This resource is available online for less than $10 at many sites.
EVENING READING: ACTS 17
“His spirit was provoked within him when he saw that
the city was given over to idols.” – Acts 17:16
Paul was a man who had a real passion for souls. He could say in writing to the Romans, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer for Israel is that they may be saved” (Rom. 10:1). He was ready to “become all things to all men, that [he] might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22). A man who has a real love for the Lord and a real passion for the souls of men is a man whose spirit is provoked within him when he sees men wallowing in sin and ignorance. “His spirit was provoked” (Acts 17:16). It was the same provocation shown by the Master when He saw the idols of cattle and money brought into His House.
Lord, give me this concern, I pray,
for Your Name’s sake. Amen.[1]
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“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”
Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
[1] Stephen Olford and Heather Olford, According to Your Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament, A Collection of Devotional Journals 1940-1941 (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008).
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