What is relationship coaching or dating coaching?
This kind of coaching helps individuals or couples to improve mostly but not only their romantic relationships. It can also help increase confidence and understanding with areas such as how an individual or couple better communicate in both how they talk and listen, which often includes how to identify boundaries and communicate their boundaries whilst respecting those of others.
Beginnings of dating and relationship coaching.
I was finding in my counselling practice an increasing number of clients ranging from their mid twenties to late fifties who for one reason or another were finding dating and relationships difficult to navigate. When some clients brought this into their in person counselling or online therapy, they wanted to work with these dating issues in more directive and practical ways. For example, using their appointments to work together at their online dating profile or to create one. Or preparing for first conversations and first dates with someone who could identify options and blind spots in neutral and supportive ways.
What are some differences between coaching and counselling?
There are various differences, some more subtle than others. Some clearer differences include how coaching is more about your current situation and less about either early long standing issues or past trauma. In my relationship coaching in Kingston practice or relationship coaching online another clear difference is that our time is spent highlighting behaviour areas that need attention and changing. Often in the real life scenarios for couples or individuals in their dating coaching appointments, these lines are not so clear and patterns emerge. Patterns that may be leading to anxieties or sabotaging such as suitability of types of partners. Or lacking enough clarity to communicate feelings, desires and boundaries. As some of these patterns can be rooted in fears, early unhelpful belief systems or past trauma some elements of counselling can be integrated to support the main work of coaching individuals or coaching couples in their relationships.
My dating and relationship coaching approach.
My approach in relationship coaching online and dating coaching in person is not about telling you what to do. It is about you and I working in collaboration to help you think about and identify your choices and behaviours. There can be many steps to navigate in dating and entering a relationship, from setting up a dating profile to reviewing first dates, your coaching appointments is there to help you take and follow through these steps, and to show up in your relationships in ways that align with your goals and expectations. In line with coaching approaches your appointments will include goals to work towards. Some benefits of being both a qualified counsellor and coach means that my way of working is client centred, so you, your goals and pace are respected.
Am I suitable for dating or relationship coaching?
In the first instance you are welcome to contact me for you and I to find out how you and would work together, as well as arrange practicalities for appointments. During initial appointments, an assessment is carried out which will provide you with clarity regarding where you are in when it comes to your readiness and stage. Or it might be that you or as a couple are in the early or later stages of a relationship, in which case the emphasis of your relationship coaching appointments might be on how to take care of both yourself and your relationship.
In case you would like to find out more about dating coaching or relationship coaching in person or online you are welcome to contact me either via jessica@rightinsightcounselling.co.uk or 07795 253 457.