All of us at some point or the other need to find professional help. This could mean help to grow, develop skills, reach our goals, or manage a crisis. Or support to succeed at this thing called life.
But with all the different professionals and experts available it can get confusing to choose the right support.
Like, how do you decide whether you need a coach or a consultant?
A counsellor or a therapist?
A trainer or a mentor?
To add to the confusion some professionals may also wear more than one hat.
For e.g, a trainer may also be a coach.
Or a coach may also be a trained counsellor.
A good place to start is to first decide what you want and then pick the right professional .
Here is a summary of the support and development professions that may help you decide what is right for you.
When you need to develop skills:
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Training: A trainer is an expert in skill development. The trainer will take you through a structured learning program. This may involve theory, practice exercises and evaluations to teach you the skill. A trainer may also give you feedback and correct you when you get something wrong.
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Mentoring: A mentor is someone with whom you may have a formal or informal relationship. A mentor is also a domain specialist. They also have significant practical experience. A mentor will advise, guide, and teach you. This learning is generally less structured than training. In mentoring the focus is more on developing practical domain skills.
When you need subject matter expertise:
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Consulting: Consultants are domain specialists. They have the expertise to solve the issue for you. A consultant will start by discussing your needs. They will then advise you on options. Finally, they will build a plan with you to reach the desired outcome as per the specifications. The consultant then works on the task, checks in with you at regular intervals, advises on changes. Once the task is completed they hand you the outcome agreed on.
When you need guidance:
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Counselling: The role of a counsellor is to provide guidance and support for various problems that you may be facing. Counsellors are also organized by domains. Some examples could be career counsellors, relationship counsellorss, etc. The job of a counsellor involves listening and understanding your unique situation. A counsellor provides a listening ear, guidance, advice and practical tips to solve your issue.
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Therapy: A therapist is generally someone you reach out to address your psychological and emotional needs. This may include depression, anxiety, trauma, etc. A therapist is equipped to support you in managing a current or past issue and also develop resilience for the future.
When you need support to achieve your goals:
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Coaching: A coach will support you to set the right goals for yourself. They will build a plan to achieve those goals and help you hold yourself accountable for your progress. In the process, the coach will also help you clarify your thoughts and identify and mitigate challenges. Challenges could include helping you figure out how to find resources, use your strengths, change limiting beliefs and overcome self-sabotaging behaviours.
Once you’ve figured out what you need, pick the support professional accordingly.
This could sometimes mean that you may need to work with more than one professional to meet your needs.
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