By: Logan Cohen, Professional Therapist & Online Life Coach
How Can Life Coaching Improve Depression? 4 Ways
I once worked with a client who put it like this, “Depression is like an autoimmune disease of the Mind. It tells me I have no energy, then convinces my Body. Now I don’t even have the energy to think about it.”
There is nothing that will suck the energy out of you like Depression. Common symptoms involve loss of pleasure in activities and sense of guilt that just lingers, but the chronic fatigue is what really “take the life” out of many People who struggle with Depression.
This is the type of tired that sleep does not help and makes a Person feel like they are wearing a costume as somebody else - there is just no WAY they are Human right now.
These types of symptoms make it really hard to get the ball rolling with day-to-day Life. Sometimes People are not interested in talking to a therapist or counselor, but would be open to working with a Life Coach. In these cases, Life Coaching can improve Depression symptoms in the following 4 ways:
How Can Life Coaching Improve Depression? Strategy #1
Clarify Goals
As discussed above, Depression symptoms drag down energy level until People don’t even feel like themselves. When this is happening, it is so important that we know WHO WE are and what WE are about. Yes, if we have Depression symptoms this can get “hazy” at times, but the more we know what the larger plan is, the more we can work around the Depression symptoms to the best of our ability.
In these times, knowing what the goal for the month, or even the next few months, maybe even just RIGHT NOW is essential. When Depression symptoms knock us down, it can feel like there isn’t a light at the end of the tunnel.
When we can go back to our goals and the plan at hand that meets our OWN Personal Integrity, it is easier to see where we can schedule in a break for much needed rest, or even see where Big Picture changes might need to occur in order to increase a sense of hope about where things are currently going.
How Can Life Coaching Improve Depression? Strategy #2
Increase Motivation
Since Depression can be a real energy zapper, it is important to take this into consideration when we consider motivation. If there is not enough motivation to achieve the goals being worked towards, then the likelihood People quit before those goals are achieved will be high. Why would we keep trying if it seems IMPOSSIBLE? It is common that People set and clarify goals when they are on an emotional high - jacked up from a recent experience that has really put things into perspective.
And that is great - no really! Those kinds of experiences can “wake us up” from a Depression-induced stupor and serve as a glimmering light of hope that reflects our true desires. Let’s hold onto THAT Man, but let’s also consider how we can set you up for success by controlling the variables available to keeping your momentum moving forward in day-to-day Life so you can STAY motivated through any "growing pains" as you achieve your goals.
How Can Life Coaching Improve Depression? Strategy #3
Straighten out that “diet” for a healthy “gut biome” - gut-brain axis
“Diet culture” is all the craze and from Keto, to low calorie, to Paleo - there is NO shortage of options. It is common that People lose weight while doing some of these diets, but then find that the weight just comes right back on when they go back to eating how they are accustomed. The fact of the matter is that every unique Person has very specific nutritional needs and unless you figure out what works best for your “gut biome”, it is likely you are eating food that is creating inflammation that is clouding your Mind, interrupting your Body's natural healing processes, and probably impacting your weight TOO! Are you ready to know how?
In a nutshell, each of our Body’s have evolved over thousands of years in very different ecosystems. As a result, every Body comes with a variation in the chemicals that make up their unique digestive system. These variations in chemicals that aid in digestion - called gut biome - is the most important factor when it comes to meeting our unique nutritional needs. The more we eat the specific food that is most suited for our unique gut biome, the less inflammation is created in our stomach, which is carried in our bloodstream throughout our entire Body.
Since our Brain is made up of 80% fat and fat is the highest conductor of electricity in the Body, it stands to reason that any general inflammation is disruptive to optimal Brain function. The less we create inflammation in our Body as a result of poor diet and the more we support optimal health of our gut-brain axis, the more we can manage our Depression symptoms with everyday choices.
Our Self-Guided Life Coaching Plans provide the information you need to help you isolate the food that works best for your unique Balance.
How Can Life Coaching Improve Depression? Strategy #4
Keep Your Privacy
It can be hard to ask for help, and especially for Men these days. If Friends at Work have looked at you sideways when something personal came up in the past, or if you just couldn’t imagine “digging deep” with someone in Person, you are not alone.
Many Men have a hard time asking for help and whether you have considered seeing a professional in the future, or are just considering where your options, our Self-Guided Coaching Plans are designed to provide natural health solutions from the comfort and privacy of your Home. Whether you need a little support in one specific area - or you have several goals in mind, the Balanced Man Plan is designed with the unique strengths and weaknesses of Men to help you achieve optimal Health & Happiness for Self and/or Loved Ones with a unique Balance that works best for YOU.
My name is Logan Cohen and I am a Professional Therapist & Life Coach with over 10 years in the field of Counseling Psychology. I am a Clinical Supervisor for the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy, as well as the founder of New Leaf Counseling Group, LLC in Charlotte, NC. After spending tens of thousands of clinical hours with my own clients, starting a successful group practice, as well as a beautiful Family, I “picked my head up from the grindstone” to check in on childhood Friends & Loved Ones.
I painfully discovered that more than a few of my childhood Friends passed away at a young age from preventable health conditions and decided that as a Man, Husband, Father, and Friend, I could no longer stand by as People suffered in silence and self-destructed rather than ask for help. It doesn’t have to be like that and the holistic healing methods offered by the Balanced Man Plan is designed to help People “get unstuck” and break free from old patterns that are the barriers between Self & quality of Life.
The Balanced Man Plan is a therapeutic digital experience delivered through Self-Guided Coaching Plans created by a Male Therapist with the common barriers & strengths of Men in mind. The Balanced Man Plan has the goal of introducing a natural Balance back to Life so it is sustainable for the optimal Health & Well-Being of Self and Loved Ones - and ALL from the privacy and comfort of Home. If you have enjoyed what you see so far, check out our Self Guided Coaching Plans!