There are three facts most people would agree on at this time. (1) Coaches with depression or anxiety should not be allowed to coach others. (2) Some coaches are not competent to coach because of their mental health issues. (3) Some coaches have a history of a mental health problem and cope with it.
Two Types Of Coaches With Depression Or Anxiety
- The coach is still struggling with depression or anxiety, and he is aware of the problem. The coach is working to overcome it.
- The coach is entirely unaware of his mental health issue, and with that, the mental health problem is not addressed.
Coaches Who Are Working On Their Anxiety Or Depression
In coaching, you get to encourage and motivate people. They will have inquiries which you must answer as their coach. It shouldn’t be just a simple answer but a right on point information that would address their question. Since coaching has to do with helping the other people, the answers will not only inform the person what to do but will also be of help in building himself up again. It will help the person get motivated and inspired to go on with what they want to do or achieve. If you need an expert for that, you can find one at BetterHelp.com.
There may be apprehensions if the person with mental health issues would be that effective in coaching. This is understandable. But they should be given that much-needed chance – they are experts anyway!
Another trait of coaches with mental health disorders (but fighting it) is that they can quickly identify some issues. It enables them to do the needed counseling and some damage control. They are that sensitive, and it helps in keeping the person being mentored out of trouble.
Coaches With Untreated Depression Or Anxiety
This is the kind of coach that will leave a person doubtful. In your mind, there will be hesitation if the coach is competent or not. You wouldn’t want to ask help from a coach with problems and who is not treating it. The mere fact that he is not doing anything to cope with it is a bit alarming. But take note, this type of coach is not a bad one. At some point, his condition can quite make him more compassionate about your life issues.
Again, a coach with mental health issues cannot do troubleshooting nor identify problems within his group. He is unaware of it just like how he is clueless about his condition. And such can be very dangerous in the part of the person being mentored.
Hypocrisy comes in when you are coaching someone when you are suffering from anxiety or depression. Same is true for the following:
- Medical professionals who smoke
- Law enforcement officers who have the habit of breaking the law
- Gym instructors who are fat themselves
- Dentists who don’t floss after eating and is fond of eating sugar
- Coaches who are also depressed and anxious
No One Is Perfect
It is a universal fact that no one is perfect. But in our world, standards are being built, and these standards are pretty high especially on specialists and experts. They are expected to meet these standards, and if they fail because of their mental health issues, they are deemed on the losing end – unable to recover. Again, no one is perfect. Mental health issues can be treated, but it will take time. You need patience, determination, and understanding. You need the motivation to desire better health.
The expectation of society can be very unrealistic sometimes. Everyone is expected to be in control and their best behavior. For people with mental health issues, this is a complete struggle. Society refuses to consider the reasons why a person displays a specific behavior and still mandates the expected behavior even if it is challenging. The best person who could help people with mental health disorders are those who have the expertise and people who have come a long way already.
Conclusion
Coaches suffering from severe anxiety or depression should not be allowed to coach – DO YOU AGREE? This should not be the case. The condition comes in a case to case basis. Some will do a great job if they are undergoing the same troubles themselves. They can communicate with the person who has the same issues effectively.
Coaches with experiences in the past can become the best coaches. These are the coaches who can do their jobs effectively since they already know how to overcome it. Their coaching will be based on what they have once treaded, especially when anxiety and depression are concerned.