The best way to explain the differences between coaching, psychology and psychiatry is with the story of my hip replacement:

The year I turned 40, while running something 'broke' in my hip. At first I thought it was a muscle. So I went to the physiotherapist who identified that there was something not quite right with my hip. Then, I was sent to the orthopedic doctor who after a CT scan, recommended a hip replacement.

After the operation, I went back to the physiotherapist to heal the bone and 'teach' my body how to work with the new hip. After a few weeks, as I was getting stronger and my hip was responding well, I hired a personal trainer to build muscle and create flexibility again. Four years after the operation I don't go to the physiotherapist anymore but I still have monthly sessions with a personal trainer next to other gym training because I need the challenge and want to make sure I keep my muscle strength optimal.

This story translated to mental health, the orthopedic doctor is the psychiatrist, the physiotherapist is the psychotherapist and the personal trainer is the (transformational) coach.

If you are carrying trauma that blocks you from trusting yourself, connecting to your life's hunger and having empathy hiring a coach will be like going to the personal trainer with a broken hip. Coaching will not heal but it will help you strengthen all the rest that is whole and beautiful about you.

While waiting for my hip replacement operation, I hired a personal trainer and went to to make sure that my muscles would not decay from lack of movement and would pay attention to my specific needs regarding my disability. This personal training I did prior to the operation contributed to my fast recuperation after surgery.

In coaching terms, when someone is struggling with depression, social anxiety, addiction it's never a question of either/or but there is always the possibility of This AND that. A person can be visiting a psychiatrist and a psychologist and a transformational coach. Each of those specialist will address a different aspect of the person.

Those of you who have depression or and addition issue, are not depression or addiction. Despite any mental health state, you are naturally creative, resourceful and whole. That is why your intuition knows if you need a coach, a therapist or both.