May 2023 - Tammy Fuller Coaching

The Difference Between a Life Coach and a Therapist

Leave a Comment / Self Mastery, Thought Work / By Tammy Fuller

There is often some confusion about what life coaches actually do. People may not know whether they need a life coach or a therapist. There is some overlap between the two but they have different training and a different focus. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s not uncommon for people to seek professional guidance to address various challenges in their lives.

Background and Education of Therapist & Life Coach:

Therapists and life coaches differ significantly in their educational backgrounds and training. Therapists are mental health professionals who hold advanced degrees, in psychology, social work, or a related field. They hold a license and adhere to strict ethical guidelines set by their professional organizations. Therapists are trained to diagnose and treat mental health issues and emotional disorders, using evidence-based techniques.

Life coaches, on the other hand, are not required to have a specific degree or formal education. While there are various certification programs for life coaching, they are not universally standardized or regulated. For example, I have two different coaching certifications (The Life Coach School and Heroic) as well as a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education. Life coaches focus on helping clients set and achieve goals, offering guidance and support to navigate life transitions, and promoting personal growth and self-awareness.

Scope of Practice – Life Coach & Therapist:

The scope of practice for therapists and life coaches varies significantly. Therapists are equipped to address mental health issues, emotional disorders, and relational problems. They may work with individuals, couples, families, or groups and use a range of therapeutic modalities, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and solution-focused therapy. The primary aim of therapy is to identify and resolve the root causes of emotional distress and improve overall psychological well-being.

Life coaches, conversely, are not equipped to diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Their focus is on helping clients gain clarity, identify values and goals, and develop strategies for success. Life coaches often work with clients who are facing personal or professional challenges or seeking to improve specific areas of their lives, such as career, relationships, or wellness. Coaching is goal-oriented and action-based, with a focus on practical solutions and forward progress.

Sign with handprinted phrase: today is the future I created yesterday, life coach

Approach and Techniques:

Therapy and life coaching also differ in their approaches and techniques. Therapy is an introspective process, where clients explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to gain insights and make meaningful changes. Therapists may employ various techniques, such as active listening, empathy, reflection, and interpretation, to facilitate self-discovery and personal growth.

Life coaching is more directive and solution-focused. Coaches use tools like powerful questioning, active listening, and goal-setting to help clients identify their strengths, values, and objectives. They offer support, encouragement, and accountability, empowering clients to take action and achieve their desired outcomes.

Which One to Choose?

Deciding whether to seek the help of a therapist or a life coach depends on your specific needs and circumstances. If you are struggling with mental health issues, emotional distress, or relational problems, a therapist is likely the better choice. They are trained to help you address and resolve the underlying issues contributing to your difficulties.

If you are seeking guidance to navigate life transitions, set and achieve goals, or improve your overall well-being without the presence of mental health concerns, a life coach may be the ideal option. They can provide the support and tools needed to help you create and implement an action plan for success.

Understanding the differences between therapists and life coaches is crucial for choosing the right professional. By considering their respective backgrounds, scopes of practice, and approaches, you can make an informed decision that best aligns with your needs and goals.

Keep in mind that you may find it beneficial to work with both a therapist and a life coach in different contexts or at different stages of your life. For instance, you may initially work with a therapist to address mental health concerns. Later you may engage a life coach to help you maintain progress and continue your personal growth journey.

Remember to carefully research and evaluate the credentials and experience of any professional you consider working with. Seek recommendations from friends, family, or online reviews to ensure that you find the right fit for your unique needs.

In conclusion, understanding the distinctions between therapists and life coaches can help you make the best decision for your personal growth journey. By evaluating your specific needs, goals, and preferences, you can choose the right professional to support you on your path to self-discovery, healing, and personal success.

lot of question marks on white papers -decision fatigue

How to Combat Decision Fatigue and Improve Patient Care

Leave a Comment / Habits, Self Mastery / By Tammy Fuller

The human brain is capable of making thousands of decisions in a day, but each choice we make comes at a cost. As we move through our day, we are constantly presented with decisions to make, both large and small. From what to eat for breakfast to whether to take on a new responsibility at work, the sheer number of choices we make can be overwhelming. This mental exhaustion caused by decision-making is known as decision fatigue.

Decision fatigue is a phenomenon where the quality of decision-making deteriorates as a result of mental exhaustion. It is a real and recognized phenomenon that can have a significant impact on our daily lives. When we experience decision fatigue, our ability to make decisions becomes impaired, leading to poorer choices or even decision paralysis. This is why, by the end of the day, we tend to make poor choices in our nutrition. We ate healthy food all day and suddenly we find ourselves picking up fast food on the way home.

So Many Choices

One of the reasons decision fatigue is so prevalent today is the abundance of choices available to us. In the past, choices were limited, and decisions were simpler. Today, we are presented with an endless array of choices in everything from what to eat, wear, watch, and do. With so many options, it’s no wonder our brains can feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Even just scrolling through social media creates hundreds of decisions – where to focus your attention, what to “like” or “love,” what makes you mad, what you should click on, etc.

Decision fatigue can also be exacerbated by stress and anxiety. When we are under stress, we tend to become more indecisive and have a harder time making choices. This can lead to a cycle of decision fatigue. The more decisions we have to make, the more stressed we become, and the more difficult it becomes to make good choices.

Unraveling the Impact of Decision Fatigue

Decision fatigue can have a significant impact on nurses, who are required to make a large number of decisions every day. Here are three examples of how decision fatigue might affect nurses:

Medication errors

Medication administration involves a complex set of decisions. Nurses need to choose the right medication, the right dose, and the right time to administer it. They need to be aware of possible contraindications. When nurses experience decision fatigue, they may become more prone to errors,

Patient assessment

Assessing patients is an important part of a nurse’s job, It helps to identify any changes in a patient’s condition that may require intervention. However, assessing patients involves a large number of decisions, Nurses make decisions such as which assessments to perform, what the results mean, and what interventions may be required. When nurses experience decision fatigue, they may become less thorough in their assessments. Or they may miss important details that could affect a patient’s care. They can be led astray by distracting findings.

Prioritization of tasks

Nurses are responsible for managing a wide range of tasks, from administering medication to coordinating with other healthcare providers. When nurses experience decision fatigue, they may struggle to prioritize tasks effectively, leading to delays in care or missed opportunities for intervention. For example, a nurse may become overwhelmed by the number of tasks they need to complete and miss a medication administration or forget to follow up on an important lab result.

The good news is that there are tactics we can use to prevent decision fatigue and make better choices.

nurse giving medication to pediatric patient

Strategies to Boost Mental Stamina and Improve Patient Outcomes

Limit the number of decisions you make

One of the simplest ways to avoid decision fatigue is to limit the number of decisions you make each day. For example, you could plan your meals for the week ahead of time so you don’t have to decide what to eat every day. You could also limit the number of choices you make when shopping by sticking to a list and avoiding distractions. Have you ever considered that meal planning could make you better at your nursing job? Crazy to think about!

Make important decisions earlier in the day

Our ability to make good decisions declines as the day goes on, so it’s a good idea to tackle important decisions early in the day when our minds are fresh. This way, you’ll be more likely to make a good decision and avoid decision fatigue later in the day.

Use routines to simplify your day

Routines can help simplify your day and reduce the number of decisions you have to make. For example, you could create a morning routine that includes exercising, showering, and eating breakfast in the same order every day. This way, you don’t have to decide what to do first each morning, and you’ll save your decision-making energy for more important choices later in the day.

Prioritize your decisions

It’s important to prioritize your decisions and focus on the most important ones first. This way, you can avoid decision fatigue by only making the most important choices and delegating or postponing less critical decisions.

Take breaks

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of decisions you have to make, take a break. Taking a break can help you recharge your mental batteries and come back to your decisions with a fresh perspective. Sometimes taking a break can be as simple as sitting down, closing your eyes, and taking a few deep breaths.

Outsource decisions

Finally, consider outsourcing some decisions to others. For example, you could hire an assistant to help with meal prepping or a personal shopper to help you with wardrobe choices (I use StitchFix for this). By delegating some decisions, you can free up mental energy and reduce decision fatigue.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, decision fatigue is a real and recognized phenomenon that can have a significant impact on our daily lives. With the abundance of choices available to us, it’s no wonder our brains can feel overwhelmed and exhausted. However, by implementing tactics such as limiting the number of decisions we make, tackling important decisions earlier in the day, using routines, prioritizing decisions, taking breaks, and outsourcing decisions, we can bring some peace to our lives and decrease the chances of making a mistake.

two nurses in conversation with executive

Empowering Nurses: The Empowerment Dynamic Enhances Patient Care and Workplace Relationships

Leave a Comment / Self Mastery, Thought Work / By Tammy Fuller

Introduction: Embracing the Empowerment Dynamic in Nursing

Nursing is a challenging profession that often exposes practitioners to demanding situations and emotional stress. The traditional Drama Triangle, with its victim, persecutor, and rescuer roles, can create disempowerment and burnout, negatively affecting both patient care and workplace relationships. The Empowerment Dynamic (TED) offers an alternative approach to empowering nurses that enables nurses to shift from a victim mindset to a creator mindset, fostering personal growth, professional development, and healthier relationships. In this blog post, we will explore TED and provide practical tips for incorporating it into nursing practice.

Understanding the Drama Triangle and Its Impact on Empowering Nurses

The Drama Triangle, developed by Stephen Karpman in 1968, is a psychological model that describes three dysfunctional roles people tend to assume in relationships: the victim, the persecutor, and the rescuer. In a healthcare setting, these roles may manifest in various ways, such as patients feeling powerless, nurses feeling overwhelmed, or colleagues blaming one another.

In my work I often see the victim role in “us vs. them” situations. For example, nurses vs. physicians, nurses vs. administration, or one department or shift vs. another department or shift. This type of adversarial thinking can actually create safety issues in addition to job dissatisfaction.

Unfortunately, the Drama Triangle perpetuates disempowerment, creating an unhealthy environment that negatively impacts patient care and nurses’ well-being. By recognizing the Drama Triangle and its consequences, nurses can begin to break free from its grasp and transition to a more empowering mindset.

Shifting to the Empowerment Dynamic (TED) in Nursing

The Empowerment Dynamic, developed by David Emerald, provides a positive alternative to the Drama Triangle. TED comprises three roles: the creator, the challenger, and the coach. By adopting these roles, nurses can develop a more empowering mindset, improve patient care, and foster healthier workplace relationships. This is an essential practice in empowering nurses and flourishing.

Creator: As creators, nurses focus on their own abilities and resources, taking responsibility for their actions and choices. They actively seek solutions and opportunities for growth.

Challenger: Challengers confront situations or beliefs that may be limiting or detrimental. In nursing, this role encourages colleagues to question assumptions and seek better practices, promoting continuous improvement.

Coach: The coach role involves providing guidance and support to others, enabling them to find their own solutions and grow. Nurses who act as coaches foster an environment of learning and collaboration.

This dynamic is right in line with High Reliability Organization (HRO) behaviors and patient/staff safety. It also fosters well-being and flourishing for all involved.

Strategies to Break Free from the Drama Triangle

Recognizing and dismantling the Drama Triangle is an essential step towards empowering nurses and embracing the Empowerment Dynamic. Here are some practical strategies for nurses:

Self-awareness: Regularly reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and actions to identify when you’re slipping into a Drama Triangle role. Acknowledge these patterns and remind yourself of the Empowerment Dynamic roles as healthier alternatives.

Constructive communication: Avoid blaming or criticizing others, and instead focus on expressing your feelings and needs. Use “I” statements and active listening to create an open, non-judgmental atmosphere.

Set boundaries: Establish clear expectations and limits with patients, colleagues, and yourself. This helps prevent rescuer behavior and encourages personal responsibility.

Techniques for Incorporating the Empowerment Dynamic into Nursing Practice

Incorporating the Empowerment Dynamic into daily nursing practice requires conscious effort and practice. Here are some techniques for embracing the creator, challenger, and coach roles:

Enhancing patient care: Foster a creator mindset by taking responsibility for your actions and seeking opportunities to improve patient outcomes. Be proactive in identifying potential problems and finding solutions to enhance patient care.

Building supportive relationships with colleagues: Act as a coach by offering guidance, support, and encouragement to your fellow nurses. When appropriate, take on the challenger role by constructively questioning assumptions and promoting best practices.

Cultivating a positive work environment: Encourage open communication, collaboration, and continuous learning within your nursing team. Share your experiences with the Empowerment Dynamic and inspire others to adopt this mindset.

The Transformative Power of the Empowerment Dynamic

Many nurses have experienced the transformative power of the Empowerment Dynamic in their professional and personal lives.

Susan, an oncology nurse, shifted from a victim mindset to a creator mindset by taking control of her emotions and focusing on what she could do to improve her patients’ experiences. As a result, she noticed a significant increase in her job satisfaction and the quality of care she provided.

Mark, a nurse manager, embraced the coach role and fostered an environment of open communication and collaboration among his team members. This approach improved team dynamics and led to a decrease in staff turnover and an increase in overall patient satisfaction.

Sarah, a pediatric nurse, adopted the challenger role to question outdated practices within her unit. By advocating for evidence-based practices, she helped implement new protocols that significantly improved patient outcomes.

Conclusion: Embracing the Empowerment Dynamic for a Fulfilling Nursing Career

The Empowerment Dynamic offers nurses a powerful framework to shift from a victim mindset to a creator mindset, fostering personal growth, professional development, and healthier workplace relationships. By recognizing the Drama Triangle, adopting the creator, challenger, and coach roles, and incorporating TED into daily nursing practice, nurses can transform their work environment, improve patient care, and enjoy a more fulfilling career. Embrace the Empowerment Dynamic and take the first step towards a more empowered nursing practice today.

You can learn more about the Empowerment Dynamic at https://theempowermentdynamic.com/ or by reading the book (affiliate link).

To read more about mental wellness check out this post.