Personal Growth

A question often asked by therapists at the beginning of counseling is ‘what do you hope to get out of counseling? What do you hope to achieve or accomplish? How will you know when you’re done?’

Most clients will respond that they want to reduce the emotional pain that they are experiencing, or learn how to better handle the way they respond to someone/ something, or get a better understanding of themselves in relation to others. Each of these things suggests dissatisfaction with the way things are currently, and the desire to improve themselves to be more effective. There are some situations in which the client says ‘I don’t like who I am, I want to be different.’ In short, folks come to therapy for personal growth.

The therapist then has a several-pronged approach to take. First is to look at life as it is today. What is discomforting for the client? What is the specific element that is discomforting to the client? Is it a matter of perspective? Knowledge? Understanding? Can the situation be changed? If not, then what does the client have to do to be able to tolerate the situation? What skills, knowledge, or abilities does the client have to acquire to better deal or cope with this situation? Are these elements available to the client? Does the client have the capacity to reach their goal?

Having the client ponder and answer these questions is, in itself, fostering personal growth. Any process that has a client question him/herself and making a decision to stay the way they are -- or change -- is a process of personal growth. The growth continues as the client also considers what they want their life to look like, and how to attain that goal.

This growth may involve changes for the client on a physical, emotional, mental and/or spiritual level. All of these areas can be explored in counseling or in a Personal Growth Coaching intervention. While counseling tends to focus on mental health issues as a result of a diagnosis, Personal Growth Coaching focuses on a goal, with no diagnosis. Counseling seeks to resolve a problem or a condition. Coaching seeks to assist the client attain a goal.

In addition to coaching and counseling, Duane presents a series of Personal Growth Seminars including Create Your Reality, Unleashing the Power of Hope in Your Life, Your Ability to Influence the Past, Present and Future, What Were You Thinking?, and Meditation Basics; Not What You May Think.

(Duane has been providing counseling and Personal Growth Coaching services and seminars to clients for more than 25 years.)