Introduction
The Who, Why, What, Where, and When
Who
Hi, I’m Richard, the Coach behind Stream Work Coaching. I specialize in a type of coaching called Jungian Coaching. It is based in the work of the Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung, best known for his map of the human psyche that includes the collective unconscious, complexes, and archetypes.
The priority of Jungian coaching is always to strengthen the relationship between your ego and your true Self.
Qualifications
I have a BA in Psychology from the University of Victoria and took several related courses during my 24 years with Island Crisis Care Society, including Level 1 Motivational Interviewing, Non-violent Communication, and Mental Health and Addiction 1 and 2. I am currently enrolled in a 9-month course in Jungian Coaching from the Jung Platform. I have also informally studied Internal Family System’s Theory and Attachment Theory.
Why Coaching?
Two factors drew me to Coaching rather than Clinical Counseling.
Firstly, I was looking for a way to partner with people that was non-pathologizing and based in an equal distribution of power and commitment. This means that I don’t see things like anxiety and depression as bad or a moral failing and I don’t assume I’m an expert on your feelings or struggles. In fact I think anxiety and depression often reveal deeper qualities such as sensitivity, compassion, and a desire for meaning and connection. Coaching operates from the premise that you are fundamentally healthy, resourceful, and creative. The process is a collaborative partnership designed to bring you clarity, insights, and meaningful growth.
Secondly, having worked for Island Crisis Care Society for over 2 decades, I saw the value of a clinical diagnosis, clinical assessments, and what is involved in clinical care.1 While recognizing it’s deep value I wasn’t drawn to that kind of work because it requires a deep academic knowledge of mental illness and treatment. I know from experience that my reflective and thoughtful approach is not suited to supporting someone experiencing a mental health crisis, a serious mental illness, or who is active in the use of substances.
As a coach I am trauma informed, but not a trauma counselor. My personality and experience are best suited to the exploration of meaning, purpose and individuation. I love to explore people’s symptoms as a doorway into what their true Self is calling them to.
While I make a strong effort not to offer advice or interpretation, I do bring specialized information to the table, along with a deep conviction that each person has the capacity for insight, wisdom, and individuation.
What
Like Counseling, Jungian Coaching is a therapeutic relationship that can reduce distress, anxiety, and depression through specific methods, but it is different from Counseling in that it does not offer counsel, advice, or treatment. It is also different from mentoring and other kinds of coaching in that the focus is not on skill development from an expert in the field. Jungian coaches are equal partners in a process of discovery. As coaches, we believe you know what is best for you and your own development. We help you connect to your own internal wisdom and strength, even if that connection doesn’t seem to be there right now.
Another way coaching is different from counselling is that it is non-clinical and does not attempt to diagnose or treat serious mental illness. Such conditions benefit most from the highly specialized support of a clinician. If you have a serious mental illness and are interested in seeing me, ask your primary clinician (doctor, psychologist, social worker, clinical counselor, psychiatrist) what they recommend. They are best qualified to work with you on how to include Jungian Coaching in your overall treatment plan. Jungian Coaching can uncover unknown sides to yourself that you might find unsettling or discouraging and your clinician will determine if and when to start the coaching relationship. Often this is done through an assessment of your emotional stability, ego strength, and general readiness to expose yourself to deeper questions of meaning, purpose, and personal growth.
Where and When
I offer coaching in person in Central Vancouver Island, or via video conferencing. I have a home office for sessions in Nanaimo. I’m available Monday and Tuesday, from 9 am to 8:00 pm, Pacific Time.
For More Information see:
Is Stream Work Right for me - setting up a free investigation call.
What is Stream Work Video by Richard
A mental health diagnosis can give a name and identity to your suffering, and only psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, and some highly qualified social workers can provide a diagnosis. Clinical counselors, social workers, and psychiatric nurses can provide treatment plans and the kind of therapy needed to stabilize and treat a serious mental illness. Clinicians must know about the various classifications of mental illness, and be specially trained to work with trauma.