Coaching is a large industry with varying specialties. From business coaches to wellness coaches, there’s no shortage of them. Coaches have even branched into the specialties of nutrition, wellness, mental health and more. Coaches are not typically licensed (although they may have other professional licenses, they’re not required of most coaches. Many reputable coaches are certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) or an ICF-affiliated organization) and may not be able to diagnose or provide medications, they can provide valuable services. Because coaches do not require a license and are not as burdened by heavy regulations, they can make their services affordable and in states that do not designate everyone a mandated reporter of child maltreatment, fall outside the reporter mandate. This can make coaches seem appealing as a safer option…but are they?
Coaches are a mixed bag. Just like in any other profession, there are good and bad coaches and the goal is for you to find a good coach in the specialty that is best aligned with your needs, values and goals. First, you have to ask yourself what kind of coach you need. If your child is overweight, maybe you need medication from a doctor, but you’d rather talk about lifestyle changes with an expert who is not a mandated reporter. Then, a health, nutrition or fitness coach might be useful. If you or your child has a mental health condition or mental health concerns, you might choose a mental health coach with the right background who is not a mandated reporter instead of a licensed mental health clinician such as a social worker, clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, mental health counselor, couples or family therapist or other licensed mental health professional. If your child is suffering from gender dysphoria and you live in a state where a child’s perception of gender is automatically affirmed, you might also want a mental health coach who is not a mandated reporter to give a second opinion and guidance before considering medical interventions that come with lifelong consequences.
When looking for the right coach, take into account whether your state classifies everyone mandated reporters of child maltreatment or just certain professionals; if your state classifies everyone as a mandated reporter, you might want to look out of state. If you do not live close to a border with a state that does not classify all residents as mandated reporters, many coaches across the country offer virtual services across state lines; since they’re not licensed, they’re not limited to the states they’re licensed in. Learn as much as you can about the coach and speak with them by phone if possible before hand to ensure they can provide what you’re looking for and they are aligned with your goals and values. If they’re not, you might need a different coach and in some cases, a coach may not be a good fit for your circumstances and you may need a licensed professional. It’s also important not to be confused by coaches that offer courses only and coaches who offer one-on-one and/or group coaching sessions. Courses alone are good for basic education, but if you’re looking to avoid a CPS case, a course will be unlikely to suffice and will not be looked upon as sufficient mental health services by CPS.
Cost is another factor to consider. Insurance will typically only cover licensed providers, so as a rule, coaches will not take insurance. Some coaches may be too expensive for some families to afford and other coaches may not have the experience your circumstance requires. They may also have a license in the same field in which they coach (such as mental health or nutrition), which creates murky waters on the subject of mandated reporting. It’s also important to keep in mind that just because a coach is not considered a mandated reporter doesn’t mean that coach can’t choose to make a report. This is where value-alignment is important assess before placing your trust in a particular coach. There is no exact science when it comes to this calculation and it is up to each family to evaluate these factors themselves and come to a decision as to whether a coach is a good fit to fill the role of reducing the chances of CPS involvement.
Overall, a coach can be a good alternative, but is not a good substitute for all cases, as they do have some limitations. Coaches cannot prescribe medication, give medical or mental health advice that licensed clinicians can and do not have admitting privileges at hospitals. This means a coach may meet all of your needs, some of your needs or none of your needs and those needs can only be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The more you reduce your risk of a report being made to CPS, the less stress you have and the more freedom you have to raise your child(ren) with the values you care about. If you have any questions or need a referral, schedule an UrgentAssist Call or send an UrgentAssist Message to one of our expert child welfare consultants for assistance.