Why mental health coaches are key to workplace wellbeing

Mental health coaching is more and more seen as a valuable component of a company's mental health "toolbox".

It focuses on providing a proactive and personalized approach to support employee wellbeing, complementing other resources such as Digital mental health platforms and mental health aiders. In this piece, we take a closer look at what mental health coaching entails.

What is a Mental Health Coach?

A mental health coach is a trained, non-clinical professional who supports individuals in:

• Building coping skills and emotional resilience
• Managing workplace and life stressors
• Setting and achieving personal and professional goals
• Empowering employees to take charge of their wellbeing in a supportive and proactive way, away from stigma.

Coaching Frameworks

Coaches use techniques to help individuals develop practical skills for handling everyday challenges. Sessions are typically action-oriented and tailored to each person's unique circumstances. Some of the most widely recognized coaching frameworks include:

GROW: Goal - Reality - Options - Way Forward - Usage. It defines what the client wants to achieve with clear, specific and measurable objectives, explores the current situation from strengths to challenges and brainstorms strategies and actions to bridge the gap between the two.

CLEAR: Contracting - Listening - Exploring - Action - Review - Usage. It establishes a coaching agreement, truly understands the client’s perspective, examines the goal more deeply, co-creates action steps, and evaluates progress.

STEPPA: Subject - Target - Emotion - Perception - Plan - Pace - Adapt. The idea is to place a unique emphasis on understanding and working with emotions as central motivators or barriers to goal achievement. Integrating emotions as a vital and explicit part of the conversation is especially useful when strong or difficult emotions are part of the client’s challenge.

OSKAR: Outcome - Scaling - Know-how - Action - Review. This is a solution-focused structure that guides coaching conversations, helping clients clarify their goals, focus on strengths, and create actionable plans. It is especially popular in workplace, team, and performance coaching contexts.

How Coaches Differ From Therapists

Mental health coaches and therapists play different roles in supporting individual wellbeing:

• Credentials: The requirements vary by country, but mental health coaches typically have a background in coaching, wellness, or psychology; however, they are not required to be licensed mental health professionals. At the same time, Therapists are licensed mental health professionals with advanced clinical training.


• Focus and approaches: Coaches take a proactive, forward-looking approach, with their primary aim being to build skills, set and achieve goals, and foster resilience. Therapists, on the other hand, focus on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, and may help clients work through past trauma or complex emotional issues. They may include psychological assessments, treatment plans, and, in some cases, medication support.


• Services Provided: Coaches help with setting action plans, managing stress, increasing self-awareness, and building resilience. Therapists provide psychological assessment, formal diagnosis, individualized therapy, and ongoing support for mental health conditions.

Benefits of Coaching: Goal Setting, Stress Management, and Resilience

1. Goal Setting

Coaches help employees clarify priorities, break down goals into actionable steps, and stay accountable, leading to greater progress in both personal and professional areas.

2. Stress Management

Through personalised strategies and practical tools, coaching empowers individuals to respond more effectively to workplace pressures, thereby reducing the risk of becoming overwhelmed and preventing burnout.

3. Resilience Building

Regular sessions strengthen psychological flexibility, adaptability, and self-confidence, equipping employees to handle change and setbacks with greater ease.

How Companies Can Integrate Coaching

Successful organisations go beyond simply offering coaching sessions. Indeed, integrated programs have been shown to reduce stress rates and increase goal achievement and engagement. Effective integration strategies include:

• Combining Coaching with Digital Platforms: Use digital mental health solutions (such as Siffi) to offer self-guided resources, 24/7 support, and evidence-based tools alongside live coaching.


• Embedding Coaching into Workplace Culture: Schedule regular, voluntary coaching sessions and actively promote their benefits to minimise stigma and increase participation.


• Encouraging Peer Support and Learning: Leverage social features, resource libraries, and communities to foster shared learning and support among employees.

Are Coaches More Accessible Than Therapists?

Coaches are readily available because they are not restricted by strict licensing or the necessity of a diagnosis, and are commonly offered through digital services or workplace programs. Coaching is also often seen as a self-improvement strategy rather than a response to a mental health issue, which creates less stigma and makes people less reluctant to seek this type of support.

This flexibility means people can often find and begin working with a coach quickly, with fewer formal hurdles or waiting lists. Therapists must have licenses, and their availability can be limited, especially in specific speciality areas and locations, which increases wait times. Cost and stigma are also usually higher with therapy.

That being said, therapists remain essential for clinical mental health concerns, and coaches should not be seen as a replacement.

Mental health coaches play a valuable role in the modern workplace by empowering individuals to navigate their mental health and work responsibilities more effectively. When the coach's expertise is combined with digital mental health platforms, companies can truly achieve a scalable, inclusive, and impactful approach to employee wellbeing, addressing a broad spectrum of needs and fostering a culture where everyone can thrive.