Professionals / Life Coaching
Counseling & Psychotherapy in SLO / the Central Coast / California
Life coaching is the modern way to focus on your potential and plot a new course to achieve that potential. I am dedicated to helping people get in touch with their passion and their heart's calling, and then finding the best way to bring that calling into reality. I am Erik Edler, a licensed therapist located in San Luis Obispo (SLO) and serving the Central Coast.
A little clarification: In Psychotherapy, we work to heal the wounds that lie more deeply inside, often in the unconscious mind. In Counseling, we seek to problem-solve and offer guidance. And in Life Coaching, our focus is on reaching your full potential.
There isn't always a sharp line of distinction between these different methods. You might think you will only need some coaching and encouragement, but a lot of what makes us procrastinate or get stuck in self doubt can be traced back to older and deeper experiences. Too much criticism or a lack of encouragement from your mom and dad may leave deep reasons for why you're held back.
You'll need a coach who can flexibly move between the various dimensions of who you are, to help you move forward in the best way possible. Having a licensed psychotherapist as a coach is the best way to go, I believe.
Life coaching is about understanding who you are, what you have to offer, how to play on your strengths, and achieve basic competence in your areas of weakness. It's about understanding yourself so well that you can live your life strategically, and in that way maximize the fulfillment of your potential. Many clients will stay in therapy for a time after they've overcome the anxiety, depression, or relationship issues they came in with, because they sense that there is much more for them out there. Life is more than just not being in pain. Whether the need is deep-level psychotherapy, objective feedback and wise counsel, or motivational coaching, I can help point you and guide you in the direction that real happiness can be found.
If you're not familiar with Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology, and his book with Christopher Peterson, "Character Strengths and Virtues," I believe you will find these concepts very interesting. Much of psychology is about addressing mental health disorders, and helping people heal from the damage they might have experienced in the course of their lives. But when you have overcome depression, anxiety, or whatever other issues have been troubling you, how do you go on to really thrive? There's more to being a healthy human being than just overcoming the damage or the distress. To be a truly healthy, thriving human being, you need to pursue what we call the character strengths and virtues. It's here that people find their peak happiness and success.
My treatment focus - please click on the links below:
- Depression Counseling
- Anxiety & Stress Counseling
- Trauma & PTSD Therapy
- College Students & Young Adults
- Professionals/ Life Coaching
- Midlife Crisis Counseling
- Relationship Counseling
- Gay & Lesbian Counseling
- Faith & Spirituality