David Larimer
Dale E. Parsons
Kristen Ray
Jaime Vinck
BEFORE YOU BOOK, TAKE A LOOK
In pursuit of therapeutic guidance to become a better business leader, our experts stress the importance of confidentiality. Before you book an appointment, make sure that you understand your privacy and confidentiality rights. • Don’t be afraid to ask where your personal information/file is stored (both physically and electronically – a locked cabinet, in a firewall safe database?) • Visit hhs.gov/hipaa to ensure you understand HIPAA rules that have been created to protect your mental health rights • Ask how confidentiality and privacy correlate to any potential diagnosis from a counseling visit • Keep in mind that “coaches” may or may not be licensed mental health professionals; therefore, they may not be legally required to protect client confidentiality.
Exploring self-awareness and discovering character assets versus defects is the beginning, but the gathering and application of solutions and further insight is undoubtedly an added advantage of tackling self-appraisals in a safe and confidential counseling session. “Ultimately, counseling helps leaders continue to improve their quality of life while supporting their professional and personal goals and addressing the barriers that get in the way,” says Dr. Kristen Ray, DBH, LPC, behavioral health director at Bayless Integrated Healthcare.
Ray says therapeutic goals to improve one’s ability to lead their business and employees may include: • Increasing one’s self-awareness •L earning how to receive and react to feedback • Broadening perspectives •A ddressing fears associated with being in leadership positions (i.e. failure, public speaking) Once personal layers of behaviors, barriers and baggage are discussed, another major benefit a business leader can glean from therapy is how to appropriately handle interactions in the workplace. “Counseling not only helps to remove barriers to fulfilling and meaningful professional and personal relationships, but also helps business leaders be effective role models for their employees and coworkers.” Dr. Ray confirms.
SIDELINE SEMANTICS Again, despite what many would consider an increased positive perception toward seeking personal counseling, negative stigmas remain alive and well. “If you market the word ‘therapy’, there is still a stigma which can trigger an immediate response of ‘I’m not going to therapy,’” Larimer says. “The Harvard Business Review recently published an article in which the preferred language uses ‘benefits from mentoring/coaching.’” Dale E. Parsons, LCSW, director of therapy services at St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center in Phoenix, presents the idea of “leadership coaching,” in which a specific approach to coaching focuses on business and work objectives, including the identification of personal styles that create barriers and impede the realization of organizational targets and goals. AB | March - April 2018 15