Coaching for Anxiety: Your Ultimate Session Guide (+ Tools & Techniques)

Understanding Anxiety with Compassion

Anxiety is a common human experience that affects millions of people. With compassion and understanding, we can better support those struggling with anxiety disorders or just occasional anxiety symptoms.

Creating a Safe Space for Open Dialogue

It’s important that those with anxiety feel heard and understood. As coaches, we can create an environment where clients feel safe to openly discuss their anxiety without judgment. This facilitates healing.

Exploring the Root Causes with Patience

Getting to the root causes of anxiety requires patience on both the coach’s and client’s part. Rather than quickly jumping to solutions, taking time to understand where the anxiety comes from leads to deeper insights.

Trying New Coping Tools at Their Own Pace

There are many great coping tools for working with anxiety, including mindfulness practices, journaling, and breathing exercises. It’s important clients move at their own pace when adopting new tools, not feeling pressured to progress faster than what feels comfortable.

Celebrating Small Successes

Every step forward for a client dealing with anxiety—no matter how small—is worthy of celebration. Coaches should recognize and affirm these little victories to encourage continued progress.

FAQ

What are some initial things I can do to be supportive?

Listen without judgment, validate their feelings, ask open questions to better understand their experience, and research anxiety resources to share.

What if they don’t seem motivated to try new tools?

Meet them where they’re at, seek to understand any resistance, brainstorm pros/cons together, and reinforce that it’s okay to move slowly.

How do I respond if they have a panic attack during a session?

Speak calmly, guide them to take deep breaths, suggest grounding techniques, ask if they need anything, and provide reassurance that attacks always pass.

How often should we meet if anxiety is severe?

This depends on the individual and availability, but meeting once or twice a week can provide continuity during an acute anxious period.

What’s one piece of parting advice you’d give coaches supporting anxious clients?

Have compassion, exercise patience in progress, celebrate small wins, actively listen to understand their experience, and empower them to be their own advocate.