Coaching Can Improve Mental Health Symptoms and Resilience
- GAB NEWS
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Coaching sessions can lower distress, boost resilience, and complement therapy.
When we think about getting help for our mental health, therapy is often the first and sometimes only option that comes to mind. Therapy works, and for many people, it is essential.
Historically, research on therapeutic interventions focused on the treatment of diagnosable mental health disorders. However, as our perspectives on mental health have evolved, we’ve seen a broader research focus. Preventive interventions, those that are transdiagnostic, and those that can support individuals with subclinical concerns, are all emerging as important parts of a population health strategy.
Continuing to test these strategies in addition to scaling them for populations is key. Recent evidence suggests that well‑designed coaching with clear guardrails—especially when delivered inside an adaptive, stratified care population health model—can help people feel better quickly, build emotional skills, and even relieve pressure on an overburdened clinical system.
What the New Study Found
A peer‑reviewed study in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research followed working adults using an employer-sponsored blended digital mental health platform. On average, participants screened below clinical cutoffs for mental health symptoms, completed about 2.5 coaching sessions over three months, and reported reductions in depression (-22.5 percent) and anxiety (-12 percent), with gains in distress tolerance, self‑compassion, mindfulness, and perceived stress. Among members with elevated depressive or anxiety symptoms (although not severe symptoms), 72 percent clinically improved or recovered, while 96 percent of lower‑risk users maintained low symptom levels, consistent with coaching as both a treatment‑adjacent and preventive resource.
Why Coaching Can Work (and When)
It’s important to call out that the coaching delivered via this platform is part of a broader stratified care model, meaning that individuals with more severe concerns are routed to therapy, crisis support, or psychiatry based on their circumstances. Additionally, all coaches had International Coaching Federation certification, went through a rigorous vetting process, received additional training from the benefits platform, and had the opportunity for ongoing consultation and education.
From a clinical perspective, coaching’s appeal is two‑fold. First, it targets transdiagnostic capacities such as distress tolerance, self‑compassion, and stress management that cut across diagnoses and everyday challenges. Second, it is approachable and scalable for people who may not need or are hesitant to start therapy. Earlier, lower‑intensity support can prevent escalation while preserving therapy for situations in which clinical intervention is warranted.
How the Findings Fit With the Broader Evidence
The idea that non-therapy options and skills‑based support improve mental health outcomes is not new. A randomized clinical trial with physicians found that individualized professional coaching significantly reduced burnout and improved resilience and quality of life. Other trials and meta‑analyses show that mindfulness programs can increase resilience to stress and improve anxiety, depression, and psychological distress in non-clinical settings. This is in addition to the strong evidence that resources such as social connection and addressing social determinants of health are critical to positive mental health outcomes. This is further evidence that mental healthcare is not one-size-fits-all, especially when the focus is on an entire population, and that other approaches can help people before reaching that point.
Implications for Therapists and Healthcare Systems
Coaching can help fill critical gaps in existing healthcare systems, but not all coaching is created equal. There is currently not a single credentialing body for all coaches; however, there are several organizations with rigorous training programs. Clear vetting and quality monitoring processes serve as important guardrails for the use of non-licensed professionals delivering coaching. Building and understanding these guardrails is necessary to ensure that clients and patients are receiving appropriate support, especially given the variability in access and training across the coaching field.
That being said, equipping well-trained and certified coaches with evidence-based skills offers the opportunity to extend the mental health workforce, reserve specialized clinical resources for those with more severe clinical needs, and deliver an approachable and effective option for improving mental health and resilience.
Implications for Employers
For organizations, the implications of taking care of an entire population or workforce are practical. Offering an adaptive care model with multiple entry points, like self‑guided tools, coaching, group support, and therapy, allows people to dynamically be routed to the best option based on their needs and preferences. Investing early and measuring outcomes beyond uptake—including symptom change—can help normalize a variety of mental healthcare options. Extending the view of effective mental healthcare beyond just symptom reduction to include emotional and transdiagnostic processes that underscore resilience is also important. The research underscores the dual benefits of coaching: It helps moderate-need employees meaningfully reduce symptoms while giving low-risk employees the preventive support needed to stay well. This combination makes coaching a scalable, cost-effective lever for employers looking to strengthen workforce well-being and reduce downstream healthcare spending. Because employees with moderate needs often account for the majority of the workforce, early support through coaching can significantly reduce demand for higher-intensity services, prevent crises, and improve overall productivity and engagement.
As part of an adaptive care model in which employees with more severe needs are recommended to clinical care, these results demonstrate that coaching effectively reaches and supports the workforce, including employees who might not need therapy but would benefit from early, preventive support.
To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
References
Dyrbye, Liselotte N., et al. "Effect of a Professional Coaching Intervention on the Well‑Being and Distress of Physicians: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA Internal Medicine, vol. 179, no. 10, 2019, pp. 1406–1414. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/27402…
Galante, Julieta, et al. "A Mindfulness‑Based Intervention to Increase Resilience to Stress in University Students (the Mindful Student Study): A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial." The Lancet Public Health, vol. 3, no. 2, 2018, e72–e81. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(17)3023…
Galante, Julieta, et al. "Mindfulness‑based Programmes for Mental Health Promotion in Adults in Nonclinical Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials." PLOS Medicine, 11 Jan. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003481
Sagui Henson, Sara, et al. "Addressing the Gap: Real‑World Evidence of Technology‑Enabled Coaching Services for Mental Health." Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, vol. 52, 2025, pp. 1311–1326. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10488-025-01473-8
Modern Health. "New Research Reveals Coaching Improves Both Mental Health Symptoms and Emotional Resilience." Business Wire, 28 Jan. 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128049271/en/New-Research-R…
Published By Raphael Amorim
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