What is a ‘life coach,’ anyway?

+ how to avoid turbulent air travel US Edition - Today's top story: Is 'coaching' a shortcut to mental health care? Not so fast − here are key differences [View in browser]( US Edition | 30 August 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [How ‘China’ is used in the US election campaign]( - [The legacy of ‘Homicide: Life on the Streets’]( - [We’ll have what The Conversation quiz is having]( Lead story When I hear the word “coach,” a traditional image comes to mind: someone leading a sports team, whistle in hand. But today, there are all sorts of variations: life coaches, wellness coaches, health coaches, even AI-driven “coaches.” Americans, it seems, are looking for lots of advice, especially when it comes to physical and mental health – and hoping that one-on-one coaching services can help. There’s no agreed-upon definition of “coaching,” though – nor any licensing requirements. And things can go from helpful to harmful when people confuse coaching with therapy. Amid a shortage of mental health care providers, that’s probably not uncommon. Emily Hemendinger, a psychiatry professor at the University of Colorado, breaks down [the differences between therapy and coaching](. She also lays out what to keep in mind if you’re looking for a coach, from transparency about credentials and fees to whether they’re touting a specific product. A credible coach, Hemendinger writes, “is not going to promise to completely change your life or cure you.” [ [One great story every day, texted directly to you](. ] Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( Life coaching can provide helpful services for some people, but scrutiny is needed. The Good Brigade/DigitalVision via Getty Images [Is ‘coaching’ a shortcut to mental health care? Not so fast − here are key differences]( Emily Hemendinger, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus A professor of psychiatry unpacks what to consider if you’re looking for help with physical or mental health and are considering using coaching services. International - [The specter of China has edged into US election rhetoric − for Republicans much more than Democrats]( Fan Yang, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Of the four presidential and vice presidential candidates, only Tim Walz did not mention China in his convention speech − and he is the only one with personal knowledge of the country. Economy + Business - [If new technologies snarl your airline experience, here are old-school strategies to cope]( Christopher Schaberg, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Digital technology can make flying safer, but it can also disrupt air travel. - [Trump and Harris, with starkly different records on labor issues, are both courting union voters]( Robert Forrant, UMass Lowell Union voters are particularly significant in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada, three swing states where the share of voters who belong to unions is above average. - [When cannabis is rescheduled, states can look to Colorado and Washington for ideas on how to regulate it]( Boyoung Seo, Indiana University Colorado and Washington both have legal recreational marijuana. But they regulate growers and dispensaries differently, which has created a David vs. Goliath in the marketplace. Politics + Society - [Apps, 911 services and mobile phones don’t offset deadly consequences of more restrictive border policies]( Angela Schöpke Gonzalez, University of Michigan Last year, at least 686 migrants died trying to cross into the US from Mexico. Many had the option to call 911 but were too afraid of detection and deportation to seek help. Environment + Energy - [5 lessons from ancient civilizations for staying cool in hot, dry climates that today’s builders often ignore]( Adriana Zuniga-Teran, University of Arizona Builders knew how to keep people cool in hot, dry climates thousands of years ago. It’s time to get that knowledge back. Health + Medicine - [Gus Walz’s unbridled emotion on the DNC stage opens the door to more understanding of neurodiversity]( Sneha Kohli Mathur, University of Southern California The best way to learn about neurodivergence is by listening to neurodivergent people themselves. - [COVID-19, flu and RSV shots − an epidemiologist explains why all three matter this fall]( Annette Regan, University of San Francisco The summer 2024 COVID-19 wave is a good reminder that it’s important to get vaccinated with the updated shot. Arts + Culture - [‘Homicide: Life on the Streets’ laid the groundwork for Peak TV – and it’s finally available to stream for new and old fans of the series]( Summit Osur, Quinnipiac University Due to conflicts over music rights and the high cost of adapting the show to HD, the series had become overshadowed by its spiritual successor, ‘The Wire.’ Science + Technology - [2 solar probes are helping researchers understand what phenomenon powers the solar wind]( Yeimy J. Rivera, Smithsonian Institution; Michael L. Stevens, Smithsonian Institution; Samuel Badman, Smithsonian Institution For years, researchers have wondered what energy source allows the solar wind − a projection of charged particles from the Sun − to rush by at hundreds of miles a second. Podcast 🎙️ - [Geoengineering: the scientists who argue modifying the climate could buy the world time]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation In the first of two episodes on geoengineering, The Conversation Weekly examines the case for repairing the climate with technological interventions. Our second episode on Monday examines the case against solar radiation modification. Trending on site - [Complicated app settings are a threat to user privacy]( - [AI supercharges data center energy use – straining the grid and slowing sustainability efforts]( - [2024’s violent tornado season has been one of the most active on record − a meteorologist explains the weather behind the outbreaks]( The Conversation News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( A new study, released in June, analyzed the United States' "orgasm gap." What is the gap the study referred to? - A. The U.S. now trails China in orgasms per capita - B. Women still have fewer orgasms than men - C. Gen Z has been having fewer orgasms than Millennials - D. There is no gap − orgasms remain widely popular [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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