headshot of brian holbach a life coach in portland maine with eastern shore counseling, mental health coach, life coach for mental health

Brian Holbach

“When there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do you no harm.”

-African Proverb

It’s important to us at Eastern Shore Counseling that you feel aligned with your therapist or coach. For this reason, we put a lot of thought and effort into our clinician’s individual pages so you can get to know them a bit as a human and then as a provider.

We’re here to support you in this season.

When I Realized The Power of Coaching

a woman in a bright yellow jacket walking in a forest amidst huge tall pine trees in maine, mental health coach, life coach for mental health
a cluster of trees on a small island in the middle of the ocean off the coast of maine, mental health coach, life coach for mental health

I was having an issue in my relationship with my partner and brought it up in a coaching session. The coach was very in tune with what I was going through and the session resonated very deeply with what was going on inside me. With my coach’s guidance, I realized that I had never really felt and processed emotional pain. Instead, I felt that I needed to “keep it together” and “stay strong” for those around me. He continued to compassionately guide me to welcome and acknowledge this place of pain within me. I cried like I had never cried before; I felt the emotional pain of a lifetime. I cried and felt that pain until I fell asleep. I awoke with tears in my eyes. This continued until I had witnessed all the painful events of my life.

This may sound agonizing, but it was undoubtedly worth it. The result was being able to feel a full and healthy range of emotions. I was now truly emotionally available as a partner, as a father, and as an empowered person in the world. I was experiencing genuine connection with the people I loved. The work was hard, and at times, I did not want to go to these painful places. But I am grateful to have had such an amazing coach to be with me during that process and it was a life changing experience I will never forget.

Common Questions People Have When Thinking About Mental Health Coaching or Life Coaching

Do you feel stuck in your life?

Do feel like no matter how hard you try, you just are not getting the life you want?

Are you living up to your true potential?

Most people will shy away from even examining these questions. However, you are not like most people. You have the courage to say "I will not settle to be anything less than the absolute best I can be."


Don't go at it alone. I am here to help you get exactly what you want and you will get the results you are looking for. Whether it be in finding a better work-life balance, becoming more emotionally intelligent, or working on being a more effective communicator — I’m here for you.

I believe in you.

How Will Life Coaching Help Me?

Effective Communication

Life coaching can help individuals enhance their communication skills by identifying their communication style, understanding how to actively listen, and developing effective communication strategies. By improving communication skills, individuals can effectively convey their thoughts, ideas, and emotions, and build strong and positive relationships with others.

Understand Your Habits and Decision-Making Strategies

Life coaching can help individuals gain self-awareness by identifying their habits and decision-making strategies. By understanding these patterns, individuals can identify areas for improvement and make positive changes to enhance their personal and professional lives.

Improved Relationships With Others

Life coaching can help individuals develop empathy and emotional intelligence, which are essential for building positive relationships with others. Through coaching, individuals can learn how to communicate effectively, understand others' perspectives, and manage conflict, resulting in improved relationships with colleagues, family, friends, and romantic partners.

I've had a ton of obstacles to overcome starting from a young age.  The person that I am now, I have very consciously created.  I've always been myself at the level of my core identity, but the person you see in front of you, I've built him brick by brick. 

In addition to a lot of life experiences, I have several years of experience being an entrepreneur. I've also spent time learning and honing my mentoring skills and am a Certified Life Coach, Certified Mental Health Coach, and Certified Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming.

Get Started With Life Coaching In Maine

Select Your Provider

Begin your coaching journey in Maine by choosing a therapist or coach who aligns with your needs and goals. Our team of experienced therapists, life coach and health coach are are here to help you find the right fit for the kind of support you need.

Schedule Free Intro Session

Schedule a complimentary 30min introductory session with the provider of your choosing to ensure they are a good fit for you. This initial consultation allows you to connect with your chosen provider, discuss your concerns, and explore how counseling can benefit you. We’re better together.

Feel Relief

In your complimentary 30min introductory session, you'll start your journey towards emotional well-being, understanding, and personal growth. You don’t have to keep doing this and hoping it just sorts itself out. We are really good at helping you reduce symptoms and start living life on your terms!

Please kindly note that eastern shore counseling is a sister company of sunshine city counseling. You’ll see sunshine city counseling as the main logo when booking so ensure you are scheduling for "eastern shore counseling” or “esc” either in person in Gorham, Maine or for online counseling. Thank you!

Frequently Asked Questions About Life Coaching and Mental Health Coaching

  • A life coach is a professional who helps individuals identify and achieve their personal and professional goals. They work with clients to assess their current situation, clarify their values, set specific goals, and create action plans to reach those goals. Life coaches provide guidance, support, and accountability to help clients overcome obstacles, make positive changes, and lead more fulfilling lives. They typically focus on areas such as career development, relationships, time management, and personal growth.

  • Coaching and counseling are both forms of support and guidance, but they have distinct differences:

    Coaching: Coaching is future-oriented and goal-driven. Coaches work with individuals to help them set and achieve specific goals, improve skills, and make positive changes in their lives. Coaching often focuses on personal development, performance enhancement, and problem-solving. It is typically used by people seeking to improve their lives, careers, or specific areas of their life.

    Counseling: Counseling, also known as therapy or psychotherapy, is often focused on addressing and resolving emotional or psychological issues. It delves into past experiences, emotions, and mental health concerns to promote healing and personal growth. Counseling is typically used by individuals dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, or other mental health challenges.

  • When working with a life coach, you can expect:

    Goal setting: Coaches will help you define clear and achievable goals for various areas of your life.

    Action plans: They will assist you in creating a step-by-step plan to reach your goals.

    Accountability: Coaches will hold you accountable for taking action and making progress.

    Support and guidance: They will provide encouragement, motivation, and strategies to overcome obstacles.

    When working with a mental health coach (often called a mental health counselor or therapist), you can expect:

    Emotional support: Mental health coaches provide a safe and confidential space to discuss and manage emotional challenges.

    Diagnosis and treatment: They may diagnose mental health conditions and provide therapeutic interventions or techniques to address them.

    Healing and coping strategies: Mental health coaches help clients develop coping skills, manage stress, and improve mental well-being.

    Psychoeducation: They may educate clients about mental health issues and offer strategies for improving mental health.

    It's important to choose the type of professional that aligns with your specific needs and goals. Life coaches are suitable for personal development and goal achievement, while mental health coaches or counselors are trained to address mental and emotional well-being concerns.

What Mental Health Services Does Eastern Shore Counseling Offer?

Life Coaching

Health Coaching

Couples Therapy

Individual Therapy

Whether you are struggling with low self esteem, looking for an lgbt affirming therapist, or depression symptoms, our counseling clinic in Gorham, Maine is here to support you. We provide in-office counseling sessions as well as online couples counseling, online life coaching and online health coaching. Schedule a complimentary 30min introductory session to ensure we are a good fit for you and the level of support you need in this season.

We’re better together.