COACHING OR THERAPY?
WHAT’S RIGHT FOR ME?
A common question asked when exploring coaching is, “What is the difference between coaching and Therapy?” The answer is that each profession has a unique purpose. There is crossover between professions, however, and it is important to understand how coaching is similar as well as how it differs from Therapy. At times Coaches may do a type of counseling, but not therapy.
Coaching and Therapy: How They’re Similar
Coaching and Therapy: How They’re Different
Coaches and Therapists have different training and educational backgrounds, and there are different expectations for how coaches and Therapists may relate to their clients. Coaching helps clients with the current situation the client needs help navigating through. Therapists oftentimes will focus more on childhood issues that formed the personality and belief systems.
Education & Training
Therapists are required to be educated and licensed with very specific requirements, which are managed by state boards of counseling. Coaches have broader educational and credentialing requirements which vary greatly from coach to coach. Not all coaches are required to be certified, depending on their field of expertise.
Coach-Client Relationship and the Client-Therapist Relationship
There is a relational element within coaching that is not present in therapy. As a coach, I will share parts of my own life and story with my clients for the purpose of authenticity and creating more connection with them. The nature of therapy does not allow for this type of relationship.
Coaches and therapists have specific expertises, professional boundaries, educational and training backgrounds. Both have a very important role in guiding clients toward healing and wholeness. As a transformational life coach I will do coaching with some counseling to help my client gain insights and understanding their choices and behaviors.
I am a Certified Coach with the Life Coach Institute, which is accredited with the International Coaching Federation. I have extensive experience in pastoral and biblical counseling, and am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Much of my coaching involves examining the family of origin and understanding the roadblocks that prevent us from overcoming belief systems and life-controlling issues.
For clients with certain traumatic experiences which have led to core behavioral issues that are beyond my scope of practice, I will refer to a therapist with expertise that can better support them.
Coaching and Therapy both share a similar approach to growth and healing: they ask questions, listen intently to the answers given, and mine out the truths that aren’t being said and give feedback on what they hear. This helps bring awareness to belief systems, thought patterns, trauma, and relational issues.
If you are unsure whether you’d like to work with a coach or a therapist, contact me for a free consultation and let’s explore what’s right for you.