Counseling vs Coaching
The line between coaching and counseling is frequently a blurry one. Coaches and counselors have an overlapping skill set, and in some cases, depending on the counselors theoretical orientation, a counselor’s approach to therapy may look very similar to that of a coach. In my opinion, good therapists have the greatest potential to become great coaches because of their training in listening deep knowledge of human psychological processes. However, there are some specific ways that counselors and coaches differ.
What is a Counselor and what do they do?
Counselors (or therapists, psychotherapists, or psychologists) are individuals who have earned a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or some other related mental health field and have been approved by the State(s) in which they are licensed after rigorous supervision and testing. At the master’s level, this training usually takes about four years if a person goes to school and completes their training full time. At the doctoral level, if a person trains full-time, it takes a minimum of six years to become licensed.
Counselors are considered health care providers. That is, in most cases, they are trained to assess for, diagnose, and treat mental health issues. The focus is most frequently on addressing and ameliorating problematic behaviors in the present by focusing on their origins in the past. They address issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and many other issues like these that are included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (currently in the revised 5th Edition).
What is a Life Coach and what do they do?
A Life Coach is typically not a mental health professional. However, many therapists and counselors do offer life coaching as a service. There are no required educational requirements for life coaches. There is no official governing body for this profession. There are no licensure requirements.* It is important that you vet anyone you are considering hiring as a life coach.
Counselors and therapist typically start in the present and look backward to find the origins of current dysfunctional behavior. Life Coaches begin by assessing a person’s dreams and aspirations for the future, assessing where a person is in the present, and developing strategies to get from where they currently are to where they want to be. Life coaching tends to be more goal-directed and action-oriented than counseling or therapy.
Do you need a Counselor or a Life Coach?
This question may not be as straightforward as you might think. However, here are three questions to ask yourself:
What is my focus?
Do you want or need to focus on depressed mood, anxiety, or past traumatic event? If so, you will definitely need to seek out a counselor. Life Coaches are not trained to assess or treat these mental health conditions.
Do you want to focus on goal attainment or overcoming mindset blocks to goal achievement? While a therapist can certainly be helpful, this is a case where a credible Life Coach can be appropriate.
Do I need or want a more educational approach?
Coaching tends to be more structured with a definite end point. For instance, many coaches have developed programs for specific concerns. For instance, many coaches offer 8 or 12-week coaching packages or courses that address specific issues. Clients pay a flat rate in advance for the course and any individual sessions that accompany the course.
Therapy tends to be less structured and open-ended. In other words, therapists and patients, or clients, may have some general goals they are seeking to accomplish, but each session is not necessarily structured in advance. Also, in counseling and therapy, an end date to
What is my goal?
If your goal is to understand the causes of and overcome the effects of a mental health issue such as depression, anxiety or trauma, Counseling or therapy is the only legitimate choice. A therapist will help you recover from past traumas, explore interpersonal patterns that have been and are destructive, and similar issues.
However, if your goal is to work towards achieving a big goal such as improving your marriage or starting a business, then a coach may be the best choice. A coach can help you clarify personal and professional goals, work toward work/life balance, start or grow a business, improve communication skills, and so on.
Summary
Counseling
Focused on the past
Focuses on problems
Therapist is professional
Focusing on coping
Focuses on grounding
Focuses on the why
Focuses on diagnosis
Requires master’s or doctoral degree
Focuses on feeling
Focuses on recovery
Focuses on reflection
Moves toward stability
Coaching
Focused on the future
Focuses on possibilities, purpose, passion
Coach is partner
Focuses on taking action
Focuses on growing
Focuses on the how
Focuses on dream
No educational requirement: certification
Focuses on thinking
Focuses on growth
Focuses on action
Moves from stability to satisfaction
My Services
As a licensed psychologist in the State of Florida, I offer therapeutic services to Florida residents. I focus on marriage therapy or couples counseling (I use these terms interchangeably) and relationship therapy with men and women.
I also offer couples coaching through my Christian Marriage Inspiration Facebook Group.