What's the difference between therapy and coaching?
With 21% of adults in the US experiencing at least one mental illness (which equates to roughly 50 million people), and 55% of these adults having not received any treatment [2023 State of Mental Health in America survey], the demand for mental health and wellness services are at an all-time high.
BUT, it can be difficult to get clear information when trying to determine what kind of services would best fit your needs. In this article, we’re going to discuss the similarities and differences between life coaches and therapists.
Because coaching is a discipline currently without licensing, there is often confusion as to what the definition of coaching even is because there is no governing board to set and enforce its boundaries.
Where therapists are licensed professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and counselors; coaches are not. It is because of the strict licensing standards therapists must adhere to, that they face far more restrictions than coaches in terms of where and how they can provide services. Therapists must be licensed in the state with which they practice whereas coaches can work nationally and internationally.
Therapists are required to obtain specific degrees, uphold professional and ethical standards, and maintain their license and insurance in order to legally practice. Coaches are not required to do any of these things. Good coaches, however, will choose to obtain specific training in their field, and to uphold ethical and professional standards as they relate to their specific practice.
Some coaches may hold certifications in various fields, but there are no set standards to which they have to follow which allows each individual coach’s approach and philosophy to vary wildly. For some clients, this can be completely off-putting, but for others, it is attractive because it allows for much more flexibility within your plan of care.
“Most coaching is viewed as a personal-development or goal-oriented tool, but as it has gained popularity and acceptance, it has taken on a more therapeutic approach (Stober, D. Coaching from the humanistic perspective (2006) in Stober, D. and Grant A. M. (eds)
Evidence-Based Coaching Handbook, Wiley, New York, N.Y.)”.
Both coaches and therapists seek to create a supportive relationship with their clients in order to foster the most growth for their clients’ individual development while simultaneously enhancing their potential for growth.
Therapy, however, typically focuses on decreasing dysfunction due to common mental health illnesses and to achieve a healthy state of being, while coaching tends to focus on increasing development (of skills, awareness, etc.). It is important to note, here, that only THERAPISTS are qualified to make a diagnosis and provide mental health treatment.
Where therapy primarily focuses on the past and present, coaching primarily focuses on the present and future. But, it is important in therapy to consider the future when measuring the progress you’re making and the only way to do that is to see how close you are to the version of yourself you want to be now versus when you began therapy. Conversely, the only way a coach can help you change your current behaviors is to better understand how you have achieved results (or not) in the past. Where therapy tends to focus on thoughts and feelings, coaching focuses on actions/behaviors.
Because behaviors and thoughts/beliefs are so interconnected, it is here that therapy and coaching tend to converge. Have you ever heard the phrase, “When you know better, you do better”? Well, a combination of therapy and coaching can help you achieve just that.
Therapy is where you go when you want to feel better and coaching is where you go when you want to do better. You will FEEL better by healing and developing self-awareness so you may grow. You will DO better by better understanding your circumstances, taking appropriate action, and comparing your circumstances now with the way they could be. Because our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected, either strategy is an ok place to jump in to begin making change. In both therapy and coaching, you will have someone there to support you and to gently guide you when you get stuck or scared.
While coaching and therapy are based on different philosophies and methodologies, they are not mutually exclusive. Each approach has unique strengths and are best suited for particular situations. Additionally, it is ultimately your mindset, beliefs, and rapport with your practitioner that will determine how successful the approach you choose will be. And, if one approach doesn’t seem to be working for you, another approach, or even another practitioner could. The most important thing to remember is that it is up to you to evaluate whether a therapist or coach is qualified to help you and is the best fit for you as a client.
Amy W. Barbour, MS
Certified Hypnotherapist & Life Coach