Coaching or Therapy: Which Should I Choose?
As both a clinical psychologist and a board certified coach, I am often asked what the difference is between coaching and therapy. In this brief article, I’ll explain what coaching and therapy have in common and important ways they differ. In this way, you can decide which approach would be best for you, given your particular situation, needs, and goals.
Similarities between Coaching and Therapy
Let’s start with what coaching and therapy have in common. Both approaches rely on a working relationship between a professional and a client to address challenges that the client is experiencing in their life.
Both coaching and therapy help clients to increase self-awareness, make changes, improve functioning, and accomplish goals. There is often accountability and some sort of “home practice activity” to do between sessions in both approaches.
And both therapists and coaches take seriously the confidentiality of what is covered in the sessions.
Differences between Coaching and Therapy
Despite many similarities, there are also important differences between coaching and therapy.
Therapy is designed to help clients who have a mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, addiction, or trauma. Clients who seek therapy are usually in some sort of emotional pain and/or engaging in some sort of unwanted or unhealthy behavior.
The primary goal of therapy is to reduce symptoms of mental health disorders, change limiting behavioral patterns and thinking styles, heal emotional pain, and improve functioning.
Therapists receive extensive education to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders. They use empirically supported treatments to reduce the symptoms of these disorders. The focus of their work is on the past (e.g., childhood), present, and future. Therapy often addresses questions such as, “why did this happen” and “where did this come from,” to identify and heal root causes.
Therapists are licensed to practice by state and can only work with clients who live in the state in which the therapist is licensed. That means if you live in Maryland, you can only work with a therapist who is licensed to practice in Maryland. Therapy is covered by most insurance companies.
Coaching, on the other hand, does not diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Instead, the primary function of coaching is to help clients achieve goals and enhance their lives. The client is seen as whole, resourceful, capable of change, and an expert on their own lives.
Coaches focus on a client’s present and future, with much less emphasis on their past. Coaching often addresses questions such as, where are you now, what is your ideal future, and how can you close that gap? Coaching is more focused on future oriented questions, such as, “what’s next?” rather than past oriented questions, such as, “why did this happen?”
Coaching uses many of the same principles, theories, and tools as do therapists, but they do so to help with goal achievement rather than to reduce symptoms of mental health disorders. Some coaches are also licensed mental health professionals and these professionals have a wider scope of practice in which to work with their coaching clients.
There is no licensure for coaches, but there is the option to obtain a national board certification from a credentialing organization, such as the International Coaching Federation or the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches. Although coaching is not regulated by states as is therapy, to ensure high quality work, look for a coach who has obtained national board certification. Coaching is not covered by insurance at this time.
How Do I Decide If I Need Coaching or Therapy?
If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health disorder or are looking for help to treat an existing mental health disorder, you will want to work with a therapist. Psychology Today has an option to Find a Therapist, as does the American Psychological Association.
If you want to get unstuck in an area of your life, achieve a desired goal, obtain more self-awareness, or improve your functioning, productivity, relationships, or well-being, coaching is an excellent option. The sky is the limit on the type of goals you can work on in coaching.
One of the benefits of working with a coach is that they will come along side you to help facilitate the change process you desire, but you remain the expert in your life. Think of it like inviting the coach to sit in the passenger seat to help with the map, while you are in the driver’s seat making the decisions on where you want to go.
Coaching is an empowering process that will help you create the life you most desire. If you’d like to learn more about my coaching process, please visit my website. I’d be delighted to partner with you.
