Coaching vs. Therapy – which is right for you?
This is a question I get a lot as people are often confused about the difference between a therapist and a coach.
As a coach my first role is to hold a safe space for you. My second role is to help you dream big, find the path between where you are and those dreams, and then develop the tools and techniques you need for the journey.
While all coaches and therapists are different, these are broad generalizations to help you decide if coaching, therapy, or both is the best fit for where you are right now!
This is a great question, and one it took me a while to figure out how to answer.
Here’s the confusing part, each coach is different. Each therapist is different. There are dozens of modalities for coaching and therapy. So drawing a distinction between the two can be difficult.
But if we’re talking in generalities, there are a few differences.
Coaching vs. Therapy – goals vs. healing
Coaching is focused on helping you set and achieve your goals. Coaches will help guide you in dreaming big, and then developing the tools and techniques you need to achieve those dreams.
Therapy is focused on mental and emotional healing. Therapists are trained to help you heal from trauma and any other mental or emotional harm you’ve experienced.
Coaching vs. Therapy – focus on the past
In coaching, your past is used to inform roadblocks to your future.
In therapy, your past is used to inform your present.
What that looks like in practice: if you tell a coach that growing up you felt that good girls should be seen and not heard, they’ll focus on helping you find your voice.
If you tell a therapist the same thing, they’ll help you to understand that’s the reason why you struggle to tell your partner what you need your relationship.
A safe space
One more important note, a big similarity between a coach and therapist is their responsibility to hold a safe space for you. During a session with either a coach or a therapist, you should feel safe and you should feel supported.
You may often feel challenged. You may find they ask probing questions that push you outside your comfort zone. But you should always feel safe.
Which is right for you?
Depending on your past, how much work you’ve already done healing old wounds and trauma, and how quickly you want to see a transformation in your life, you may find that coaching, therapy, or a combination of both is the right fit for you!
Therapy is a great fit for healing old wounds and trauma, but it often requires a longer time commitment than coaching. Coaching is great for seeing rapid transformation, but if you haven’t dealt with your old wounds and trauma, you might find they undermine your progress.
Once you decide what the focus of your work with either a coach or a therapist is, the next step is finding someone you’re comfortable with. Meet with and talk to different providers until you find the right match!
If you want to learn more about my coaching programs, schedule a no-cost Discovery Session today!
