What is the difference between therapy and coaching? A therapist is a licensed mental health professional with a master’s degree in psychology. They use talk therapy to help you explore and unpack your past and provide support for the present. Together, you can develop better cognitive and emotional skills to help you cope with life’s challenges and work through old wounds. Therapy is a tool that is often covered by medical benefits or insurance.
While a therapist often focuses on your past and present, a coach helps you look at the present and the future. We help you identify patterns in your past behavior so you can work towards a healthy future. We work on specific goals and actions to keep you motivated in your journey and unpack things when you get stuck. We can give specific feedback and call out patterns of behavior. Most times, the work is tailored to you (although other coaches may craft their work differently), and will help you work through limited beliefs and unhealthy patterns.
Finding a credentialed coach through an accredited training program is important. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is nationally recognized and sets valuable standards for the coaching process and practice. Legitimate training programs will describe the boundaries of coaching so Coaches know where the line is between coaching and counseling. Trained coaches should recognize when a client may need more therapeutic support and be able to refer a client for the assistance they need. The ICF also sets objectives for ethical and professional behavior.
