Is Coaching the Same as Therapy?

Coaching is not the same as therapy, consulting, or advising. Coaching is non-directive, co-created between the coach and the client. There is no power dynamic between the coach and the client. The coach is not prescriptive, dominating, or authoritative in a coaching relationship.

What is the difference between coaching and therapy?

Coaching, consulting, and therapy are all different types of helping professions, but there are some important distinctions between them.

• Coaching: Coaching is a process of helping people identify their goals, develop a plan to achieve those goals, and overcome any challenges that may stand in their way. Coaches typically do not provide advice or solutions, but instead help their clients to find their own answers. Coaches have tools and frameworks to help clients find their own solutions. The client remains in control of the coaching conversation (topic) and the coach controls the structure of the session (opening, exploration, and closing the session).

• Therapy: Therapy is a clinical process of helping people understand and address their mental health challenges. Therapists typically have a master's degree or doctorate in psychology or counseling, and they are trained to diagnose and treat mental disorders, uncover and help heal past traumas, and prescribe a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Most psychotherapy takes place when a licensed mental health professional and a patient meet one-on-one or with other patients in a group setting.

  You might seek out psychotherapy for many reasons, including the following:

  • Dealing with severe or long-term stress from a job or family situation, the loss of a loved one, or relationship or family problems;

  • Having symptoms with no physical explanation, such as changes in sleep or appetite, low energy level, lack of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed, persistent irritability, excessive worry, or a sense of discouragement or hopelessness that won’t go away;

  • A health care provider suspecting you have or diagnosing you with a mental disorder that is interfering with your life;

  • Supporting a family member or child who has been diagnosed with a condition affecting their mental health.

Therapy is different from both coaching and consulting in that it is focused on addressing mental health challenges. Therapists are trained to diagnose and treat mental disorders, and they can provide clients with a variety of therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy. If a mental health issue arises in a coaching session, your coach will stop the session and refer you to a mental health provider for further care.