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How is Coaching Different from Therapy?

Coaching and therapy are distinct in their purpose, approach, and focus, though they both aim to support individuals in personal growth and development. Read below on how they differ.

Coaching vs. Therapy

Purpose and Focus

Coaching vs. Therapy

Coaching:​

  • Coaching is future-oriented, focusing on setting and achieving specific personal or professional goals. It emphasizes improving performance, developing skills, and creating actionable plans for the future. The aim is to unlock potential and maximize personal or professional success.

  • Coaches help clients gain clarity, navigate obstacles, and enhance their effectiveness in specific areas like leadership, career transitions, or personal development.

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Therapy:

  • Therapy, also known as counseling or psychotherapy, primarily focuses on healing and resolving emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues. It tends to be past-oriented, dealing with trauma, mental health conditions, and emotional struggles.

  • Therapists help individuals work through deep-seated issues, improve mental health, and cope with distressing life events, often addressing unconscious patterns or unresolved conflicts.​​​

Approach and Techniques

Coaching vs. Therapy

​​​Coaching:

  • Coaching is action-oriented and solution-focused. The coach asks powerful questions, encourages self-reflection, and helps the client develop strategies and action plans to achieve their goals. Accountability is a significant component.

  • Coaching sessions often revolve around setting measurable goals, tracking progress, and fostering personal responsibility.

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Therapy:

  • Therapy often delves into understanding past experiences, unresolved emotions, and underlying psychological issues. Therapists use evidence-based techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or mindfulness-based approaches.

  • Therapy can involve deep emotional work, exploring unconscious patterns, and understanding the root causes of behaviors or feelings.

Credentialing and Scope

Coaching vs. Therapy

​​​Coaching:​​

  • Coaches who are certified have licensure with formal organizations that require the coach to earn credentials through training, testing, continued education, and mentoring.

  • Coaches who are certified are required to adhere to established ethical standards and practices. 

  • Coaches who are certified have different levels of certification usually marking experience by practice hours. ACC coaches have 100; PCC coaches have 500- 2,499 hours, and MCC have2,500 hours or more of coaching hours.

  • Coaches do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions and generally refer clients to therapists when clinical issues arise.​​

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Therapy:

  • Therapists are licensed professionals with formal education and training in psychology, counseling, or social work. They are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health disorders.

  • Therapy is regulated, and therapists are required to adhere to legal and ethical guidelines in their practice.​​

Duration and Process

Coaching vs. Therapy

​Coaching​

  • Coaching tends to be shorter-term and goal-specific, often lasting from a few months to a year, depending on the client’s goals. The process is about moving forward and achieving concrete outcomes.

 

Therapy:

  • Therapy can be either short-term or long-term, depending on the nature of the issues being addressed. It may last several months or even years, with a focus on healing, emotional exploration, and mental health recovery.​

Summary

Coaching vs Therapy

Coaching is for individuals seeking to achieve specific goals, enhance performance, or overcome obstacles in personal or professional areas. It is action-oriented and future-focused.

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Therapy is for individuals seeking to address emotional, psychological, or mental health issues. It is focused on healing, understanding, and managing symptoms and often involves deeper emotional work.

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Both coaching and therapy play valuable roles, but their distinctions in focus and approach help individuals choose the appropriate support based on their needs.

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