How is Coaching Different from Therapy?

Have you ever considered working with a coach or a therapist, but were unsure what the difference is and who to work with? How do you decide which one is right for you in a given situation?

There is an area of overlap between coaching and therapy, and both approaches are focused on increasing the client’s awareness of their situation and themselves, as well as empowering them to make changes as needed. They are non-judgemental and supportive, and the coach or therapist practices active listening and is working with the client collaboratively.

While coaching and therapy have these things in common, they are clearly distinct and separate from each other. One of the main differences is that coaching focuses on the future and attaining goals, while therapy focuses on the past and resolving emotional pain.

Coaching is more action-oriented and focuses on results. The aim is to help the client to grow and prosper, and this is achieved by teaching the client tools and strategies and helping them to find their own path forward. Coaching is a good option for people who want to focus on achieving specific goals and want to progress efficiently from where they are now to where they want to be. They may not feel much emotional pain, but they often do feel stuck and want to have someone who can help them to decide how to take action so they can start moving towards their goals.

In contrast, therapy is more insight-oriented and focuses on the client’s inner world. The aim of therapy is to help the client to cope with their situation and to heal, which is achieved by teaching coping skills and by increasing the client’s awareness of the origins of their pain. Therapy is a good option for people who want to resolve a past pain or trauma, or who are experiencing emotional distress in the there and now, often due to past pain. They will feel a significant amount of emotional pain and want to explore their inner world to gain insights about themselves. They want to understand the impact of their past experiences and how they are still affecting them today.

So if you are considering either coaching or therapy, how do you know which one is better in your current situation? To help understand the difference, it may help to think of the client’s journey as a mountain climbing expedition. If I you were planning such a climb, who would you need on your team more: an experienced guide, or a medic? Do you know where you want to go and need some help in finding the most effective way to get there? Or do you feel lost, disoriented and as though you need to recover and heal first, before you can continue on your way?