Therapy Versus Coaching (Day 24 of 30)
What is the difference between coaching and therapy? I get this question often. In a nutshell, here are the main distinctions I see. This is not an exhaustive list. There are MANY types of coaches and therapists out there, so this is just a broad outline.
1. Past vs. Future Focus
Coaching is generally future focused, helping the client reprogram the brain for a different reality they want to create. For example, life coaches help clients set and achieve personal and professional goals, and achieve work/life balance. Coaching focuses on self-exploration, self-knowledge, personal and professional development, performance enhancement and self-management. I like to say it is about living your life with intention and designing a life you LOVE!
Therapy on the other hand is generally past focused. It often seeks to heal emotional wounds. Patients spend a lot of time reiterating and retelling the past, analyzing what happened in order to heal. For example, psychotherapy focuses on the past and on the unconscious thinking that drives present behavior. The therapy is often multiple times a week and long-term. It is very useful for patients with repressed memories and severe trauma.
In short, therapy is about exploring your PAST, whereas coaching is about where you are NOW and where you want to GO.
2. Diagnose vs. Identify
Life coaches do NOT diagnose, while therapists diagnose illnesses and pathologies so they can be clinically treated. (Depending on the type of therapist.)
Therapists analyze their patient’s past as a tool for understanding present behavior, whereas life coaches simply identify and describe current behaviors so the client can work to modify them. A life coach is not a substitute for a therapist who can diagnose and treat acute mental disorders and diseases. For example, psychiatrists can prescribe medications for those who need it.
3. Non-Functioning vs. Functioning
Therapy tends to address psychological disorders, taking people from non-functioning to functioning. It is usually diagnostic-based, so there is often a problem to be solved. It might be used for treating mental disorders such as depression, etc.
Coaching on the other hand is typically taking someone who is already functioning (or highly functioning), and bringing them to the next level.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and certain types of coaching (such as Causal Coaching taught at the Life Coach School where I was certified) are similar in the sense that they focus on thinking, behavior and problem-solving. Causal Coaching is about finding the root cause of an issue or symptom, understanding it, and helping the client change it to make room for new seeds of change and fullfillment. However, CBT focuses on diagnosis and taking clients from non-functioning to functioning. Whereas coaching takes functioning clients and helps them up-level and improve their lives.
4. Regulated vs. Unregulated Industry
Therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists are licensed doctors and are highly regulated in the states they practice and often take insurance.
Coaches on the other hand operate in an unregulated industry, and come from a range of backgrounds and certifications. Anyone can be a coach. There are self-appointed regulatory bodies that are trying to govern the industry but joining them is optional, such as the ICF and International Association of Coaches. There is debate over their legitimacy and authority, so coaches are responsible for upholding their own ethical standards. The upside of this is that there is also a lot of creativity in the field, flexibility to work from anywhere, and the potential to serve clients all over the world. As a result, some therapists are certifying as coaches so they have the flexibility to practice from anywhere and reach a broader audience.
Summary
In summary, therapy tends to be more about uncovering your past, diagnosing a disorder or mental illness, and healing. It is about taking the patient from non-functioning to functioning in the world. Life coaching helps clients gain perspective on their life and mind, and identify areas for change and improvement. It is about growth, mind management, and designing a future they love! Often times, therapy and coaching compliment each other. Many clients work with therapist to heal their past, while also working with a coach to plan their future and take action towards their goals. A win-win combo for those who need it.
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✨See you tomorrow for Day 25 of 30 lessons learned from 2019!
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