Life Coaching vs. Therapy: A lot more different than you think

Life coaching has become popular these days, but many people juggle whether life coaching and therapy are the same or not. Well, these two terms aren’t the same. There are differences between coaching and therapy. In this post, you will learn about life coaching vs. therapy. One main difference is the accreditation. A therapist is licensed to provide treatment to people who have been diagnosed with mental illness. On the other hand, coaches offer goal-oriented services not exactly related to the health field.

Coaches: Coaches help their clients in the present moment and focus on determining future goals to create an action plan. This profession is free from medical and health care, so the coaches don't need credentials. They assist people in determining how to achieve their objectives, and the process is entirely action- and result-oriented.

Therapists: They tend to work with clients for longer periods of time. The relationship between a therapist and a client is far different than that between a coach and a client. They also focus on the past and help clients towards a brighter future. Moreover, they work through their emotions, behaviors, and thought processes.

Session Structure: The session structure of life coaching and therapy has a huge difference. In therapy, everything depends on the needs of the client and the type of therapy being practiced. On the flip side, in coaching sessions, coaches always focus on moving forward. Both sessions involve questioning meetings. There is a difference in their services, and therapists provide insurance bills. In the case of coaches, they offer any mental health sessions, so don’t accept any insurance.

Similarities between coaching and therapy

Therapy and coaching are both are one on one sessions. But therapy has families, partners, and group sessions. There are some coaches who offer group services that are entirely different from group therapy. People who want to work on certain goals and their mindset should seek life coaching. Those who want to work on themselves attend therapy sessions to heal past traumas. Coaching is all about achieving goals, but therapy isn't always. Undoubtedly, there are therapies that have clear objectives and goals.

When should one visit a therapist?

If you want someone qualified to listen, ask questions, and accompany you on a path to recovery and healing, you should seek therapy. Therapy may be beneficial for you if you have a mental condition, experience a lot of stress and lack clarity in your life, or are recovering from a past event. Self-management of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder is challenging. You need the support of a qualified professional to process your difficulties and work through the reasons you started treatment in the first place.

When should one visit a life coach?

If you have specific goals you hope to accomplish, hiring a life coach is an excellent option. By employing a coach, you may be able to improve your thinking and achieve your goals. You can get assistance with it from two different types of professionals: life coaches and business coaches. Maybe you want to achieve some financial objectives. You might want to improve your attitude toward money. Perhaps you need a business coach to help you with the process of launching a business.

How to decide between coaching and therapy?

The most common question that arises in everyone's mind is why it is difficult to identify the right answer. Identify your goals to know the best way to choose coaching or therapy. If you are seeking to work on specific things, for example, mindset or achieving accomplishment in business, coaching is the ideal option.

If you are thinking of long-term care, especially for mental health reasons, therapy is the right choice. Still, you can work on your goals while working with therapists.

Hopefully, now you may have a clearer picture of life coaching vs. therapy. We can assist you if you wish to talk about getting therapy to manage your mental health issues. Get a free consultation from us right away. Get in touch via our website “Space to Reflect Coaching”.