Do you ever wonder, “Do I need a therapist or a coach?” Maybe you don’t think about this as much as us, BUT understanding the differences between a coach and a therapist can help you on your personal growth journey. While both professionals aim to help individuals improve their lives, they do so in distinct ways. Understanding the differences between a coach and a therapist can help you choose the right type of support for your needs. Here’s a breakdown of their roles, qualifications, and approaches.
Differences Between a Coach and a Therapist
| Aspect | Coaching | Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose and Focus | – Goal-oriented | – Healing-oriented |
| – Emphasizes future growth | – Addresses psychological and emotional issues | |
| – Focuses on the how to improve and achieve | – Explores the why of behaviors and emotions | |
| Scope of Practice | – Does not diagnose or treat mental health disorders | – Diagnoses and treats mental health conditions |
| – Uses goal setting, learning/development, planning, and accountability to move clients forward | – Utilizes therapeutic techniques like CBT, psychoanalysis | |
| Professional Qualifications | – Training through specific coaching programs | – Advanced degrees (master’s, doctorate) |
| – Certification optional (e.g., ICF) | – Licensed by state or national boards | |
| Session Structure and Duration | – Structured, with varying lengths and frequencies weekly | – Can be open-ended, long-term |
| – Focuses on specific outcomes | – Addresses a broad range of issues | |
| – Typically lasts a few months to a few years | – Can last several months to years | |
| Client Relationships and Boundaries | – Partnership approach | – Professional, therapeutic relationship |
| – Provides motivation and accountability | – Focuses on healing | |
| – Generally less formal | – Bound by strict ethical guidelines and confidentiality | |
| Executive Function Coaching | – Specialized in skills like planning, organization, time management | – Not typically a focus unless tied to mental health therapy |
| – New Frontiers uses models like RASP and RISE for practical strategies | ||
| – Beneficial for those with ADHD, learning differences | ||
| Standard Life Coaching | – Broader focus on personal and professional life | – Focuses on emotional and psychological healing |
| – Includes career transitions, relationship building, personal growth | – May involve deep exploration of personal history and traumas | |
| – Does not specifically target executive function skills |
Now let’s dive into each of these areas with more detail.
Purpose and Focus
Coaching: Coaching primarily focuses on helping individuals set and achieve specific goals, enhance performance, and unlock potential in various areas of life. Whether it’s career coaching, life coaching, or executive function coaching, the emphasis is on future growth and personal or professional development. Coaches work with clients to identify strengths, overcome obstacles, and create actionable plans to reach their objectives. A key aspect of coaching is its focus on the how—how to improve, how to achieve goals, and how to implement effective strategies.
Therapy: Therapy, on the other hand, is geared toward addressing and healing emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues. Therapists are trained to work with clients who may be dealing with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or relationship issues. The focus is often on understanding past experiences, diagnosing mental health conditions, and developing coping strategies to manage symptoms. Therapy delves into the why—why certain patterns exist, why emotional responses occur, and why past experiences influence current behaviors.
Scope of Practice
Coaching: Coaches do not diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Their work revolves around helping clients maximize their potential and achieve specific life goals. They use techniques such as motivational interviewing, goal setting, and action planning. Coaching is future-oriented and does not delve deeply into past traumas or emotional wounds.
Therapy: Therapists are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. They utilize various therapeutic techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, and counseling, to help clients process emotions and experiences. Therapy can involve exploring past experiences and their impact on current behavior and emotions, providing a deeper understanding and healing.
Professional Qualifications and Training
Coaching: Coaches may come from diverse educational backgrounds and often undergo specific training programs in coaching methodologies. While certification is available through organizations like the International Coach Federation (ICF), it is not always required to practice. Coaches specialize in areas like career development, personal growth, business, and wellness.
Therapy: Therapists, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers, must hold advanced degrees in their field (such as a master’s or doctoral degree). They are licensed by state or national boards and are required to adhere to strict ethical standards. Their training includes extensive education in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
Session Structure and Duration
Coaching: Coaching sessions are typically structured and goal-oriented, focusing on practical strategies for achieving specific outcomes. Sessions can be short-term, depending on the client’s goals, and are often conducted over the phone, online, or in person. Coaching relationships may last from a few months to a few years. Sessions also can vary in length depending on what you are working on.
Therapy: Therapy sessions can vary in length and duration, often lasting several months to years, depending on the complexity of the issues being addressed. Sessions typically run for 45-50 minutes, with a varying number of sessions a week. Sessions can be more open-ended, allowing clients to explore various aspects of their mental and emotional health. The therapeutic relationship can be long-term, providing ongoing support.
Client Relationships and Boundaries
Coaching: The relationship between a coach and a client is typically seen as a partnership. Coaches motivate and support clients in their journey toward personal or professional growth. While they provide accountability, the relationship is generally less formal and emotionally intensive than that of therapy.
Therapy: The therapist-client relationship is professional and bound by ethical guidelines, including confidentiality and boundaries. Therapists provide a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings. The relationship is therapeutic, focusing on healing and emotional well-being.
Benefits of Having Both a Coach and a Therapist
It is also important to consider having both a coach and therapist in place. Since they work on different things, you may benefit from having both supports. Sometimes people face the “chicken or the egg” conundrum, where they are unsure if their mental health challenges are impacting their ability to move forward towards their goals, or if other skill deficits, like executive functions, are causing mental health challenges. When it is hard to determine what is the root challenge, we recommend to try them both in tandem. When this isn’t financially feasible, we recommend starting off with therapy. Not only is this covered by insurance, but mental health challenges can have farther reaching impacts.
Executive Function Coaching vs. Standard Life Coaching
Executive Function Coaching: Executive function coaching is a specialized form of coaching that focuses on developing skills related to planning, organization, time management, and goal-setting. It is particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle with executive function challenges, such as those with ADHD, learning differences, or organizational difficulties. At New Frontiers, we emphasize a personalized approach, using structured models like RASP (Review, Assess, Strategize, Plan) and RISE (Recognize, Identify, Strategize, Evaluate) to help clients develop practical strategies that align with their unique needs and strengths. This type of coaching is not just about achieving goals; it’s about building foundational skills that enhance everyday functioning and long-term success.
Standard Life Coaching: Life coaching, in general, is broader and focuses on various aspects of personal and professional life, such as career transitions, relationship building, personal growth, and work-life balance. While it also involves setting goals and creating action plans, life coaching does not specifically target executive function skills. Instead, it offers guidance and motivation across a wider range of life areas, helping clients to identify their aspirations and work towards them.
Understanding the differences between a coach and a therapist can help you with identifying the right supports for you at the time. If you’re looking to achieve specific personal or professional objectives and want guidance in setting and reaching goals, a coach might be the right choice. However, if you’re struggling with mental health issues or need to process emotional pain, seeking the help of a qualified therapist is essential.
Both coaches and therapists play valuable roles in supporting individuals, but understanding their differences ensures you get the appropriate help for your situation. Whether through coaching or therapy, taking the step toward self-improvement is a commendable and empowering decision.
