Coaching Versus Psychotherapy or Counseling

I get calls from people expressing they know they want and need to make a change in their life or relationship but they are not sure whether to choose Therapy or Coaching. I can help you get clarity on which would be best.

When a client engages my services as their Therapist, I can include coaching approaches when we together determine that it will support the overall goals for healing and growth.

I also work with those who are seeking solely a coaching approach, offering them the sensibility and compassion of a Therapist. There are important differences however between Psychotherapy and Coaching. I can assist you in understanding the differences between the two and in choosing which approach would be most beneficial for your intentions and needs.

The International Coach Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaching honors the client as the expert in his/her life and work and believes that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole.”

As a Therapist, I also operate from the belief that the client is creative, resourceful and whole. Therapists recognize however that sometimes due to trauma, long-standing challenging or harmful conditions or a persistent sense of feeling stuck, a person may have experienced his/her ability to access, believe in or engage her/his creative, resourceful and whole self as blocked or disrupted.

Whether I am working as a Therapist or Coach, I always keep in my awareness your inherent resilient, creative and whole self and collaborate with you so that you may regain access to your resilient and whole self.

Both Therapy and Coaching employ approaches which support the releasing of negative emotions and or conditioning so that the person can regain access to his/her empowered, whole self. Coaching by itself however is not an appropriate avenue for addressing mental illness, substance abuse issues, overwhelming crisis, or harmful patterns of behaviors or emotions. In these cases, Psychotherapy would be the best fit.

I am happy to consult with you as you explore which approach fits your current needs and wants best.