Coaching vs. Therapy

Coaching and Therapy have important roles to play in life but they are very different.

Therapy or counseling is conducted by a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist and is often based on solving a specific illness, issue or problem(s). Therapy is largely focused on a person's past and depending on the degree of the therapist, medications may be prescribed. 

Life Coaching is a professional partnership between coach and client in which the coach uses skills and strategies to help the client reach goals in some aspect of their personal, business and or work life. With the coaching relationship, the coach and client may discuss the client's past to examine trends or avoid revisiting common challenges, but then focus is primarily on the present and future. Life coaches do not address mental illness and never prescribe medications.

A Life Coach is professional who helps you reach a goal or make a change in your life. They help you to get out of your own way and start acting in the areas of your life that you wish to change. They also play the important roles of motivator, strategist and accountability partner. Life Coaches help clients reach his/her goal(s) in most efficient, effective and rewarding way possible. They are more than just a counselor or consultant, they step you through the achievement process from the beginning to the end, from the planning stage all the way through the execution stages. Studies have been done on how effective life coaching is and some are based on ROI, some are based on the satisfaction of the client and their willingness to return. Both types of studies have proven the effectiveness of life coaching. Areas that life coaches handle: Work-life balance, Health and fitness, Spirituality, Work performance, Career goals, Procrastination & productivity, Getting motivated, Finding your purpose, Prioritization, Hobbies, Educational goals, Dating and sex, Divorce, ADHD, Organization, etc

It should be noted that Therapy and Life Coaching can be used at the same time.

Derived from....

Fratto, J. M., MBA, CPC. (n.d.). Professional Life Coaching for All Walks of Life.

For more on this comparison.....

http://www.mentalgamecoach.com/articles/DoYouNeedATherapistOrACoach.html