What's the difference between coaching and counseling?
--- the primary differences between coaching and counseling have to do with the focus of the work---
What topics are appropriate for coaching?
Some examples include:
-Meeting financial goals
-Making career changes or growing in your current field
-Starting a business
-Increasing personal motivation
-Improving communication in relationships
-Reducing stress
-Developing effective parenting strategies
My coaching approach is similar to brief, solution-focused therapy. As a licensed therapist, should we discover that there are underlying issues that run deeper than is suitable for a coaching approach, I can help you identify those issues and decide how you want to move forward. In situations where there is a clear need to do deeper work to heal past trauma or resolve emotional or mental health issues, we would pause the coaching process and connect you with the right mental health professional. Your safety and well-being are always the top priority in any work we do, be it counseling or coaching.
Do coaches need to be licensed?
Currently, no. While there are several excellent certification programs for coaches, there are many practicing coaches who are not certified and are not operating under a governing board. As a licensed therapist, I am held accountable to my state licensing board, and the laws and code of ethics that accompany that license, whether I am counseling or coaching.
How do I know if coaching is right for me?
If you are are wanting to make a specific change in your life, are ready to work with a partner who will strategize with you and hold you accountable to your goals, and feel like your mental and emotional health are generally satisfactory, coaching may be right for you.
--- the primary differences between coaching and counseling have to do with the focus of the work---
- Coaching focuses on setting concrete goals and being held accountable to those goals.
- Coaching is more directive and targeted to helping you achieve that goal.
- Coaching generally focuses on the present and future.
- Coaching is more focused on active change and implementing strategies.
- Coaching is more about enhancing an aspect of your life rather than healing or stabilizing.
- While coaching may explore behavior patterns and blocks that may be limiting your ability to achieve your goals, generally, coaching will not explore too deeply the underlying causes. We might name your limiting beliefs, for example, and work to change them, but we will not dive deeply into understanding where they came from.
What topics are appropriate for coaching?
Some examples include:
-Meeting financial goals
-Making career changes or growing in your current field
-Starting a business
-Increasing personal motivation
-Improving communication in relationships
-Reducing stress
-Developing effective parenting strategies
My coaching approach is similar to brief, solution-focused therapy. As a licensed therapist, should we discover that there are underlying issues that run deeper than is suitable for a coaching approach, I can help you identify those issues and decide how you want to move forward. In situations where there is a clear need to do deeper work to heal past trauma or resolve emotional or mental health issues, we would pause the coaching process and connect you with the right mental health professional. Your safety and well-being are always the top priority in any work we do, be it counseling or coaching.
Do coaches need to be licensed?
Currently, no. While there are several excellent certification programs for coaches, there are many practicing coaches who are not certified and are not operating under a governing board. As a licensed therapist, I am held accountable to my state licensing board, and the laws and code of ethics that accompany that license, whether I am counseling or coaching.
How do I know if coaching is right for me?
If you are are wanting to make a specific change in your life, are ready to work with a partner who will strategize with you and hold you accountable to your goals, and feel like your mental and emotional health are generally satisfactory, coaching may be right for you.
