How is Coaching different from Counseling and Therapy?
Counseling is uncovering and recovering – Coaching is discovering
Counseling explores issues in depth, especially past issues while coaching is more action/goal-oriented with a present and future focus. Coaching empowers and motivates people to discover their own “answers.” Professional coaches work with people on both personal and business goals using the principles of positive psychology. Counselors work with a paradigm of pathology (DSM-IV) while coaches work with a world of possibilities. Here are some primary differences:
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Therapy |
Coaching |
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Therapists diagnose and treat disorders or dysfunction in their clients |
Coaches work with healthy people who want to grow and enhance their quality of life |
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Helps people heal and recover from past traumas or illness. |
Works with a person’s present moving them toward a better future |
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Can be a slow process of working through difficult and painful issues |
Growth is often rapid and usually enjoyable |
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Therapists assess and diagnosis clients and provide a path for healing and recovery (treatment plan) |
The coach partners with clients to design the best way to work together in reaching their desired goals |
How does a coach work with clients?
Each coach has their own style in working with clients. Often, coaching consists of in-person meetings or telephone, or internet (Instant Messaging or Skype) conversations with clients in 30, 45 or 60 minute intervals at scheduled times. Between sessions support may also be available via e-mail or brief phone-coaching calls. Since coaching is typically conducted by telephone, location does not matter. A coaching session allows the flexibility for coaching to happen anywhere in the world.
Clients bring an agenda of items to the coaching session and I help them to solve problems and make the most of opportunities. Coaches bring out the client’s best by offering advice, expecting a lot, helping them strategize, and celebrate successes.