Different Paths, Same Destination: Understanding Coaching vs. Therapy

The terms coaching and therapy are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two distinct types of support. While both coaching and therapy can help individuals improve their lives and reach their goals, they have different approaches and objectives.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is the future-facing practice of partnering with clients to experience greater peace in their relationships with themselves, God, and others. It's a process that focuses on helping clients identify their goals, develop the skills and mindset needed to achieve those goals, and create a plan to move forward.

A life coach is like a guide or thought partner who helps clients explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to unlock their full potential through life coaching sessions. Life coaches work with clients in a variety of areas such as career, relationships, personal development, and more.

Areas of Focus in Coaching

Life coaches offer tremendous services in a wide range of areas, including:

Career Advancement: Business coaches help clients strategize for career growth, job transitions, and improving professional skills.
Relationship Building: A relationship coach can guide individuals on how to foster healthy relationships, improve communication skills, and resolve conflicts.
Personal Development: Encouraging self-reflection, confidence building, and the development of personal strengths and talents.
Time Management: Assisting clients in creating effective plans to manage their time efficiently, set priorities, and achieve work-life balance.
Health and Wellness: Supporting individuals in setting and achieving fitness goals, developing healthy habits, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Financial Planning: Advising on budgeting, financial goals setting, and making informed financial decisions for a secure future.

Coaching Sessions and Techniques Used

Active listening: Coaches use active listening techniques to fully understand their clients' needs and perspectives. This involves listening without judgment, asking open-ended questions, and reflecting on what the client is saying.
Goal setting: Coaches help clients clarify their goals and break them down into actionable steps. They also hold clients accountable for taking action toward their goals.
Mindset change: Coaches help clients identify limiting beliefs and replace them with more empowering thoughts and beliefs. They also teach clients how to cultivate a growth mindset.
Action planning: Coaches work with clients to create a plan of action that will help them achieve their goals. This often includes setting specific and measurable targets, creating timelines, and identifying potential obstacles.

What is Therapy?

Therapy, also known as psychotherapy or counseling, is a process that aims to help individuals understand and overcome psychological issues or mental health problems.

It involves working with a trained healthcare professional to explore past experiences, emotions, and behaviors to gain insight and to improve overall well-being and mental health care.

Areas of Mental Health Focus in Therapy

Through therapy sessions therapists support their clients in a wide range of areas, specifically aimed at improving mental illnesses and emotional well-being. These include but are not limited to:

Understanding and managing emotions: Helping individuals recognize their emotions, understand their origin, and learn healthy coping skills to manage them.
Addressing past trauma: Assisting clients in processing and healing from past traumatic experiences.
Improving relationships: Offering strategies to improve interpersonal relationships and communication skills.
Coping with life changes: Supporting individuals as they navigate through life transitions, such as divorce, career changes, or loss.
Controlling addictive behaviors: Helping clients understand the root causes of their addiction and developing strategies to overcome it.
Managing stress and anxiety: Providing tools and techniques to reduce stress, manage anxiety, and promote relaxation.
Combating depression: Guiding individuals through the process of understanding and overcoming depressive symptoms and thought patterns.
Enhancing self-esteem: Assisting clients in building confidence and a positive self-image.
Resolving conflicts: Teaching conflict resolution skills and ways to handle disagreements constructively.

Therapy Approaches

Psychodynamic therapy: This approach focuses on exploring the client's unconscious thoughts and feelings, often stemming from childhood experiences, usually used best with talk therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented approach that helps clients identify and change negative patterns of thinking and behavior.
Humanistic therapy: This approach emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, personal growth, and self-acceptance in achieving mental health, this is extremely helpful with past and present focus.
Group Therapy: Therapy conducted in a group setting, where individuals can share their experiences, and mental health challenges, support one another, and receive guidance from mental health professionals.

Key Differences Between Coaching and Therapy

While both life coaching and therapy can provide valuable support, there are some key differences between the two:

Focus: Past vs future orientation generally speaking, coaching focuses on helping individuals achieve specific goals or make changes in their lives, while therapy is more focused on addressing mental health problems and improving overall well-being by providing mental health treatment.
Timeframe: Coaching is typically a shorter-term process, with clients setting and achieving specific goals within a few months to a year. Therapy can be short-term or long-term, depending on the individual's needs.
Relationship: Coaching is often a collaborative and equal partnership between the coach and client, while therapy typically involves a therapeutic relationship with the therapist as an expert guiding the client.
Credentials: Coaches do not require any specific training or qualifications to practice, while therapists are required to have a graduate degree and obtain a license in their state.
Approach: Coaching tends to be more action-oriented, with coaches guiding clients to find their solutions and take action. Therapy often involves exploring past experiences and emotions to gain insight and understanding of your mental health conditions.

Which is Right for You?

The decision between coaching and therapy ultimately depends on your personal goals and needs.

3 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

Do I need informal advice? Consider a mentor! Someone who can use their experience to speak into your life, give you advice, challenge you and be there informally (just a phone call or text away)
Do I need future oriented direction and help moving forward? Consider coaching!
Do I need help processing the past or navigating a mental health diagnosis? Consider a therapist

There are many different types of life coaches. At Share the Struggle, our coaches are trained in the Captive Thoughts model. In short, identifying thoughts and understanding if they are in alignment with Christ. We are going to look at the thoughts you’re having, where they are coming from, if they align with where you want to go, and then check them if not. Do your thoughts align with the Truth?

Want to give STS coaching a try, head over to further see if you’re the right fit.

Frequently Asked Difference Between Coaching and Therapy Questions

Can coaches provide therapy or therapists provide coaching?

While there may be some overlap in the techniques used, both coaches and therapists need to stay within their respective areas of expertise. Coaches are not trained to address mental health issues, and therapists are not trained to offer business or life coaching.

How do I know if I need coaching or therapy?

If you are feeling stuck in a certain area of your life and want to make specific changes, coaching may be the best choice. If you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness or have a history of trauma, therapy may be more beneficial, as psychotherapists treat mental illness. It is always best to consult with a professional to determine the type of support that is right for you.

Can coaching or therapy be done virtually?

Yes, both coaching and therapy can be effectively conducted through virtual platforms. With advancements in technology and increased accessibility to the internet, many professionals offer their services online. This option provides flexibility, convenience, and the opportunity to work with coaches or therapists who may not be geographically close.

However, it's essential to ensure that the mode of communication suits your preferences and that you feel comfortable and connected with your coach or therapist, even in a virtual setting.

Share the Struggle

Who We Are

Share The Struggle is a non-profit organization that seeks to showcase God’s redemptive power by meeting the world’s emotional and mental health needs. Our hope is to follow Jesus’ example of binding up the brokenhearted by meeting struggling people where they are at.

We do so by providing churches and individuals with emotional and mental health coaches and expert-led courses that tackle today’s most pressing needs. These allow people to experience the restoration that only comes through God’s redemptive power.

Conclusion

Coaching and therapy are two valuable tools for personal growth and development. While they have some similarities, they also have distinct differences in their focus, approach, and qualifications of practitioners. It's essential to carefully consider your needs and goals before deciding which path is right for you.

We, here at Share The Struggle offer resources and support to those seeking emotional and mental health assistance, further emphasizing the importance of seeking help and support when needed. Remember, it's never too late to start your journey toward healing and growth. Whether you choose coaching or therapy, know that there is always help available for you to reach your full potential and live a fulfilling life.

Keep pushing forward and don't be afraid to share your struggles – because in sharing, we open ourselves to God's healing grace and the support of our community.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health disorder or needs emotional assistance please reach out to us here at Share the Struggle. As always we are always praying for you!

The Difference Between Coaching and Therapy