Therapy versus coaching is one of the most hotly contested topics in counselling and psychotherapy online groups.
As a psychotherapist and a twice certified coach, I was shocked to see how therapists were talking about therapy and coaching, and the way that big ticket coaches (and some former therapists) were rubbishing therapy in order to sell their ‘Become a Coach’ or ‘Choose a Coach’ programs. If you ever see that, it is a part of their marketing funnel strategy 😉 and is extremely dangerous messaging to potential clients who are in need of therapy and not coaching.
One of the biggest misconceptions, even written about by therapists, is that therapy is about the past and coaching is about the future. My experience is that typically this is written by therapists who adhere to the medical model style of therapy and life coaches who have experienced this type of therapy. Coaching grew from the transpersonal and positive psychology fields which were also feeling limited by the medical model (typically provided by Medicare and Insurance providers as they are required to diagnose their clients with a mental illness or mental disorder – which is absolutely necessary for many types of people seeking help for their mental health concerns).
Whilst there are some overlaps between coaching and therapy – there are also some profound differences. There are also differences between what we can call ourselves as therapists and coaches – for example – in some countries, there is training in ‘Therapeutic / Psychotherapeutic Coaching’ which is what I am trained in – that is not something you will find in the US due to state regulations around therapy.
A few years ago, I ran a blog challenge for therapists as part of my Opening the Door on Private Practice group – here are some informative and myth busting blog posts from therapists and therapeutic coaches from around the globe to highlight the similarities and differences between therapy and coaching.
7 Myths About Coaching vs Therapy
By Emma Cameron
Everything You Need to Know About the Difference Between Therapy and Coaching
By Jodie Gale
Do I Need a Coach or a Therapist?
By Toni Jackson
Coaching or Therapy – What Do I Need?
By Emma Cameron
Eating Disorder Recovery: Do You Need an Eating Disorder Therapist or an Eating Disorder Coach?
By Jodie Gale
Future-Focus Does Not Distinguish Coaching From Therapy
By Katie Playfair
What’s the Difference Between Coaching and Counseling?
By Sharon Martin
By Monica White
There are many psychotherapists also trained in coaching who are practising as therapeutic / psychotherapeutic coaches in various countries around the globe, here is a great podcast about practising in the US as a therapist and a coach.
The Abundance Party Podcast – Counselling or Coaching?
By Alison Puryear & Lee Chaix McDonough
Here is a comprehensive article via the legal team at The California Association of Family and Marriage Therapists about the legalities in the US re practising as a therapist and a coach
By Lyle Labardee, Pat Williams & Shannon Hodges
