A question I’ve been getting asked lately, is “Why should I choose a coach instead of a therapist? What’s the difference?”
My simple answer is it depends on what you want to focus on and what your goals are for the sessions.
Therapists typically focus on your past. While coaches are more goal-oriented for personal development and growth.
However, this simple differentiation can often be combined and/or used side by side for complete support.
Having an education in Psychology and now a certified coach (with certifications in NLP, EFT and Reiki), I like to combine my approach to coaching for a more holistic approach. But we’ll get into that later!
Therapy:
Some therapists (Psychiatrists) can prescribe medications or recommend you talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for a certain medication.
They’re trained to recognize mental illness and work with the client in how to manage that illness.
Therapists typically work within a clinical framework and use psychoanalysis. They may also use therapies like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aimed at specific psychological conditions.
Their approach may dive into deep emotional issues and work to uncover where those emotions came from in the past.
Therapists work with clients to help the client understand and process emotions, behaviors, and patterns that may stem from past experiences with the goal to gain mental clarity and stability.
Coaching:
Coaches help clients identify where they are now, clarify what they want, and develop actionable plans to achieve those goals.
We use a forward-looking, solution-oriented approach. Coaches provide encouragement, accountability, and tools for self-discovery.
Coaches act as a partner or guide that supports and empowers the client through their progress.
We provide the client with a goal-setting framework along with mindset strategies to ensure the transformation the client seeks.
Coaches, also, tend to focus on personal growth and purpose (among other things).
When a coach may be a better fit:
If you’ve recognized that you’re feeling stuck in any area of life and realize you need support to get you un-stuck and create a plan to move you forward, then coaching is for you.
If you don’t want to have a session focus only on what happened in your past (and possibly making you feel worse), then coaching is for you.
We help you navigate through transitions. Whether it be a career change, becoming an empty-nester, or losing a spouse and not suddenly not know who you are anymore (or anything in between)
A coach supports and guides you through your progress of achieving your goals and holds you accountable free of judgment and plenty of encouragement to make those big steps toward a life you love.
Work with me
How my coaching approach is different:
I love coaching and helping others, but I am especially passionate with working with energy (Reiki) healing and working with the subconscious.
If that sounds really “woo” to you, be on the lookout for my upcoming blog about the science behind how “woo” works! 💫
I like to incorporate coaching with Reiki, NLP or EFT depending on the client’s needs and goals.
This provides a more individualized, holistic approach to support, heal, and help the client move forward.
Because our past is always with us, it is helpful to address what our bodies are holding on to so they can be released. This way the client can move toward their goals while having a more positive and confident outlook.
For a great resource on how our bodies hold on to trauma and emotion, please read The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel Van der Kolk, M.D.
By using these healing techniques, we immediately get to the root of what’s holding you back.
We then are able to release that, so you are free to live your best life free of limiting beliefs and unworthiness.
How’s that for a transformation?!
Work with meFeel free to reach out and ask questions!
I’d love to hear from you and discover how we can work together!
Until then…
P.S. Please feel free to share this post to someone who might find it helpful. I’d be so grateful. 💗
