Is There a Difference Between Life Coaching and Therapy?

24/07/2007

Is There a Difference Between Life Coaching and Therapy?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive about Life Coaching. Yes there is a difference and by explaining what Coaching IS, I aim to help you understand what it is NOT and how it is different to Therapy.

Coaching Focuses on:

Where you are right now. Your needs and wants. Values. Goals and actions. Self-potential. Acknowledgement. Support. Accountability. Moving forward. Solutions. Replacement of sabotaging thoughts, patterns and behaviors. Trust. Non-judgment. Insights. New perspectives.  Inspiration. Self-actualization. Results.

In a nutshell Coaching believes you are fully functional and helps and supports you find your solutions in a quick, effective and life-changing way. It focuses on where you right now and find ways to help you move forward. It is a proactive approach that examines your behavior today and challenges you to develop new behavior. Coaching supports you to take charge of your life and make it whatever you want by providing you with tools and strategies to accomplish the desired shifts in thinking and behaving. It helps you to respond versus react and looks at ways to help you change your life permanently in ways that empower you in every niche of life.

Coaching generally does not work with clinical depression, neuroses, psychosis, permanent emotional damage or any medically based issues. This is where the Coach will advise therapy. These two can and do work hand-in-hand in such cases. Coaching, however, does focus on the present and does not dwell in the past. The Coach is an equal partner in the coaching process listens actively to you, provides you with effective non - judgmental feedback and helps you be accountable for accomplishing the goals that really matter to you.

If you want to change jobs, lose weight, start saving, buy a house, start studying, improve your marriage, travel abroad or any other number of things coaching can get you there far quicker than you can even imagine. This is the magic of coaching. It gets you to where you want to be while changing your life for the better in every way.