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Coaching vs Therapy - What's the Difference?

Writer's picture: Sam FranklinSam Franklin

Updated: Sep 26, 2023


A person receiving coaching services.

It can be confusing sometimes to know how coaching is different from therapy as they are both used for self-improvement and growth, and both can include setting goals. It's important to understand what is the best fit for you and what you can expect from each type of service. Below are lists about what therapy and coaching each provide that are different from one another.


Therapy

  • Based on symptoms and illness

  • Includes diagnose and treatment for mental health

  • Based on a medical model of treatment where the goal is to move from illness or disease to lack of illness and disease, and not necessarily around improving beyond that

  • Often is in response to stressors, symptoms, or issues in life that impact functioning

  • Focus is on health and how areas of life impact health

  • Setting goals include how to move from illness to wellness

  • Can be longer-term depending on the severity of mental health symptoms/issues and the issues brought to therapy


Coaching

  • Does not include diagnosis and is not based on symptoms or illness

  • Goal is to make additional gains to improve wellness and well-being beyond lack of disease/illness

  • Can be proactive in improving life

  • Focus can be on many areas of life and don't necessarily have to be directly tied to health

  • Focus can be on personal and professional goals

  • Setting goals include ways to enhance your life

  • Often short-term


When is coaching not enough and when do I need to seek therapy?

  • When your mental health is impacting your daily functioning, work, and/or relationships

  • When you are struggling with thoughts and/or behaviors that feel unsafe to you or others


So we've discussed the difference between coaching and therapy, but what is intuitive coaching?

Intuitive coaching, in addition to using non-intuitive coaching skills and tools, also uses spiritual connections to help provide guidance, direction, and healing. Guidance may come from your soul or higher self, your coach's soul, the record keepers of the Akashic Records, spirit guides, a higher power, and Angels. The help you receive and from where depends on your comfort level and how open you are to the process. You don't necessarily have to fully understand or believe in these spiritual connections and energies to receive healing from them or to receive healing in general. Also, free will and autonomy are respected as these are important in any type of treatment or service you decide to pursue.


If you are interested in learning more about intuitive coaching or want to book a session with me, feel free to reach out! I’d love to connect and see how we might be able to work together.

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