What is the Difference Between Life Coaching and Therapy?

Everybody needs a little help sometimes. Now more than ever, people are turning to therapy and life coaching as a way to understand themselves and solve the issues that are stopping them from being truly happy. While therapy has been the traditional choice for decades, life coaching on the other hand, has emerged as a rapidly growing alternative. But what is the difference? If you are looking for help with life’s ups and downs, read on to see which option might be better suited to your situation.

Therapist Vs Life Coach

Both qualified therapists and trained life coaches can help individuals who want to make changes in their lives. A common misconception is that by seeing a life coach, you are putting yourself in the hands of an untrained professional, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, life coaching is a truly unique service designed to help ambitious people who want to move towards a goal, and bring success and happiness in any areas of life. Alternatively, if you have a mental health diagnosis (such as anxiety or depression), it might be best to see a therapist who has the qualifications, education and training to address your specific issue.

The Main Differences Between Therapy and Life Coaching:

Therapists, psychologists or counsellors, have varying master’s and doctorate degrees and are licensed by their state. These licensed professionals focus on the long-term and work on ways to understand the thoughts and behaviours of each client. On the other hand, life coaches are encouraged to obtain certification through an accredited program (although it’s not required) so unlike therapists, there are no degree requirements. Life coaches aim to empower, motivate, create confidence and offer emotional support to their clients.

Coaching tends to focus on the present and look toward the future, whereas therapy often looks to the past. Coaching is about a client starting from where they are, identifying current problematic behaviours and giving the support needed to create outer transformation. Therapy analyses a client’s past and uses this as a tool for understanding present behaviours, helping people to cope or come to terms with something that happened in the past. Therapists help provide tools that enable patients to handle emotional issues that stem from childhood or past trauma.

Coaching empowers people to find their own answers and the solutions to their problems by giving non-directional feedback and guidance, often in the form of asking questions. A life coach may help you to:

• Clarify and achieve personal and professional goals
• Work to improve communication skills
• Achieve a work/life balance
• Start a new business or grow a current business

A therapist will offer direction and guide the conversation, focusing on ways to:

• Recover from past traumas
• Explore why past relationships have been destructive
• Work through depression or anxiety
• Survive a divorce or loss of a loved one 

Should You Seek a Life Coach or a Therapist?

Whilst therapy and life coaching do have many differences, they also share certain similarities and aims. Both work to enable clients to make positive changes in their lives. While therapists diagnose and treat from a healthcare perspective, life coaches empower people to achieve their personal goals. Many healthy people seek the services of both therapists and life coaches.

If you are more comfortable in the presence of a highly educated professional who is licensed and is trained to deal with the symptoms of mental health issues as well as the traumas of ordinary life, a therapist would be the best option for you. However, if you don’t need a mental health diagnosis, and want someone who will push you to move toward your goals rather than facilitate insight into your past, consulting with a life coach may be the best bet.

No matter which professional you decide to choose, it is important to be open minded, open yourself up to what you’re struggling with and understand where you’d like to go and what you would like to achieve. This allows you to work toward a goal, bringing confidence, peace of mind and more fulfilment and happiness to your life.

Coaching is a powerful method to support you in making the changes you want to make in your life. If you want to work on present issues and get the support you need to live your best life, then get in touch with the team at Pyslegal. Our highly experienced life coaches are some of the best in Melbourne. Visit our conveniently located Melbourne CBD office today.