So what’s the difference between psychotherapy and coaching?

Written By Kelly Marcus

Both coaches and psychotherapists both work with the art and science of facilitating change in their patients and clients. While the evolving field of health coaching and the established disciplines of clinical or counseling psychology share major areas of overlap, there are also significant distinctions between the two fields. The primary difference between a life coach and a therapist lies in their education and training requirements

Licensed mental health therapists can diagnose and treat mental health disorders. In most cases, the minimum educational requirement to become a therapist is a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. Although requirements vary from state to state, therapists must meet specific educational standards to be eligible for licensure. Some states even require post-master’s degree education, such as a doctoral level degree (PhD) and all licensed therapists must pass a board examination on a national and state level in their respective fields of expertise, along with thousands of clinical practicum hours and between 2 and 7 years of post-college education.

 

In contrast, coaches cannot provide mental health treatment, assessment, or diagnose psychiatric disorders.  Unlike mental health counseling, life coaching is currently a relatively unregulated industry. This means that there are no mandatory educational requirements to become a life coach, and anyone can use the title “life coach.” There are several accreditation agencies that offer certifications in various types of coaching such as However, this does not mean that life coaches are unqualified to help you reach your goals. such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The ICF offers three types of certifications for life coaches. The minimum requirement to become a certified life coach through the ICF is 60 hours of training and 100 hours of coaching practice.

 

Types of Coaching Specializations:

  • Career Coaching: Focuses on career transitions, job searches, and professional development. Depending on the scope of what you need, you may want to look for a Certified Career Counselor for help with areer Counseling services.

  • Health and Wellness Coaching: Emphasizes lifestyle changes, nutrition, and fitness goals.

  • Relationship Coaching: Addresses personal relationships, communication skills, and conflict resolution.

  • Executive and Leadership Coaching: Tailored for business leaders, focuses on leadership skills, team performance, and organizational development.

  • Spiritual Coaching: Helping clients explore their spirituality and align their life with their values and beliefs

When to see a licensed psychotherapist:

Psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists are specially trained to diagnose and treat serious issues such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. If you have a mental health diagnosis or suspect that you might, it is best to see a therapist with proper education and training. Life coaches do not perform psychotherapy, nor can they diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Therefore, they should not be used as a substitute for a trained therapist.

When to see a coach:

A certified coach can be a very good alternative to a therapist if you have short-term, situational issues, or specific short-term goals that do not significangtly interfere with everyday functioning at work or home. Some examples are:

·        Needing help to build confidence or self-esteem for a work presentation or event

·        Needing help getting organized

·        Coping with procrastination

·        Motivating yourself to improve your health and fitness levels

·        Needing help to improve your follow-through and motivation

·        Needing help prioritizing certain areas of your life or business

·        Wanting to be more successful with key business outcomes

·        Preparing for an upcoming move or life situation

·        Dealing with a recent relationship issue or break-up

NOTE: Both therapists and coaches may use similar techniques, depending on the issue and desired outcome, as well as time commitment,  For instance, both therapists and coaches may incorporate homework assignments, guided meditation, journaling, documentation between sessions, and motivational interviewing (for example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) incorporates many of these techniques, but the majority of coaches are not certified to provide CBT.

Ethical Guidelines and Regulations:

Certified coaches adhere to ethical guidelines set by coaching associations such as the ICF, but these guidelines may not be as stringent or legally enforced as those governing therapists. The coaching industry is less regulated overall.  Therapists are held to strict ethical and legal standards, including client confidentiality. They must follow established codes of ethics and are subject to licensure board regulations.

 

 

Sources:

https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?

journal=Arch%20Intern%20Med&title=What%20is%20health%20coaching%20anyway?

&author=RQ%20Wolever&author=DM%20Eisenberg&volume=171&issue=22&publication_year=2011&pages=2017-8&pmid=21986348&doi=10.1001/archinternmed.2011.508https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3833547/

https://lifepurposeinstitute.com/certified-life-coach-vs-therapist/

https://organizations.headspace.com/blog/whats-the-difference-between-mental-health-coaching-and-therapy

Kelly Marcus