Coaching might be more viable vs therapy if you feel stuck in life, don’t have a clinical illness, and you are focused on a specific goal. It can help you get unstuck in life using a present-focused, goal-oriented approach. [1]

There are some similarities and differences in how coaching works. We outline the differences between coaching vs therapy below. It will help you decide which one is suitable for you. [2]

Coaching vs. Therapy

Training

• Mental health coaches generally do not deal with clinical issues such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia. They also cannot handle acute suicidality, as that requires intervention from a trained mental health professional. If at any time during coaching, a client decompensates into depression, anxiety or other mental health issue, the client will be stepped up to an EMBRACE New Life therapist.
• Therapists, typically social workers, counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists, are trained to diagnose and treat clinical issues.

Experience

• Mental health coaches tend to have lived experience of the issues that their clients are facing. This is true of all EMBRACE coaches.
• Therapists generally don’t have personal, lived experience of their client’s issues. However, they rely on their psychiatric and psychological training to assist their clients and patients.

Goals

• Coaches primarily help their clients move forward in life by helping them recognize present-day barriers to their growth.
• Therapists help their clients overcome clinical illnesses such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.
• There is some overlap between a coach and a therapist’s goals, as both of them help their clients live a fulfilling life.

Methodology

• Coaches tend to work on present-day issues, occasionally touch on the past, and build towards the future.
• Typically, therapists help you process your past experiences. They also help you understand how those experiences affect your life today.
• Coaches use evidence-based techniques such as reflective listening and motivational interviewing. They may also use techniques from clinical tools such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), although what they do is not CBT or ACT.
• Psychiatrists can also use tools such as medication along with talk-therapy to manage clinical illnesses.

Time Commitment

• Coaching tends to be a shorter-term intervention vs therapy, even though it can take place over months.
• Therapy can run from anywhere between 3 months to several years, depending on the client’s problems and needs.

Is Coaching Effective Compared to Therapy?

Coaching and therapy can be equally impactful if you lack life purpose and motivation but do not have a mental illness. However, you should seek therapy if you have clinical anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or similar problems.

If you are unsure if you have a clinical illness and don’t know how to find a therapist, you can start by seeing a coach. They will be able to direct you to a mental health professional if you need treatment. If you have any questions, please feel free to speak with our Intake Specialist at 972.292.7092 EN/ES.

Suppose you have been moving forward in life for a significant amount of time. If you still have negative emotions that hinder your day-to-day functioning, you may need to see a mental health professional.

If you feel stuck in life, lack motivation, and do not feel like your life has a purpose, coaching can help. However, you should see a therapist for a mental health concern, diagnosis, or treatment. While coaching is a useful supplement, it is NOT a substitute for therapy.

Here are some areas in which coaching, and therapy overlap and use similar methods to achieve the same goals:

Positive Psychology

Coaches and therapists use positive psychology to help draw their client’s focus on well-being and strengths-based thinking. Cultivating the approach to happiness is a part of the coach’s toolkit. On average, coaching is pro-happiness, vs traditional therapy seems to be anti-depression. [5]

Mindfulness

Coaches and therapists have started to incorporate aspects of mindfulness and mind-body relaxation therapies into their practice. These techniques are handy when dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Mindfulness is a great tool that allows the client to observe their behaviors and catch negative thought loops. As a result, they start to manage their emotions and take action, which creates lasting change in their lives. [6]

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based technique used by both therapists and coaches. The number one rule in Motivational Interviewing is never to tell the client what to do. Instead, coaches empower clients to discover their reasons for creating change in their life. They accomplish this through active listening and helping them cultivate self-reliance. [7]

Strengths-Based Focus

Coaches help their clients identify their strengths and values and anchor those in their imagination. Clients can use this knowledge when challenges and difficulties arise. As a result, a strengths-based focus is a core part of empowering the client. [8]

Solution-Oriented Focus

Both coaches and psychotherapists use a solution-oriented approach. They focus on helping the client find ways of creating their solutions. This approach reduces the client’s dependency on the coach and allows them to feel more empowered as they build the life they want. [9]

When to Seek Coaching vs Therapy

Coaching is useful when you feel stuck in life. If you have any of the following issues, it can be worth giving coaching a try:

• Unclear life purpose
• Lack of motivation
• Excessive procrastination
• Behavioral addictions such as video game addiction
• Relationship issues

Keep in mind that you could feel stuck in life because of mental illness, such as clinical depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc. If that is the case, your coach can direct you to see an EMBRACE New Life mental health professional who can diagnose you and provide treatment. As a result, coaching can be an excellent starting point to kickstart your growth.

References

1. Bishop,L., 2018. A scoping review of mental health coaching. The CoachingPsychologist, 14, pp.5-15.

2. Bora,R., Leaning, S., Moores, A. and Roberts, G., 2010. Life coaching for mental health recovery: the emerging practice of recovery coaching. Advancesin psychiatric treatment, 16(6), pp.459-467.

3. Grant,A.M., 2003. The impact of life coaching on goal attainment, metacognition and mental health. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 31(3), pp.253-263.

4. Corrie,S. and Parsons, A.A., 2021. The contribution of coaching to mental health care: An emerging specialism for complex times. In Emerging Conversations in Coaching and Coaching Psychology (pp. 60-77). Routledge.

5. Linley,P.A. and Harrington, S., 2005. Positive psychology and coaching psychology: Perspectives on integration. The Coaching Psychologist, 1(1),pp.13-14.

6. González,M., de Diego, A. and López, J.G., 2018. Mindfulness and Coaching: Promoting the Development of Presence and Full Awareness. Psychology Research, 1(1).

7. Minzlaff,K.A., 2019. Organisational coaching: integrating motivational interviewing and mindfulness with cognitive behavioural coaching. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 12(1), pp.15-28.

8. Lai,Y.L. and Palmer, S., 2019. Psychology in executive coaching: an integrated literature review. Journal of Work-Applied Management.