Many of us experience times when we seek support to improve our well-being and life satisfaction. Whether to make a significant life change, manage emotional distress, or enhance performance, we can and might want to turn to professionals for help. Two such professionals are coaches and therapists. While they both listen, empathize, and provide support and guidance, these two professions are also vastly different from each other. It is understandable that there might be hesitations about when to reach out, and who to reach out to. Understanding the key differences between coaching and therapy can help.
- Different Empirical Foundations
The empirical foundations of coaching and psychological therapy differ. While research in coaching has expanded in the recent years, much of it has been focused on professional development, leadership skills, and performance in the workplace. Indeed, current research suggests that coaching can lead to great improvements in leadership effectiveness, self-confidence, and motivation. Thus, coaching is less empirically rooted in the mental health field, although more recent advances in neuropsychiatric coaching (e.g., in helping clients with ADHD) has been made. In contrast, psychological therapy is a practice that is strongly grounded in mental health research, using evidence-based psychological models that guide the planning of mental health treatments. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapies, to name a few, all have robust empirical support in treating mental health difficulties.
- Goals of Coaching versus Therapy
Coaching primarily focuses on enhancing mental fitness and fostering personal growth. For individuals who are functioning well in their lives but desire to develop new skills or reach higher goals, coaching serves as a tool to optimize performance and achieve personal aspirations. In contrast, psychological therapy is designed to address and treat mental health challenges that interfere with a person’s ability to function in one way or another. Therapy is effective in treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, and interpersonal difficulties, with the goal of alleviating symptoms and improving overall functioning. Thus, while coaching seeks to elevate personal development and assist individuals in realizing their potential, therapy helps individuals address mental health challenges and restore their ability to function.
- Focus in Sessions
The focus in coaching is future-oriented. Coaches typically ask questions such as, “Where do you want to be in your life or career?” or “What skills do you need to develop in order to get there?” Although coaching may include some reflection on past experiences, it is primarily concerned with goal setting, skill-building, and creating actionable steps for achieving future outcomes. Coaches help clients design a path toward success by focusing on practical strategies rather than the root causes of challenges.
In contrast, psychological therapy emphasizes understanding past experiences and the factors that contribute to an individual’s present emotional state. A therapist will work to uncover the underlying causes of emotional difficulties, such as trauma or unresolved conflict, and help clients gain insights into their behavioral patterns. In therapy, you may explore questions like, “Why am I experiencing anxiety?” or “What is preventing me from feeling better?” The therapist’s role is to guide clients through the emotional process of understanding these difficulties and providing them with tools to manage and overcome them.
Thus, while both therapy and coaching can incorporate skill-building and behavior change techniques, the application of these techniques varies between the two. For example, a therapist might work with a socially anxious client to address barriers that prevent them from achieving their social goals, e.g., reducing anxiety in social situations. A coach, on the other hand, might focus on building specific social skills and strategies to help the client progress toward their desired social outcomes without necessarily addressing the underlying causes of their anxiety.
In Conclusion
Choosing between coaching and therapy ultimately depends on your personal needs and goals. Coaching can be beneficial for individuals looking to enhance their skills and achieve specific goals, while therapy may be necessary if you’re experiencing significant emotional and cognitive challenges that are hindering your progress. For example, you may find yourself feeling stuck in your personal or professional life due to underlying emotional struggles such as anxiety or self-doubt. In such cases, therapy can provide the necessary support to process these emotions, understand their origins, and develop healthier coping mechanisms, ultimately allowing you to move forward and achieve your goals. On the other hand, if you are functioning well but looking to take your personal or professional growth to the next level, coaching might be a great fit. Whether seeking therapy or coaching, both avenues can offer valuable tools for personal development, and the choice comes down to your personal needs.
Note: “Therapist” is not a protected title in Finland, which means practitioners with this title can have any kind of training or lack thereof. To ensure you receive psychological therapy from a trained professional, check your therapist’s educational background to better understand their qualifications and expertise. Our therapists at Compass Psychology are all registered psychological practitioners (Valvira) who have qualifications in Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy or are in Psychotherapist training.