SCL Coaching – Success and Confidence in Life
Coaching v Therapy
People often ask: Is Coaching the same as Counseling? The answer is: It is not.
This table highlights some of the main differences:
| Coaching | Therapy |
| Focuses on the present and the future | Focuses on the past |
| Belief that the client is empowered | Belief that patient is broken/unwell |
| Involves goals and achievement | Involves therapeutic interventions |
| Focuses on action | Focuses on talking |
This is an important distinction. Coaching can help most people achieve their goals. However, if a coach suspects a client has some issues that are outside their realm of expertise then they will refer them to the appropriate professional. A coach should never attempt to counsel a client because this blurs the role of the coach, resulting in a weaker coaching relationship.
“True freedom comes from how you respond to life and not from what life does to you!” – Anonymous