Counseling or Coaching? What’s the Difference?
How Coaching Differs from Counseling
Personal Life Coaching may be a new term for many folk. Although most people have heard of a counselor they may not realize that a Personal Coach may be a better choice for as many as 80% of those who think they need a counselor.
After having been a professional counselor for many years, I would bet that most counselors will not agree with me here. In most states, counseling is also referred to as psychotherapy. It’s based on something being “wrong” with the client. The thing that’s presumed to be wrong with a client is called a “pathology”. Pathology is the word that doctors use to refer to some sort of disease or disorder.
A counselor is supposed to make a diagnosis of the client. The diagnosis is a label that tells the insurance company and the rest of the world what is wrong with the client.
The counselor is presumed to have specialized knowledge and skill to “treat” the pathology or the “condition” of the client. If you’re a client, the health care system assumes that you are “ill”. The insurance company and other professionals would refer to you as “the patient”.
The counselor develops what is called a “treatment plan” and prescribes steps to correct or compensate for the client’s pathology. It’s about identifying weaknesses and trying to strengthen them.
The treatment plan is very frequently focused on the past experiences of the client. The therapist tries to help the client uncover the root causes of the problem or “why” someone feels a certain way or behaves a certain way. It’s focused on the past as a clue to why the present is the way it is.
Some treatment for more severe conditions such as BiPolar Disorder, Major Depression and Schizophrenia, the counselor may focus on present day life skills. These skills may be basic skills such as how to manage their feelings, how to manage their time, remembering to take their medication, how to navigate relationships and so on.
The relationship of the counselor to the client is presumed to be one of an expert helping a vulnerable and fragile patient. The counselor has an enormous amount of liability and responsibility.
The client’s “job” is basically to show up and hopefully follow the treatment plan. Most of them do not follow the treatment plan. It is a “helper-helpee” dyad. It’s my opinion that only about 20% of those who seek counseling, actually need a counselor.
At least 80% would be more suited to getting coaching for their life issues. It is my belief that if you think that seeing a counselor is what you need to help you with parenting, relationships, making more money, being more effective in life and work, then you’ve been deceived. Those areas are far more the venue of a coaching relationship.
The majority of most counselor’s clientele, are actually those who would benefit more from life coaching.
What Does a Life Coach Do Exactly?
“A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you always known you could be.” Tom Landry
Coaching: In coaching, it is assumed that there are no pathological problems to solve. A coach believes that people can make changes and improve on what they are doing with the support of a coach.
A coach assumes that the client already has what they need to make effective changes and achieve their goals. The client mainly needs the feedback of an effective, tuned in, trained, outside observer.
The aim is to take what’s working and make it even better. It’s based on identifying strengths and putting them to work. It is not focused in strengthening weaknesses.
Coaching focuses on the present and what the client can do now to better their life. It is focused on present/future. It is said that a coach, “coaches to the gap”. The gap is the space between where you are now and where you want to be. The goal is to close the gap and arrive at your destination when you’re ready.
The coach holds the client accountable for following through defining their plan and taking action. That’s why they are sometimes called, “professional nags.”
Some coaches may also teach skills, such as communication skills or personal performance skills.
Is Personal Life Coaching for Me?
First of all, ask yourself what’s prompting you to contact a helper? Are you needing help with a severe problem such as BiPolar disorder, severe anxiety, PTSD, depression or some similar issue? Then, definitely seek the service of a counselor.
When you want to achieve new goals and improve your life and performance, seek a coach. By improving your life and performance, I include improving your stress management skills, time management, organizational management, relationships, making more money, being happier, achieving goals you never thought possible, and being more fulfilled overall.
Many counselors have no idea what a coach does. Find out if your counselor knows about coaching. If they do, they can help you decide more clearly which approach would work best for you.
By far, most coaches know what counseling is and they know the difference. Any coach will gladly help you sort through whether counseling or coaching is best for you.
By the way, many clients see both a coach and a counselor at the same time and find profound benefit from the combination.
Join me on Facebook. Click HERE!
Contact me at johnmasoncoach100@gmail.com to learn about a limited time discount on your first three coaching sessions.
Sincerely, John Mason
