COACHING VERSUS PSYCHOTHERAPY AND CONSULTING

How coaching differs from similar helping professions.

Counselling or psychotherapy tends to focus on past problems. It uses deep enquiry into personal history and trauma to help with mental illness, acute distress, or unresolved past issues.

Coaching, by comparison, is future facing, and focused on behaviour change. It is useful for life improvements. It does not look deeply into the past – rather, it ‘glances’ backwards where it will be useful in helping someone move forwards.

Mentoring usually involves a more experienced person sharing their experience so the client can learn how to do something. Consulting or advising usually involves someone sharing their deep expertise, giving recommendations as to the best course of action.

Coaching, by comparison, rarely makes recommendations based on the coach’s experience or expertise. Rather, the coach believes that you are the expert in your own life – and will question you to uncover the answers that are right for you.