Understanding the Difference Between a Life Coach and Therapist: Finding the Best Fit for You

By: Marissa Pollet

In the area of self-improvement and mental well-being, seeking guidance and support is a proactive step towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. Two common professionals in this arena are life coaches and therapists. While both strive to assist individuals in navigating life's challenges and reaching their goals, they operate in distinct ways. Understanding the difference between the two can help guide you to make the best choice for your specific needs and set you on the correct path towards your lifelong goals.

Therapist:

• Focus on Mental Health: Therapists are licensed mental health professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat various mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. A therapist will focus on using evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address emotional and behavioral concerns. These techniques will be individual specific and provide a framework to help you address struggles and create change.

• Treatment-Centered Approach: Therapy sessions typically tap into past experiences, emotions, and thought patterns to promote healing and personal growth. It is important to note that your past often plays a role in self-discovery which may hold many valuable insights into reshaping thought patterns.

• Client-Centered: Therapists provide a safe, nonjudgmental space for clients to explore their feelings and work towards positive change. Having a strong rapport with your therapist is beneficial in allowing yourself to be vulnerable and to make the most of your sessions together. Rapport takes time to develop, but you should first and foremost feel that you are in a safe, confidential partnership with your therapist.

• Requires Formal Training: Therapists undergo extensive education and supervised clinical experience to obtain credentials and licensure, ensuring they adhere to professional standards and ethical guidelines.

Life Coach:

• Goal-Oriented: Life coaches focus on helping individuals set and achieve specific goals in various aspects of life, including career, relationships, health, and personal development. Once goals are established, an action-focused approach is put in place to help to emphasize accountability and motivation. An action plan will help to facilitate progress towards specific desired outcomes. Maybe your goal is to find a new fulfilling career in a totally different space. At first this seems daunting, but breaking this goal into manageable action steps with deadline dates will provide the blueprint to obtaining what you desire. A life coach can help navigate this road as well as provide encouragement and assistance in reaching your goals.

• No Clinical Diagnosis: Unlike therapists, life coaches do not diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Instead, they assist clients in overcoming obstacles and maximizing their potential. A life coach will focus on the present and look towards obtaining future goals versus exploring your past emotional traumas.

Varied Backgrounds: While some life coaches may have formal training in psychology or counseling, others may come from diverse backgrounds such as business, education, or wellness coaching. Having a diverse background from all walks of life and specialties can help your coach to understand the nature of your goals. Perhaps your goals are in the fitness space and your life coach happens to be a certified fitness instructor? Think of the commonality and understanding a specific coach could apply towards what you hope to achieve.

Finding the Best Fit for You:

• Assess Your Needs: Reflect on your goals, challenges, and preferences. Determine whether you require support for specific mental health concerns or seek guidance in achieving personal or professional objectives.

• Consider the Scope: If you're struggling with mental health symptoms or past trauma, therapy may be the appropriate choice. For individuals seeking clarity, motivation, and goal achievement, life coaching could be beneficial.

• Research Credentials: Verify the credentials and qualifications of potential therapists or life coaches. Ensure therapists have the proper credentials in your state and adhere to ethical standards. Look for certifications from reputable coaching organizations for life coaches.

• Interview Prospective Professionals: Schedule initial consultations or discovery sessions with potential therapists or life coaches. Use this opportunity to discuss your needs, ask questions about their approach, and assess rapport and compatibility.

• Trust Your Instincts: Ultimately, trust your intuition when choosing a professional to work with. Feeling understood, supported, and empowered is crucial in any therapeutic or coaching relationship.

 Having Support on your Journey:

By understanding the distinctions between a life coach and therapist and considering your individual needs and preferences, you can make an informed decision to find the best fit for your journey towards mental and emotional well-being. Whether you embark on a therapeutic process or engage in life coaching, remember that seeking support is a courageous step towards personal growth and fulfillment!

Our team of caring professionals at Inspired Wellness are here to provide support and guidance towards your path of mental wellness. We believe that every individual has the ability to be the best version of themselves and our goal is to set you up with the tools to maintain a well-balanced life that will place you on the path towards lifelong change. We strive to create a non-judgmental environment coupled with therapeutic practices that are tailored towards each individual. At Inspired Wellness our team aims to do exactly as our name says, inspire you towards a beautiful life of strength and wellness!