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Differences Between Psychotherapy and Professional Coaching

Written by: Jeremy Ulmer

Article Overview: Coaching: Views both parties as naturally creative, resourceful and whole. Does not diagnose or treat. Therapy: More apt to view the clients from a medical model. Diagnoses and treats.

Differences Between Psychotherapy and Professional Coaching

Differences
(The follow information is from The Coaches Training Institute manual)

Coaching: Views both parties as naturally creative, resourceful and whole. Does not diagnose or treat.
Therapy: More apt to view the clients from a medical model. Diagnoses and treats.

Coaching: Trained to work with functioning clients.
Therapy: Trained to work with major mental illness. (and also functioning clients)

Coaching: Coach and clients on a peer basis.
Therapy: Hierarchical difference between therapist and clients.

Coaching: Partnership, goals, plans, and the alliance designed by coach and client together.
Therapy: Treatment plan largely designed by therapist.

Coaching: Focus on evolving and manifesting potential. Moving forward. Action.
Therapy: Focus on healing and understanding.

Coaching: Emphasis on present and future.
Therapy: Empasis on past and present.

Coaching: Action and ‘being’ oriented.
Therapy: Insight oriented.

Coaching: Solution oriented.
Therapy: Problem oriented.

Coaching: Explore actions and behaviors that manifest high self-esteem.
Therapy: Explore genesis of behaviors that create low self-esteem.

Coaching: Regard and coach negative self-beliefs as ‘Saboteurs’ (temporary obstacles).
Therapy: Analyze and treat origins and historical roots of negative self-beliefs.

Coaching: Coach and client ask: “What’s next/What now?”
Therapy: Therapist and client ask: “Why and from where?”

Coaching: Discourages transference as not appropriate.
Therapy: Encourages transference as a therapy tool.

Coaching: Accountability and ‘homework’ between sessions held as important.
Therapy: Accountability less commonly expected.

Coaching: Contact between sessions for accountability and “wins” expected.
Therapy: Contact between sessions for crisis only.

Coaching: Uses coaching skills.
Therapy: Uses therapy techniques.

It should be acknowledged that the difference between some types of therapy and coaching are not always clear-cut. Many therapists are ‘coach-like’ in their orientations and the two do share some common ground. Both disciplines can be working with functioning individuals who are facing difficult situations. Both professions focus on helping people make changes and accomplish goals that really matter to them.

Similarities

Coaching: Uses a “Discovery Session.”
Therapy: Uses a Diagnostic Interview/History.

Coaching: Uses many skills similar to therapy.
Therapy: Uses many techniques similar to coaching skills.

Coaching: Works with the client’s whole life.
Therapy: Works with the client’s whole life.

Coaching: May work with emotional material.
Therapy: Often works with emotional material.

Related Articles
  Talking Therapies, The difference between counselling, psychotherapy. How counselling, psychotherapy can help you.
  Does Psychotherapy Work?
  Life-Coaching - Is it just a fad?
  So what differentiates a Life Coach from a Business Coach from an Executive Coach?
  Pushing Up Your Coaching Credibility

Article Tags: accountability, coach, coaches training institute, genesis, homework, insight, low self esteem, medical model, mental illness, obstacles, origins, partnership goals, regard, roots, self esteem therapy, sessions, therapy tool, transference



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