I’ve been asked this question quite often. Personally, in my practice they tend to overlap.
So I’ll start with the similarities first;
• To be effective, both counselling and coaching need to have an environment where there is ample support and no judgement from the therapist and where the client has trust in the therapist. The client needs to be comfortable with having open discussions with the therapist.
• both seek to find insight into the issues that are causing the client to seek help by listening and asking questions. If what is causing the issues are some belief systems that are no longer working for the client, both will help the client to adapt them into what would work.
• both would try to grow the client’s resilience and to achieve life goals through attaining insight into themselves.
Now to the differences, and even with these there is quite an overlap!
• Coaching is working on what is stuck now that causes the client to not be able to achieve their goals where as counselling works on creating an insight into why the client have become stuck to begin with.
• Coaching tends to be more action and goal oriented (hence focusing on potential) whereas counselling focuses more on coping and solving problems (ie. working on acceptance of the self and life)
• Coaching tends to be more present and future focus, counselling past and present focus.
• Coaches tend to challenge the clients more whereas counsellors tend to be more supportive.
Again, if I haven’t made it clear before.. HUGE OVERLAPS!
Just to use the last point as an example, no coach can be effective if they aren’t supportive through out the sessions and there will be times when a counsellor will need to gently challenge their clients!
In general, if you only want to focus on what you are dealing with right now, don’t feel that anything in the past causes today’s problems, want help making action steps to achieve certain goals then coaching may be a good choice.
On the other hand, if you are not able to break certain patterns of thinking and behaviour that have been sabotaging your life for some time, would like to raise your self-esteem and get a greater insight into yourself, and want to figure out what you want in life and move towards it, counselling might be a good choice.
What about a counsellor who is ALSO a coach?
Many therapist like myself, integrate coaching and counselling approaches which include helping you identify problems or negative patterns, setting goals, changing your perspective and belief systems if required, in a way that is supportive and if necessary, by challenging you gently.
If you feel that I can be a good fit for you, get in touch!
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