The difference between counseling and coaching
Today, most people take advantage of supporting themselves with the help of a counselor, coach, or therapist through the challenges that life throws at them at some point. For people new to the field of personal development, the question “What is the difference between a counselor and a coach?” appears often. Let’s find some distinctions that you might find useful.
Advice
Counseling is the modality to heal yourself, to find closure on things that happened in your past, to come to see things from a healthier perspective, to learn to let go of grudges and resentment, and to strengthen the ego. Counseling often functions as ‘talk therapy’ as research has found that expressing emotions helps to digest them. A counselor acts like a professional friend whom you can trust with your innermost thoughts. They will listen carefully and not judge your opinions or ideas. Most counselors will refrain from giving you advice, but they will help you find your own path, clarify issues, provide understanding and a broader perspective, and help you make your own wise decisions. Counseling focuses primarily on clearing up past problems.
Training
Coaching is the way to move forward, to plan the future you want to create, put action into goal setting, and remove any obstacles that may be in the way of reaching your goals. Coaching implies a total commitment to make the changes that will bring you closer to the desired result. A coach will also listen carefully and ask you powerful questions. Coaching is for people who have enough ego strength to act. Coaching is primarily focused on creating a desired future outcome and only involves past issues if they are important to the future outcome.
What style of sessions do I need?
Ask yourself the following questions to know if you want to find a counselor or a coach:
Are you…
1….dealing with problems at work, including relationship problems with your boss and co-worker?
2…. Want to change jobs and don’t know what to do next?
3….looking for a new partner?
4….looking for your passion in life and how to incorporate it into your life?
5….not sure how to be a better communicator at work and in private relationships?
6…. looking for the next step in your career and how to get there?
7…. do you plan to go back to work after being a stay at home mom?
If you answered yes to one or more of questions 1 to 7, you are most likely looking for a coach.
Are you…
8…. overcome a separation or marriage breakup?
9….are you still very angry or frustrated with your parents and want to work through those feelings to create better relationships with them?
10….dealing with fear and anxiety that you think might stem from past trauma?
11….working through a grievance due to the loss of someone close to you, such as your parent, partner, or child?
12….Are you dealing with recurring relationship difficulties in your life?
13…. having difficulties with your teenage daughter or son?
14….Not sure if you want to stay in a relationship or leave?
If you answered yes to one or more of questions 8 to 14, you are most likely looking for a counselor.
Remember that whether you are seeing a counselor or coach, you need at least 2-3 sessions to get a sense of how they are working and to know if you are comfortable with them and their approach.