WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIFE COACH AND A THERAPIST?
| DEFINITION | |
| LIFE COACHING | “Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” ICF (International Coaching Federation) |
| THERAPY | The study of the mind and behavior…the understanding of behavior “is the enterprise of psychologists.” (APA: American Psychology Association) |
| GOAL | |
| LIFE COACHING | Life coach and client work together toward a clear goal set by the client. A Life coach helps, guides, presents new possibilities, challenges assumptions, identifies and untangles limiting beliefs with the client, motivates to action and holds client accountable to their in\action. |
| THERAPY | Therapist diagnoses the client’s pathology while the patient discusses how it manifests in his/her life. A therapist talks with a patient about the impact that his/her behaviors, emotions have in the individual’s life. |
| TIME FOCUS | |
| LIFE COACHING | The present. Conversations are backed by an action plan and tasks that take place during the coaching process, moving the client forward toward a predetermined specific goal. |
| THERAPY | The past. Conversations focused on what happeneded in the patients’ past, early familial relationships and other past events and how these affect their lives today. |
| LENGTH | |
| LIFE COACHING | Shorter. Usually 3 or 6 months, sometimes longer. |
| THERAPY | Longer. Usually ranging a year to several years. |
| ROLE OF CLIENT | |
| LIFE COACHING | Active role! Openness in conversations, picking tasks to achieve your goal(s) and then taking action – possibly trying new things and stepping out of comfort zones. We’ll work together to discover your real self. |
| THERAPY | Responsive role. Openness in conversations, answering questions, conversing with your therapist, sharing how you feel, including your difficulties and challenges. |
CAN YOU GUARANTEE I REACH MY GOAL?
No. Only you can move yourself forward. YOU are the expert in your own life. I am the vehicle/instrument helping you to make a lasting change. Our work together will include lots of support, resources, encouragement, calls to action and motivation to spark your excitement and help you on your journey. Accountability and mapping out that journey will help us stay on track and moving forward.
I encourage you to think about coaching in the way you would about getting six-pack abs, losing weight, learning to play an instrument or learning a foreign language. Results take place when we put in the work consistently over a period of time. Have you ever bought healthy groceries or a gym membership? If you consistently made and ate healthy meals or if you worked out on regular basis, most likely you reached your goals. But simply buying healthy groceries or a gym membership without doing the work unfortunately doesn’t produce desired results. Coaching works in a similar way.
DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?
No. The short explanation: You are not sick and I am not going to cure you. The details: You already have every single thing you need—within your own heart and head—to repair a relationship, to solve a personal issue with which you suffer, or to change the course of your life.
In order to bill your insurance company I have to give you a “mental disorder diagnosis” and communicate on a regular basis with your insurance company about your progress toward a “cure.” Then, depending on the insurance company, I may have to write report at certain intervals to show that you’re still “sick” with that “mental disorder”. For them to continue paying for therapy, my report needs to show that you’re still “sick” and getting better, but that you aren’t “cured” yet.My goal is to collaborate with you on clarifying your vision and your goals, removing barriers, taking purposeful action and obtaining breakthrough results.
