Coaching is different from counseling.
Coaching looks at the present and the future. With coaching, both the client and the coach work together as equals. The coach holds space for the client, asks questions, encourages them to find solutions, and provides resources to help them reach their goals and lasting change in their lives.
The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership. We all have goals we want to reach, challenges we’re striving to overcome and times when we feel stuck. Partnering with a coach can change your life, setting you on a path to greater personal and professional fulfillment.”
Therapy looks back at your past and often works to find the root causes of challenges, trauma, and struggles in your life and relationships. The therapist is the professional who can walk you through ways to address this, and you are the patient. Therapy may be necessary for you, and depending on your needs, ensure you are looking at a comprehensive care plan. Coaching can take place in addition to therapy or in place of it, depending on the outcome you wish to achieve.
