Coaching V.S Therapy
"The middle is messy, but its where the magic happens"
Hi Friend!
Nowadays, going to therapy is becoming more mainstream. This is awesome, seeing how more and more people are starting to put more emphasis on taking care of their mental health.
Often, I will have people asking what’s the difference between therapy and life coaching, and which service should they choose?
Here is my short answer:
It depends on what you’re looking for.
Therapy (aka. counseling) focuses more on the past. It is about working with a person’s past, healing wounds, trauma, childhood experiences, etc.
Life coaching, on the other hand, is more about working on the present and the future. Life coaching works with where you are right now, and how to get you to where you want to be — whether it’s in your relationships, mental health, spirituality, emotional wellness, career, personal goals, health, money etc. Coaching is about how to improve your current life right now, and setting and achieving goals for the future.
Another way to look at it:
Therapy has more to do with helping you go from not being able to function daily (dysfunctional) to functional.
Coaching takes you from functional to thriving.
So to put it simply:
COACHING?
Coaching is about how to improve your life right now, is future-oriented, emphasizing personal growth, goal setting, and actionable strategies. It is designed to help individuals clarify their vision, set meaningful goals, and create actionable plans to achieve them.
No Diagnosis: As I coach, I do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, I support individuals in achieving their desired outcomes through motivation, encouragement, and practical guidance.
Short-to medium-to long term engagement: Mental health coaching is often shorter than therapy, typically lasting a few months. The duration is determined by the specific goals set and the individual progress towards achieving them.
Action Oriented: Coaching focuses on action and results. I assist clients in developing practical strategies and hold them accountable for taking steps towards goals.
Empowerment: Coaching empowers individuals to take control of their lives, build confidence, and achieve full potential. It encourages self-discovery and personal empowerment, helping clients unlock their inner resources and strengths.
Financial: Coaches are typically paid privately and do not accept insurance
THERAPY?
Diagnoses a problem or issue: Therapists are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
Creates a treatment plan: Use various assessment tools (e.g., questionnaires, rating scales) to measure symptom improvement and goal attainment.
Focused on past trauma/experiences: Unconscious processes and past experiences that influence current behavior.
Typically billed through insurance
If you have any questions or are interested in coaching serves, please contact me via email at jenna@jlncoach.com or my Instagram at jlncoach or book a session on the website. Looking forward to chatting with you
XO Jenna
