Counseling vs Coaching

Both counselors and coaches are geared to help people. It’s empowering work to help provide their client’s tools to improve their quality of living and skills to cope.

Counselors and coaches are similar because they both:

  • Create a safe, non-judgmental, and trusting space

  • Both are able to identify patterns in your life

  • They are able to recognize what’s holding you back

  • They help you work toward your goals, move forward in your life, and build resiliency

  • Aid to self-discovery

  • Able to unravel your core beliefs and help you modify your thinking patterns

  • They both encourage you to find what’s right for you and to be the author of your own story

The difference between counseling and coaching

  • Coaching is more action and counseling is more for exploring feelings and coping skills

  • Coaching is more goal-oriented and prepares you for the steps to reach those goals

  • Although there’s training for coaching it’s not mandatory and some use their life experiences as a form of knowledge to enlighten their clients as for counseling a certificate or degree is required and the regulations are different in each city.

  • Coaches help you reach your potential while counselors help you be at peace with yourself and your life

  • Counselors are professionally trained to work with issues such as mental health, family dynamics, crisis situations, domestic violence, and are able to utilize different therapy approaches (cognitive behavioral therapy, mindful practice, adlerian therapy, solution-focused therapy etc.)

What’s the best fit for you?

If you’re wanting to speak to someone about what’s happening with you right now (relationship, career, upcoming event, mentally preparing yourself for something in the near future, etc.) and is needing guidance on what steps to take coaching may be a good choice for you. If you’re wanting to modify thinking patterns, behaviors that impact the relationship you have with yourself or others is wanting to understand yourself and past events that’s impacted you, or are in a crisis situation where you’re needing tools to cope then a counsellor would be a better fit.