What are the differences between Counseling and Life Coaching?

Counseling focuses on people who have “deep-rooted” unresolved issues and want to move forward, but, are unable to do so. A counselor is an unbiased, empathic, non-judgmental listener, whose main role is “helping individuals help themselves” through crisis intervention. Counseling therapy sessions include uncovering and recovering. This process is not coaching!

Coaching works best for people who have resolved past issues and are ready to move to the next level in their career, life, or with a project. A coach is very action oriented and focuses on WHAT you are willing to attempt, WHEN you will attempt the goal, and HOW will you complete the goal to move on to a new goal. A coach will hold you accountable and responsible for your actions. And, while deep, empathetic listening skills are essential to the success of coaching and therapy, the two techniques are different.

A good way to view the foundational differences between counseling and coaching is to think of two cars driving along a sandy, wave washed shoreline. One car hits a log and breaks an axle, sinking deep into the sand. The other car swerves to keep from hitting the log, but in doing so also sinks in the sand. For the first car, the only hope is a tow truck and a week in the shop. It is broken and cannot go further. This is a therapy patient. The second car merely needs a push, a little traction under its wheels, and it continues its race across the sand. This is the coaching client.