What's the difference between therapy and coaching?

Many people are aware of the premise of therapy, but coaching remains a bit mysterious. This is understandable, as coaching is still a relatively new profession, particularly when compared to therapy. However, it is becoming increasingly recognized for its unique benefits and approach to personal and professional development.

Firstly, it's important to clarify that both therapy and coaching have their own distinct and vital roles in mental health and personal growth. Both are valuable and can be life-changing in their own right. The choice between the two often comes down to the nature of one's current challenges, goals, and personal preferences.

Therapy, traditionally, is a form of treatment aimed at healing and understanding psychological issues, often stemming from the past. The role of a therapist is to guide an individual in navigating their inner world and help them resolve past traumas, dysfunctional patterns, or mental health issues. Therapy dives deep into the root of one's struggles and encourages healing through understanding and processing past experiences. As such, therapy predominantly focuses on one's past and how it causes problems in the present.

Coaching, on the other hand, has a future-oriented perspective. A coach's role is to provide support, challenge, and encouragement for an individual to accomplish personal or professional goals and achieve their fullest potential. While a coach may indeed acknowledge and discuss the past to recognize potential obstacles or patterns, the core aim of coaching is to empower individuals to make constructive changes in their lives today, to create a future they aspire to.

The key distinguishing factor is that therapy seeks to heal, while coaching seeks to ignite change. Therapy looks back and inwards to help you cope and heal, while coaching looks forward and outward to help you grow and thrive.

Now, you might wonder, "Which one do I need?" The answer isn't always straightforward. While therapy is undoubtedly crucial for those with severe mental health struggles or past traumas, many people who believe they need therapy may actually benefit significantly from coaching.

In many places, waiting lists for therapy are notoriously long, which can be disheartening when you're in need of immediate help. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, the average wait time for therapy can range from a few weeks to several months or even years.

Personally I was put on a waiting list by my doctor, for therapy after my daughter died. However, I never got a single appointment and I was "on the list" for more than 5 years. I'm happy to say though that getting personal coaching changed my life and I no longer believe I need therapy.

Coaching, in contrast, is often more readily available, due to it being less known and less saturated. This accessibility, coupled with its proactive, forward-facing approach, makes coaching a compelling option for those who want to focus on their personal development, goal setting, or overcoming specific obstacles.

In conclusion, the choice between therapy and coaching is deeply personal. It depends on your needs, where you are in life, and where you want to go. However, it's important to understand that both disciplines aim to support, empower, and facilitate personal growth. They simply approach it from different angles.

Always remember, whether you choose therapy or coaching, the journey of personal growth and self-improvement is a courageous one. The first step is always to seek help and support, and in that, you are already making significant progress!