The Difference Between Coaching & Therapy
Now that I am officially licensed as a psychotherapist, counsellor, and coach, I wanted to talk about the main differences between the coaching model and therapy. A lot of people ask me which one they would benefit from the most, and I always suggest the same thing.. when making any decision, work backwards from your goal.
For example: if your goal is to excel in your career; learn how to have a better relationship with money; or to stop dating unavailable people; you'll want to coach. Coaching is solution-focused, goal-oriented, and helps you build a framework to get from A to B. Coaching requires that you are emotionally stable and ready to move forward.
Therapy on the other hand, is about healing old wounds. If your goal is to stabilize emotionally; have a safe space to process any unresolved trauma you may have endured in the past; or to explore grief, anxiety, shame or depression; you may want to start slower with therapy.
I have completed thousands of different types of clinical and coaching sessions, and I truly don't believe that one method is better than the other. But one of the biggest flaws I have noticed with the helping profession is that many clients are not getting the direction or solution that they specifically need. This may be due to the fact that some therapy clients belong in coaching, and some coaching clients belong in therapy.
And there is a right time and place for both.
Therapy is about walking hand-in-hand with someone; allowing the space and time to finally discuss things you've never said out loud before; and a place that provides a safe environment for you to show up weekly and process the heavy grief you've been carrying for years. It's slow, it's sacred, and fundamentally critical for individuals with unprocessed trauma.
Comparatively, coaching is faster, bolder, and more actionable. Coaching is for the folks who have read all the self-help books; listening to our buddy Mel Robbins a million times; and who have processed, understood, and accepted a lot of their past; but who still can't seem to move forward or stick to what they say they're going to do.
Coaching zooms in on your behaviour in real-time and helps build new strategies. Coaching teaches you how to regulate your nervous system and rewrite your self-concept. Coaching helps build emotional fluency, healthy boundaries, and actionable self-trust. This framework allows you to get rid of the ‘black sheep’ mentality, and start to truly let that confident, smart, articulate beast come out.
Whether you struggle in personal relationships; building your career; or increasing your confidence; coaching takes a deep dive into what ‘tape’ is truly playing in your head, and helps you write a new one.
If I could summarize coaching into one of my favourite sayings it would go something like this:
'You can't think your way into right living, you have to act your way into right living'.
Coaching helps you map out the steps; and a good coach helps you take them.. despite whether you feel ready or not. Therapy on the other hand helps you make sense of what happened; and to understand the ‘why’ behind your emotional reactions and triggers.
Still unsure abut the difference?
This should help:
Just for today, if you're asking yourself the following questions, you may be leaning more towards one approach versus the other:
“Why am I like this?” Therapy
“How do I stop doing this?” Coaching
“I feel broken or in crisis.” Therapy
“I know what to do, I just don’t do it.” Coaching
“I need a safe space to feel and heal.” Therapy
“I need to make moves and level up.” Coaching
Whether you're leaning towards coaching or therapy; I can help.
Here's what’s new:
My services have recently changed, and there is now a waitlist for both options. If you're interested in learning more, click the links below to set up a free, 15-minute call to see if we are a good fit.
My signature Breakthrough Coaching Package is now a 3-month high-support container to help you break cycles and build nervous-system-safe high impact change. Available worldwide, no insurance reciepts provided.
This program is for anyone who:
Ready to make massive shifts in their life
Ready to break old patterns
Ready to expand their business and increase profit
Ready to rewrite the script created by narcissistic parents or partners
Ready to get out of survival mode, build confidence, and finally have the proper support to go after what their gut has been nudging them to do.
50 minute therapy sessions are for:
Individuals who need to start slower, safer, and learn to process old wounds.
Individuals who are looking for trauma-informed and emotionally safe care.
Therapy and counselling are for Canadian residents only and covered by most insurance plans.
I hope this helps answering some of your questions.
With love, care, and empowerment,
Jess