The Difference Between a Life Coach and a Therapist

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I have a recurring conversation that goes a little something like this…

 

Someone:  What do you do?
Me:  I am a Life Coach!
Someone: What does a Life Coach do?
Me:  A Life Coach helps people overcome their challenges and reach their goals.
Someone:  So, what do you do?
Me:  I meet with women one on one and offer them coaching tools to guide them to become the best version of themselves.  
I specialize in helping women set and uphold boundaries from a place of love so that they can become more confident. 
Someone:  So, what’s the difference between a life coach and a therapist? 
Me:  Good question!

Let’s explore Three main Differences

between a Therapist and a Life Coach…

First, Treatment Versus Transformation. 

A therapist provides treatment.  A therapist can diagnose a mental health disorder and potentially bill your medical insurance.  A coach does not provide treatment, diagnose, or bill medical insurance.  As I described on my about page, I see coaching as a vehicle to carry you from where you currently are to where you want to be, like Cinderella’s stagecoach.  As a coach, I meet you where you are at and guide you to become the version of yourself that you want to be.

Second, Who We Serve. 
A therapist is licensed to treat people who meet criteria for a mental health disorder.  I do not say this with any shame or judgment.  I value the work of the therapist.  I value the souls of people participating in therapy.  I am a proponent of mental health treatment when necessary and I have participated in counseling before.  A life coach can serve “functioning” people who want to uplevel their lives.  I see coaching as an investment in yourself and your emotional health.  I specialize in coaching women who feel taken advantage of learn to set and uphold boundaries from a place of love.  Many of the women I coach have a loved one who struggles with his/her mental health and would benefit from therapy.  I coach the women who love someone with a mental health disorder and find coaching to be a great fit for these women.   
Third, Temporal Focus 

A therapist may focus on working through past event.  Length of treatment can be months to years.  A life coach focuses on the present and works towards the future.  One of my favorite parts of coaching is that we get to implement tools for change and be solution focused.  Most of my clients are able to achieve their desired results in 3-6 months.

Feel free to Contact Me with any questions or to learn more about coaching!