The Difference Between a Life Coach and a Therapist

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…
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.
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.