The Difference Between Coaching & Therapy

Most people feel more comfortable in the realm of analytics and practical actions than self reflection and venturing into the past.

I am often asked about this topic so that I’ve developed a metaphor: The Plant

Coaching and therapy start with the same premise: to offer change and that change will occur over time.

Each life starts off as a seed in the soil. The seedling can take different forms according to its supply with water, light and nutrients.

Both approaches involve developmental issues and focus on awareness, yet they divert on the methodology.

In therapy we look at the plant and focus on an identifiable issue that interferes with your level of functioning and psychological health.

And we go back into the soil and look at the root sources why the plant developed a certain issue and heal it from the root.

Therapy encourages awareness of past injuries to promote insight and repairs issues from earlier life experiences.

With the guidance of the therapist you discover and uncover layers of destructive and limiting thoughts and behavior patterns within a safe relationship.

The therapist is seen as the “expert” how to uncover the seed and the soil.

As a therapist I focus my conversation on ways to:

• Work through stress, burnout or anxiety that affect your ability to function at home or work
• Explore why past relationships (business or personal) have been destructive
• Survive a divorce or loss of a loved one
• Explore the root of a destructive behavior

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In coaching we look at the plant and its potential to grow and maximize its growth. 

The coach looks together with you at untapped potentials and links this awareness to action. 

Coaches stay in the here and now and they do not go into the past to figure out why you're behaving in a certain way. We may visit the past, but do not analyse it.

Therefore, coaching interactions are more structured and task focused to move you forward. 

The coach is the “buddy” next to you to find the right light, water and fertilizer to grow the plant to its maximum potential.

In coaching I work with:

• Clarifying and achieving personal and professional goals
• Working to improve communication skills
• Achieving a work/life balance
• Develop a healthier life-style
• Finding your life’s purpose and living it

There are some clinical symptoms a non-coach should be aware of when working with clients.

Red flags for a coach are when the clients are stuck in the victim role or drama, not following through the action plans, have serious emotions in more than one session etc. Then the responsible coach refers the client to a good clinical therapist.

I am a psychologist M.A. who has turned to coaching and therapy to offer the client a holistic approach to heal the seed and facilitate maximum growth.

I am trained as an NLP Master Practitioner, Systemic Coach, Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner, and Clinical Hypnotherapist.

Learn more about my BRAINBOSS Method Intensive Program here: