Coaching Misconception #2

Coaching is like therapy and consulting.

Coaching, therapy and consulting are separate professional services that are often confused. They can be very complimentary. However, each requires different training and experience. You need to understand the difference to hire the best person for your goals.

📌 Therapists

• Medical professionals who can diagnose clients

• Require licensing and are bound by significant regulations

• Goal: Fix a mental health problem; Heal

👉 Core client question: Why am I the way I am? Usually focused on past and present.

📌 Coaches

• Not medical professionals - can't diagnose; Coaches assume the client is whole and complete or working with a therapist on any mental health topics

• Professional coaches go through rigorous training and many choose to get certified by a body such as the International Coach Federation

• Goal: develop mindset; remove limiting beliefs; stay in action

👉 Core client question: How do I use who I am to achieve my goals? Usually focused on future and present.

📌 Consultants

• Unlike coaches and therapists, consultants focus on a problem, not on a person

• Have expertise (or access to expertise) and have significant experience

👉 Core client question: What is the solution to my problem?