Life Coaching Versus Therapy
Want to improve on areas of your life? Do you have mental or emotional health impeding you from getting through day to day? Want to flourish, but you’re just stuck?
Have questions like, who do I go to for help?
Life Coaching versus Therapy
Each doctor in their profession has its own niche and area of expertise. If you have foot problems, you would know to go to a podiatrist just as you would a dentist if you had issues with your teeth.
Life Coaching versus Therapy isn’t as distinctive because they could seem to overlap, and they do in some areas.
As a Life Coach and Therapist, I want to give you a description of each so that you can make the best possible informed decision for yourself and or a loved one. There may be some terms or interventions that I name that I don’t explain. To keep the blog readable length and not bore you :), I do encourage you to look them up.
What’s The Difference?
The therapist utilizes diagnosis and assessment, and treatment (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5) to assist with mental health difficulties. The specific thing of the therapist is that they value healing- looking at how past life experiences contribute to current behavior and thoughts and setting attainable goals with that in mind. Also, helping patients/clients recognize their subconscious and unconscious mind.
As Life Coaches, therapist also help individuals set goals, improve performance, find solutions, and provide direction, and at times, they are solution-based or problem-based depending on the client’s needs.
The therapist has a minimum education of a Master’s degree. We also have to complete 3,000 hours of supervised practice in the field and hundreds of supervision hours with a licensed professional. Also, we are bound by ethical codes with our state licensing that govern our conduct. And if, for whatever reason, one of these ethical codes is compromised, a complaint by a client, agency, or whoever can be filed with the state licensing board.
A therapist also utilizes a plethora of research-proven and evidence-based practices like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. (EDMR) The list goes on in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and cognitive processing therapy. We do reality testing, problem-solving, and reframing in sessions with clients as well. We assist clients with developing strengths-based goals. We assist with relationship difficulties, including skill building for communication. We help with career issues as well.
Therapists also coordinate and partner with other professionals and doctors to get you the best help possible, and remember that we are bound by confidentiality and a code of ethics.
Social Media Searching
Again, in terms of screening a Therapist, remember that therapists have psychology, social work, or counseling degrees issued by their state. With that said. You can verify them with your state licensing board. I always suggest talking to the therapist to gain information about their background, methodology, certifications, etc. (If you haven’t read my Mental Health Blog, read that- it gives more details in this section). You might also be able to read reviews on the therapist as well. Psychology Today is a good tool for this.
Pay
Therapists are paneled through insurance companies under Behavioral Health. Whether you have private insurance or on-the-job insurance, your insurance dictates how much the therapist gets paid. And they dictate how much of that portion you pay in deductible and co-pay. If you are using insurance, then you will have some type of diagnosis on file with your insurance company. It is a must and a requirement that you have a diagnosis if you are using insurance. This doesn’t sit well with some individuals in certain lifestyles or positions like high profile jobs, religious/spiritual lifestyles, etc.
Life Coaches
Life coaches are more of an unregulated profession. Currently, there are no state licensing boards or encompassing standards of education or training for life coaches. A life coach may or may not hold an advanced degree or any certificate in life coaching. There is no regulation on the minimum acceptable standard of ongoing education or training for Life coaches. Unlike Therapists, Life Coaches cannot be paneled with health insurance companies. With that said, the cost of life coaching is out of pocket for the client. Life coaches do not work with mental health problems (they don’t have the degree and licensing to do this). However, they can coach you on your thoughts to improve performance, develop your potential, help you with solutions, provide direction, and assist in goal setting.
Life Coaching is to help meet clients’ goals that will assist them with being the best successful versions of themselves in any and all areas of life. I like to use the acronym PS MEPS. Purposeful Living, Spiritual Health, Mental Health, Emotional Health, Physical Health & Social Health.
Remember Life Coaching helps in improving performance, developing potential, and is Solution Oriented & Gives direction.
Life coaching aims to help you get past the things that hinder you, helping you get “unstuck” and get you to action and results.
Social Media Searching
Screening life coaches on your own can be more challenging because, as mentioned above, they may or may not have any kind of certification. You can inquire or research about their educational background by doing an online search or speaking with them.
Putting their names into google could be helpful to see if they have written or contributed to any publications or if they have any professional websites.
Pay
Life Coaching fees are at the Life Coaches’ discretion. I suggest asking what their prices are and what’s offered for the expense. Also, what training they have had.
Some last differences
Therapy is more of unstructured sessions that are guided by the client and the type of Therapy.
Life coaching sessions are more structured and focused on action oriented strategies and visible growth.
Therapy tends to be a long-term commitment – many people go to Therapy for years or even their entire lives- I’ve had clients for years. Mental Health is a part of holistic health. And just like we see physical health doctors- mental health doctors are just as important.
Life coaching tends to be more short-term. Coaching teaches the process and skills people need to eventually coach themselves. Life coaching isn’t meant to be forever. Again, Life coaches also do not diagnose their clients.
Therapists determine illnesses and DSM-5 diagnoses so patients can be CLINICALLY TREATED.
Life Coaching can include physical health, social health, purposeful living, and Spiritual Health, AND even SOME Mental & Emotional issues that might be in the way of attaining goals-its brief. If it needs to be CLINICALLY TREATED, then Therapy is your go-to.
When deciding to get a therapist online or in person, or with a life coach, understanding your options is essential. All three of these options can be beneficial. It depends on what you need, where you are, and what you can afford.
If you have specific or detailed questions for you or someone you know, please email me at [email protected]