Coaching vs Therapy

What is coaching and how does it differ from therapy?

There are some similarities between therapy and coaching but there are also many core differences.

The biggest difference is that therapy is focuses on mental health challenges, offering an assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan. Therapy is led by a licensed psychologist or social worker.

A coach guides the client in clarifying goals of all kinds (academic, social, family relationships, and extracurricular and more), helping them to identify obstacles, and design solutions to lead them to the desired result.  The process of life coaching takes the client’s starting point as perfectly acceptable and neutral.  The client is the expert on themselves and the coach guides from that point onward, without judgement. Qualified coaches have been certified or trained by an accredited coaching school or program.  They are not doctors and will refer to medical professionals when a subject is outside of their scope of practice.

With coaching, the teen is in charge and he or she determines the agenda of the sessions.  The sessions focus on actions that can be taken, problem-solving, and the future, rather than past events.  We focus on new patterns of behavior that will help the teen to achieve the desired result.  The coach asks meaningful questions that lead the client to find the answer to their issues themselves, providing a deep sense of empowerment and capability for the teen.  The coach listens patiently and carefully, allowing the teen a safe and confidential space to voice thoughts, opinions, and concerns. The coach uses their own life experiences along with proven strategies and tools that lead the teen to higher self-confidence, stronger friendships based on mutual respect, less anxiety and stress, and a deep sense of knowing their core values.

Coaching topics may include:

  • Identity and core values: Who am I and what is important to me?
  • Self-confidence and self-worth
  • Peer pressure surrounding substance use and sexual activity
  • Academic pressures and future school goals
  • Friendships: how to navigate the drama and changing landscapes as you grow
  • Body-image
  • Social media
  • Family relationships: conflicts with siblings or parents, divorce

Marianne maintains professional relationships with psychologists, social workers, family therapists, acupuncturists, nutritionists, and behavioral health specialists.  She will happily make referrals when it is in the best interest of her coaching clients.