A casual online scroll might lead you to myriad “solutions” to all your problems. While there are plenty of qualified, skilled professionals out there, how do you know which one to contact? After all, anyone can create a website and declare themselves an “expert.” Even when you’ve narrowed things down to certified practitioners, who is the best choice for you?
An excellent example of this conundrum involves differentiating between the services of a life coach and the credentials of a therapist. The two fields have some similarities, but perhaps it’s more important to look for someone who feels inherently compatible. Let’s take a closer look.
Life Coaching Vs. Therapy: Which One is Right for You?
Perhaps the best in-a-nutshell difference to start with is that a life coach helps you attain specific goals. Meanwhile, in therapy, you concentrate on your mental health (you can have specific goals here too like lower your anxiety levels). Of course, there is overlap, but this is a good starting point. Here are some other elements to consider:
Training, Credentials, and Certification
The title “life coach” does not require any specific kind of education. This isn’t meant to imply that life coaches are just winging it. But it is a reminder to do some digging to learn more about anyone with the self-anointed label. Meanwhile, a therapist is a licensed mental health professional with a particular set of skills attained through a specific kind of schooling. A degree doesn’t instantly equate to knowledge, but it is a measurable factor. In each case, you will want to have a consultation or trial session to learn more about anyone you’re considering.
Specialties
Inevitably, once again, there will be overlap. That said, life coaches thrive when working to help clients get un-stuck in areas like:
- Health
- Finances
- Relationships
- Spirituality
- Career
You identify issues and their causes and set about making positive change. Sometimes, though, this is also what a therapy session might feel like. However, a huge difference is that a therapist is qualified to diagnose mental health disorders and apply established protocols to treat such conditions.
To keep it simple, a life coach would have the ideal input if you find yourself having a tough time with making healthy eating choices. But if you fear you may be struggling with an eating disorder, please call a therapist.
Duration
Every person and every situation has unique variables. However, for the most part, therapy does not have a carved-in-stone time limit. A life coach, on the other hand, may market their skills in a predetermined package of sessions.
Personal Preference
If the problem you seek to address isn’t a diagnosable disorder, you may choose between a life coach and a therapist based on what has worked before. Someone who has played on teams or taken classes in a given skill (e.g., martial arts) might find themselves geared toward a life coach’s approach.
If you’ve done okay working one-on-one with a guidance counselor or tutor, you may prefer the therapy room environment. It helps to know yourself, but you don’t want to rule out the possibility of a new experience.
Life Coaching Vs. Therapy
It doesn’t have to be an either/or decision, but it can work wonders to write down what you think you need. If you feel anxiety might be dominating your thought process, a life coach might be limited in how they can help you. If financial stress is your biggest concern, therapy may not be the ideal first step. People stuck in their past often thrive in therapy. Those driven for future success can find their game plan from a life coach.
To help you make a decision around this, reach out! We can pair you with an appropriate therapist or even an empowerment coach as we wear both hats … you can self-schedule here or reach out to our administrative goddess by filling out our contact form. We look forward to serving you!
