After experiencing a very emotionally challenging time dealing with my wife’s health, I started to see a therapist. After a few months, I felt as though my therapist and I focused less on the trauma, and more on the future. Having an objective “sounding board” to talk through my thoughts of the present and future became an amplifier to my life. It only took another month or so during this phase for me to decide that I wanted to support people in this way. As I began to take courses to become a Certified Life & Relationship Coach, I learned there are a lot of people who are currently seeing a therapist, when a coach would suit their needs well. That led me to start to ask if people knew the difference.
Let’s do a brief breakdown:
Therapists.
* Clients are dealing with dysfunctions that diagnosable are like depression, anxiety, dissociation, addictions, personality disorders, etc.
* People dealing with old pain, old issues, or current traumas in their lives.
* People who are having difficulty functioning.
Coaches works with…
* People who are healthy and generally happy with their lives and there is no diagnosable mental state or disease.
* People who are designing their future based on their values and desires.
* People who want more income, have more joy in life, get the most out of business and life pursuits, etc.
II. How They Approach…
Therapists do:
Coaches Do:
III. The Relationship…
Therapist:
* Therapist-patient relationship is an alliance totally related to the knowledge of the patient’s issues. The growth of the therapist is not considered.
* Patient is not allowed to know the personal particulars of the therapist
* Strong boundaries involving stated legal and ethical limits and guidelines.
* The therapist is required to handle patient emergencies.
* Therapist may list their cell phone so they can be reached immediately for emergencies.
The Coach: