Coaching vs Therapy: What’s The Difference?

When life gets tough, knowing where to find the support you need can be challenging. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at two of your options: a coach and a therapist. At first glance, these might appear to be the same thing; both offer guidance and a helping hand, but they are actually very different. That’s why we’ll be walking you through the differences in coaching vs therapy, and helping you decide which is the best fit for you. Whether you need help dealing with stress, setting goals, or understanding your feelings, you can connect with both coaches and therapists on the LADZ app.

Coaching vs Therapy: Which One Do I Need?

Over the years, the fields of coaching and therapy have grown in very different ways. While therapy can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, life coaching is a relatively new practice that began to pick up steam in 1980s America. Today, both act as a valuable resource to understand your brain and overcome hardships in your life. Read on to better understand how you could benefit from a therapist or life coach.

• What Is A Therapist?
• What Is A Coach?
• Mental Health vs Mental Fitness
• Coach vs Therapist: Skillset And Qualifications
• Do I Need A Coach Or A Therapist?

What Is A Therapist?

A therapist is a trained professional who helps people work through emotional difficulties, mental health issues, and challenging life experiences. Therapists use various methods to help you understand your feelings, change negative thinking patterns, and improve your overall mental well-being.

How Do Clients Benefit From A Therapist’s Services?

Therapists are experts in understanding the mind and emotions. When you speak with a therapist, you have a safe space to discuss your worries, past traumas, and everyday stresses without fear of judgment. These are just a few of the ways you might benefit from a therapist:

• Understand Your Emotions: It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by emotions you don’t understand, so therapy helps break down these feelings to understand the root cause.
• Develop Coping Strategies: Therapists teach practical ways to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. Research shows that structured therapy can reduce symptoms of depression by up to 50% for many individuals.
• Improve Relationships: A better understanding of yourself allows you to build healthier relationships with others in your life.
• Heal From Past Experiences: A lot of therapy involves understanding and healing from past traumas or difficult experiences so you can move forward more positively.

Therapy isn’t just about talking about your problems; it’s about learning to change the way you think and behave. For example, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a common type of therapy that has helped millions of people change negative thought patterns into positive ones.

What Methods Does A Therapist Use?

Therapists use a variety of methods to help you overcome challenges and build a happier, healthier life. Here are some of the most popular techniques:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This structured method helps you change negative thinking and behaviour patterns. Studies show that CBT can be effective for many mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: This approach looks at how your past experiences influence your current behaviour. By understanding these influences, you can work to change harmful patterns.
• Humanistic Therapy: Focusing on your personal growth, this method helps you understand your feelings and improve your self-esteem by creating a supportive environment.
• Interpersonal Therapy: This type of therapy focuses on how you interact with others in an attempt to improve your relationships and social skills.
• Hypnotherapy: This technique uses guided relaxation and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness. It can help address a variety of issues, such as anxiety, phobias, and certain habit changes, by allowing individuals to explore their subconscious thoughts and feelings.

What Is A Coach?

A coach is someone who helps you set and reach your personal or professional goals. Coaches are not focused on fixing deep emotional wounds or mental health disorders; instead, they work with you to build skills, set clear objectives, and improve your overall quality of life. Think of a coach as a guide who helps you unlock your potential.

How Do Clients Benefit From A Coach’s Services?

Collaborating with a coach is like having a lifestyle companion who is there to support you, encourage your growth, and help you realise the possibilities for your future. Here’s how coaching can help:

• Goal Setting And Achievement: Coaches help you define your goals and create a step-by-step plan to achieve them. This can range from career advancement to personal development.
• Increased Confidence: Many clients find that working with a coach boosts their confidence. Research suggests that goal-setting and personal development coaching can lead to a significant increase in self-confidence, which in turn can improve life satisfaction.
• Accountability: A coach holds you accountable for your progress. Knowing that someone is checking in on your goals can be a powerful motivator.
• Skill Development: Whether you want to improve your communication skills, manage your time better, or develop leadership abilities, a coach provides tailored advice and practical tools to help you succeed.
• Stress Reduction: While not a substitute for therapy, coaching can help manage everyday stress by providing strategies to handle challenges more effectively.

Coaches work with you to see the big picture and help you build a roadmap to success, making sure you are always moving forward and not getting stuck in the details of daily life.

What Methods Does A Coach Use?

Coaches use a range of techniques to help you unlock your potential and achieve your goals. Here are some common methods:

• Goal Setting: One of the main techniques is helping you set clear, achievable goals. This often involves breaking big goals into smaller, manageable steps.
• Motivational Interviewing: This technique is all about asking the right questions to help you find your own motivation to make changes.
• Action Plans: Coaches help you develop detailed action plans that outline what you need to do to reach your goals. This structured approach can keep you on track.
• Feedback And Reflection: Regular feedback helps you see what’s working and what isn’t. Coaches encourage you to reflect on your progress and adjust your plans as needed.
• Accountability Partnerships: Many coaches set up accountability systems, ensuring you are making progress and staying committed to your goals.

These methods are designed to let you take greater control of your life. Unlike therapy, which often delves deep into past issues, coaching focuses on what you can do now and in the future to build a better life.

Mental Health vs Mental Fitness

A large part of understanding the difference between coaching and therapy comes down to knowing the difference between mental health and mental fitness. If you can identify which you need help with, it makes finding support easier.

Mental health refers to how well your mind is functioning. It includes your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Good mental health means you can cope with normal stresses, work productively, and contribute to your community. It often involves dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, and past trauma.

Mental fitness, on the other hand, is about how strong your mind is, much like physical fitness for your body. It is focused on building resilience, sharpening your mind, and setting yourself up for success in the future. Mental fitness is about preparing yourself to handle challenges, set and achieve goals, and continuously improve your personal skills.

Think of mental health as maintaining a healthy body through good nutrition and regular check-ups, while mental fitness is like working out at the gym to build strength and endurance. Both are important, and sometimes, you might need a mix of both therapy (to address mental health issues) and coaching (to build mental fitness).

Coach vs Therapist: Skillset And Qualifications

Another major difference between a coach and a therapist is the training and qualifications required.

Therapists’ Qualifications

Therapists are required to have formal education and training in mental health. In the UK, therapists must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, counselling, or a related field, and that is often followed by a Master’s degree in a similar area. These courses must be recognised by the following bodies:

• United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
• Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP)

These qualifications ensure that therapists are well-prepared to handle sensitive and complex issues. The training covers various therapeutic methods, ethical considerations, and extensive supervised practice. As a result, therapists are equipped to work with severe mental health issues and deep-rooted emotional problems.

All therapists in the LADZ app must hold a membership with a PSA approved body. So, if you’re looking to connect with a professional through LADZ, you can have peace of mind knowing you’ve got access to highly trained and trusted therapists.

Coaches’ Qualifications

Coaching, on the other hand, is a much less regulated field. There is no single qualification or standard that all coaches must meet. However, many professional coaches choose to undergo training and certification to improve their skills. For example, many coaches on the LADZ app have completed courses like the Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching. These courses provide them with tools and techniques to help you set goals, stay motivated, and overcome obstacles.

Because coaching is not as strictly regulated as therapy, it’s important to choose a coach who has taken steps to further their education and gain credentials that give you confidence in their abilities. With that in mind, all coaches on the LADZ app must hold an ICF, EMCC, ACCPH, APC, ANLP or AC membership. This criterion helps us ensure our members connect with coaches they can trust.

Do I Need A Coach Or Therapist?

Deciding whether you need a coach or a therapist depends on what you are looking to achieve.

• If you are dealing with past traumas, deep-seated anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, therapy might be the better choice. Therapists are trained to help you understand and heal from complex emotional wounds. For example, studies have shown that therapy can be very effective for treating clinical depression and anxiety, with many patients reporting significant improvement over time.
• If you are looking to improve your performance, set new goals, or simply boost your confidence, a coach might be the right option. Coaching is all about future growth. It helps you focus on what you want to achieve and gives you the tools to get there. Many people find that working with a coach leads to improved work performance, better time management, and increased personal satisfaction.
• Sometimes, you might even benefit from both. Some people start with therapy to address urgent mental health needs and later transition to coaching to work on personal or professional development. It’s not an either/or situation – each can play a valuable role at different stages of your life.

When deciding, think about your current challenges and your goals for the future. Consider whether you need help understanding and healing your past, or whether you need guidance in building a better future. The LADZ app makes it easy to explore both options to find the professionals that best meet your needs.

Find The Support You Need With LADZ

No matter what you are going through or what you want to achieve, support is always within reach. The LADZ app connects you with experienced therapists and skilled coaches who are ready to help you build a healthier, happier life. Taking the first step towards a better mental state or a more focused life can be daunting. However, the LADZ app makes it easier than ever to get the help you need. Whether you are looking to heal emotional wounds, build mental fitness, or simply have a chat with someone who understands, find a professional to help you in the LADZ app today.