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If you don't have an advanced degree, it's hard to know where to turn for support with social, emotional, and mental health issues. Therapy has been around for a while, but people have mixed experiences. The recent boom of the coaching industry has created an attractive alternative. But how do you know when you should see a therapist instead of a coach?

Understanding the Differences Between Therapy and Coaching

Deciding whether to see a coach or a therapist can be simplified by understanding what the each do. Coaches generally focus on the future, helping clients set and achieve goals, and navigate career or life transitions. A coach might help you plan career strategies, develop leadership skills, or create a map for personal wellness goals.

Therapists tend to focus on the present and past to help you heal and overcome emotional or psychological challenges. They are trained to address mental health issues. They can help you learn to manage emotional distress and work through relationship problems. A therapist would be the right choice for someone dealing with anxiety, trauma, or trying to resolve issues in their relationships.

The Problems With Coaching

The coaching industry has seen a rapid expansion in recent years. If you're on social media, you can't scroll without seeing someone offering guidance in everything from life and wellness to business and relationships.

The lack of regulation in this field can lead to well-intentioned but unqualified individuals offering services that may be harmful. This is especially true when it comes to working with trauma or couples.

Licensing boards and other regulating bodies exist to protect the public. Because coaches are not licensed or regulated, there is no governing body trying to protect against illegal or unethical behavior.

The appeal of personal development guidance makes sense. However, the growth in the coaching industry has not been accompanied by an increase in regulation. This creates significant concerns about the qualifications and ethics of practitioners.

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Great Reasons To Work With A Coach

To be clear, we're not anti-coaching. We just want consumers to know what's appropriate for coaching and what's not. Here are five great reasons to work with a coach.

Goal Setting and Achievement

Coaches are great for people looking to set specific, measurable goals in their personal or professional lives.

Accountability

A coach can help keep you accountable, providing regular check-ins and motivation to ensure you stay on track.

Skill Development

For skills like public speaking, business strategy, or athletic performance, a specialized coach can be transformative. There are also some great coaches helping people with ADHD and similar conditions live better lives through skills. The best coaches understand the boundary between therapy and coaching.

Career Advancement

Career coaches can offer industry-specific advice, resume tips, and interview preparation. This can be instrumental in job searches or career transitions. It's worth noting that most therapists don't receive much training in this area. For this reason, we generally recommend finding a respected career coach if that's your primary goal.

Personal Development and Motivation

Coaches can inspire and push you to meet personal development goals, such as improving time management or increasing self-confidence. But for this kind of more general coaching, we'd be cautious about the coach slipping into therapy territory.

Can A Therapist Help With These Things?

Yes! Therapists can do many things that coaches can do, and much more. Sometimes you might prefer to work with a coach who has a particular expertise that a therapist might not. These areas are often around specific industries, skills, and careers. For general personal development, therapists can help you in very similar ways to coaching.

Coaching Industry Risks

Therapists are required to have a state-monitored license, formal education, ongoing training, and adhere to strict legal and ethical guidelines.

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In contrast, the coaching industry has no structural requirements. This means anyone can declare themselves a coach, regardless of their background or expertise. While there are plenty of good coaches out there, there's no oversight or disciplining body when a coach misbehaves.

Coaching: Well-Intentioned But Sometimes Harmful

Many coaches enter the field with good intentions, aiming to help others improve their lives. But without a thorough understanding of psychological principles and mental health issues, coaches can cause harm.

Attempted to explore your past, especially trauma or relationship issues, can get sticky fast. Beware of any coach that attempts to do this.

The Dangers of Coaching

Coaches often draw on their own life experiences or unverified methods. This can be problematic when applied to clients with serious psychological needs. The boundary between coaching and therapy is frequently blurred, with some coaches overstepping their role to tackle issues that should be addressed in therapy. Without proper training, they may not know how to properly respond to any trauma reactions or mental health symptoms. This can leave clients feeling misunderstood or unsupported.

Signs of A Good Coach

A good coach has several key qualities that set them apart. They often have a clear, structured methodology. They sometimes have credentials from recognized coaching organizations, ensuring they're trained in basic skills. Good communication, coupled with a strong ethical foundation, respecting client confidentiality, and maintaining professionalism, is non-negotiable. A good coach should align well with your personal needs, fostering a relationship built on trust and mutual respect. They should be outcome-oriented, setting and achieving clear goals with their clients.

Most importantly, a good coach knows the boundaries of what coaches can and cannot do. We love to hear that a coach has referred someone for trauma therapy or couples counseling. It shows they know their lane and won't risk a client's safety, even if it means less business for them.

Signs of A Concerning Coach

Certain signs can show a coach may not be aware of the boundaries of their field. Be cautious of coaches who lack a clear methodology, as this can signify a lack of training and professionalism. If a coach makes extravagant promises about results, proceed with caution. If they reference anything about the past, "inner child work," or relationship conflict, they are probably not in their lane.

Poor communication skills, a lack of structured sessions, and disregard for ethical standards, such as honoring confidentiality or applying high-pressure sales tactics, are serious concerns. Coaches who do not engage in continuous learning or seem disinterested in your specific needs can also be problematic.

Ultimately, a coach who feels like a bad personal fit—someone you cannot trust or feel comfortable with—should be avoided.

Ethical Concerns and Consumer Protection

The lack of a governance or ethical standards in the coaching industry poses risks to client safety. It also poses a threat to consumer rights. Clients may spend large sums of money on services that have no evidence-based support or assurance of confidentiality. When issues arise, clients have limited recourse for grievances due to the absence of regulatory oversight.

Unqualified coaches may promote quick fixes, fad techniques, and simple solutions to complex problems. This can mislead clients about the nature of personal growth and healing. This not only minimizes the real challenges people face but also promotes unrealistic expectations about the outcomes of coaching.

10 Reasons to See a Therapist Instead of a Coach

Handling Mental Health Disorders

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Therapists are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, whereas coaches are not. Therapists have the expertise to identify mental health conditions like, anxiety and PTSD. They can develop and implement treatment plans that address these conditions. They can collaborate with psychiatrists.

Dealing with Trauma

Therapists have specialized training in trauma care. They understand how trauma impacts the brain and body and use techniques like EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help you heal.

Navigating Relationship Issues

Therapists can provide couples therapy based on evidence-based approaches to help resolve deep-seated relationship conflicts. Therapists are often trained in various modalities such as the Gottman Method, designed to address and heal relationship dynamics.

Regulated by Professional Standards

Therapists are required to be licensed and adhere to ethical standards. This provides a level of safety and accountability absent in coaching. Licensing boards enforce rigorous educational, training, and ethical requirements. Therapists are charged with maintaining high standards of practice. This protects clients by providing a formal mechanism for addressing grievances.

Depth of Training

Therapists undergo extensive training in human psychology and behavioral therapy, equipping them to handle complex emotional issues. This training includes master's or doctoral programs, supervised clinical experience, and continuing education. Therapists are well-versed in developmental psychology, psychopathology, and therapeutic techniques, allowing them to understand and treat a wide range of psychological issues.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Therapy sessions are confidential, bound by laws that protect client information. Therapists are legally required to maintain confidentiality, except in cases of imminent harm or as required by law. This ensures that clients can discuss their issues without fear of disclosure.

Insurance Coverage

Therapy services can sometimes be covered by health insurance or partially reimbursed. Many insurance plans include mental health benefits, which can significantly reduce the cost of therapy. Coaching, being a non-clinical service, is not covered by insurance.

Therapeutic Modalities

Therapists can use a variety of evidence-based modalities for specific issues, which coaches are not trained to employ. Each modality is designed to address particular psychological issues and can be tailored to the client's needs.

Addressing Substance Abuse and Addiction

Therapists trained in addiction counseling can offer comprehensive treatment plans. While there are some effective sober coaches, their role is often adjunct to formal treatment provided by therapists.

Crisis Management

Therapists are trained to handle psychological crises. They can provide immediate support, de-escalate dangerous situations, and develop safety plans. In cases of suicidal ideation, severe anxiety attacks, or psychotic episodes, therapists have the skills and knowledge to intervene. It is crucial not to seek out a coach if you are in crisis, as they lack the training and expertise to manage such situations safely and effectively.

Confidential, Holistic Therapy In California & Florida

Choosing between a coach and a therapist should depend on the nature of the issues at hand and the depth of support required. If you're dealing with mental health issues, relationship problems, or trauma, seeing a licensed therapist is advisable. Schedule a free consultation today to chat about how our therapists can support you.