Life Coach vs Therapist: Key Differences

Seeking professional help for Mental Health issues and challenges has become common. A vast majority of people nowadays are getting treatment to improve their mental well-being so they can cope with professional and personal challenges better. In this context, the debate surrounding Life Coach vs Therapist has increased significantly in recent years.   

According to the House of Commons Library, 3.25 million people in the UK have accessed National Health Service (NHS) Mental Health, Learning Disability, and Autism Services in recent years. Read this blog to understand the differences between Life Coach vs Therapist and when you should approach them to resolve your problem. 

Table of Contents   

1) Defining Life Coach and Therapist   

2) Life Coach vs Therapist: Key Differences  

3) When should you consult a Life Coach?   

4) When should you consult a Therapist? 

5) Conclusion 

Defining Life Coach and Therapist 

Life Coaches are trained professionals who mainly focus on setting and achieving goals and improving certain areas of life, such as career, relationship, and personal development. They guide people to help them reach their full potential by enhancing their skills, motivation, and self-confidence. Through a questions and answers session, they offer guidance and help people maximise their potential and achieve their goals. 

On the other hand, Therapists are qualified Mental Health care professionals specialising in treating people going through emotional and psychological issues. Their main aim is to reduce symptoms of Mental Illness and help their client overcome their life challenges. Through Therapy sessions, Therapists help their clients overcome their Mental Health issues like Depression, Anxiety Attacks, and more. 

Join the health revolution! Embrace Healthy Lifestyles Training and redefine what wellness means for you!  

Life Coach vs Therapist: Key differences

In this age of hyper-competition, where people are under immense pressure in their professional and personal lives, Life Coaches and Therapists play a vital role. Let's look at the differences between them.   

Scope of work  

One of the primary differences between a Life Coach vs. Therapist lies in the scope of their work. Life Coaches help you analyse and resolve your current issues, while Therapists investigate your past to understand why you act in a certain way. So, Therapists focus on “Why”, and Life Coaches focus on “How” to reach your goals. In simple words, Therapists mainly focus on your emotions, feelings and the Mental issues you are dealing with, while Life Coach focuses on improving the quality of your life.     

Goals of Life Coaching and Therapy sessions   

A Therapist explores your thoughts and feelings to understand your actions and habits and improve your mental well-being. Therapy sessions are valuable for dealing with problems like Anxiety and Depression. A Life Coach helps you identify what you are passionate about and how to use those skills in the best possible way to improve both your personal and professional lives.   

Discover inner peace and tranquillity. Join our Meditation Masterclass to learn ancient techniques and modern practices for a calmer mind and a more centred life. 

Framework   

From afar, the job of a Therapist and Life Coach are similar, as they both offer help to someone going through some Mental Health issues. But their frameworks are very different and involve different processes and steps.   

Therapists interact with their clients to understand their problem(s) and guide them to resolve and overcome them. However, they do not work strictly 'by the book', meaning they often use 'out of the box' ideas to resolve clients' problems and fulfil their needs. On the other hand, a Life Coach follows a more organised approach to working with their clients. They conduct sessions to provide people the Life Coaching Tools to resolve their problems and improve their lives.   

Problem solving approach 

Life Coach emphasises proactive problem-solving and an action-oriented approach. They help clients identify obstacles and create plans to overcome them. On the other hand, Therapists focus more on the causes of emotional and psychological distress. They assist clients in understanding their feelings, behaviours, and patterns to bring changes in their mental health condition.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and well-being. Join our Yoga Training to cultivate strength, flexibility, and inner harmony. 

Way of thinking 

The way of thinking of a Life Coach and a Therapist is very different. Therapists are usually open-minded, but on the other side, Life Coaches are more focused. Sessions with a Therapist are generally an hour per week and usually begin with an open-ended conversation. Also, there is no clarified “goal "to work on. The same goes for Life Coaching sessions, but the only difference is that there are usually specific topics or goals to work toward. 

Use of medical treatment 

Medical treatment is also one of the factors which can explain the difference between a Life Coach and a Therapist. Life Coaches are not trained to provide medical treatment, diagnose medical conditions or offer any therapy for mental health disorders. But, Therapists are trained as Mental Health professionals qualified to offer Therapy for a range of Mental Health concerns. They assess, diagnose and treat psychological disorders, emotional challenges, and behavioural issues. 

Duration of Therapy and Life Coaching  

The differences between Life Coach vs. Therapist can be understood by looking at their duration. Working with Life Coach is generally a short-term commitment that can vary from one month to a year. Their services and guidance are mainly geared towards helping people achieve their short-term or immediate goals. On the other hand, a Therapist commits their services to their clients for a long time. This is because Therapy is a long-term practice that helps people find the root cause of their mental problems. 

Enhance your well-being today! Join our Active and Healthy Lifestyles Training to embark on a journey towards a happier, more vibrant you. 

When should you consult a Life Coach? 

Here are some situations where you might want to consult a Life Coach:  

a) You have specific goals you want to achieve and need guidance on fulfilling them.    

b) You feel stuck or uncertain about your direction in life and need help finding clarity. 

c) You want to improve your time management, productivity, or work-life balance.    

d) You are looking to boost your confidence, self-esteem, or overall motivation.    

e) You are going through a life transition, such as changing careers, getting married or becoming a parent.    

f) You want to improve your communication or relationship skills.   

g) You are ready to make a positive change in your life and need someone to guide you to achieve your goal(s).     

Join our Life Coach Masterclass now and learn the transformative skills to empower yourself 

When should you consult a Therapist? 

Here are some situations where you might want to consult a Therapist.  

a) You are struggling with persistent feelings of Sadness, Anxiety, or Depression   

b) You are experiencing overwhelming stress, and it's affecting your daily life.    

c) You have recently gone through a traumatic incident and are having trouble coping.  

d) You are facing relationship difficulties and conflicts and need help resolving them.    

e) You have a history of Mental Health issues and need ongoing support.  

Conclusion 

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and understood the key differences between Life Coach vs Therapist and when you should consult them. They both help people maximise their capabilities and achieve their goals. Even though both professions focus on the same objective - to help people, they differ in the scope of work, goals and frameworks.  

Unlock the power of change! Join our Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Training and master the skills to transform lives.