What is The Difference between Coaching and Counseling?
Change comes from an internal desire to do things differently. It starts with motivation but requires a certain degree of discipline to sustain the effort. Change requires a clear vision that you can visualize and measure, which leads to action and results.
Many people have difficulty articulating what they want to achieve in their life or profession. The old saying “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results” rings true for many who want something different, or better, for their lives, but they keep doing the same routine, work habits, life habits and more. To get different results, something must change.
How change takes place depends on the individual and what they believe the obstacles may be. As an example, if an individual has low self-esteem and is dealing with past trauma, counseling may be a good first step. Counseling can help to uncover how the trauma impacts the person’s current view of themselves and how to reduce the impact of that trauma on one’s view of self with the expected outcome of improving self-esteem and self-confidence.
Coaching, on the other hand, looks at what is possible for the future and supports individuals in setting goals and developing specific skills to help them get there. As an example, a person wants to climb the corporate ladder but does not know how to take the next steps in developing skills needed to get to the next level. Or perhaps a person has a life goal to be more positive or less critical. Through coaching, goals and actions can guide an individual in changing their life outlook and altering responses and thought patterns toward these goals.
Motivation is often the first step to making a change. Whether it is a desire to get a better job, improve your relationship, lose weight, or become a better listener, these motivators start the engine to move in the direction of change. The problem with trying to change is many people have high energy early on, but once the fuel of motivation runs dry, the action toward change starts to fizzle. This is where discipline comes in. Discipline requires consistently reviewing what you want, what steps you need to take, and reminding yourself of the rewards associated with continuing toward your goals.
Coaching supports your journey. Coaching provides you with not only the tools needed to achieve your life or wellness goals, but also, through consistent check-ins, supports you along the way. Coaching is part of the refueling process. Coaching assures you that you are not alone.
The following bullets demonstrate the difference between coaching and counseling and may help you know what path is the right one for you when a change is desired.
Coaching vs Counseling
| Coaching | Counseling |
| Focused on goals (future) | Rooted in the past |
| Time limited and most often short term | Not time limited |
| Focused on developing specific skills | Focused on uncovering root problems |
| Action oriented | Reflective and introspective |
| Client is the expert | Counselor is the expert |
| Task oriented | Emotion oriented |
| Seeks to empower | Seeks to remove pain |
| Asks what is possible | Asks what the problem is |
| Facilitates self-discovery | Base practice on medical model |
If you are ready to make a change, please feel free to contact us or make an appointment with Shaping Memories. We would be honored to support you in your journey toward a brighter future.