| What’s the difference between Life Coaching and | | | | psychotherapy where there could be a brief encounter |
| Psychotherapy? | | | | with a therapist for a specific issue or concern, such |
| | | | as overwhelming grief over the loss of a loved one. |
| The primary difference between a life coach and a | | | | Sometimes the client may be severely emotionally |
| psychotherapist or mental health counselor is that | | | | damaged and need to stay in psychotherapy for |
| psychotherapists and counselors commonly | | | | many years simply to maintain an emotional holding |
| “treat” clinical issues, such as an existing mental | | | | pattern. Again, the primary difference is that Life |
| health problem like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic | | | | Coaching is not focused on treating a problem - where |
| stress disorder, etc. A life coach however does not | | | | psychotherapy is. |
| treat anything. Therefore, life coach services are not | | | | |
| covered by insurance programs. | | | | Differences in boundaries between Life Coaching and |
| | | | | traditional Psychotherapy/Counseling |
| Another difference between traditional psychotherapy | | | | |
| and Life coaching is that in psychotherapy, the client is | | | | The boundaries that exist in the psychotherapy |
| generally going through severe pain and suffering. | | | | relationship are quite rigid. This is mostly because the |
| They are seeking relief and looking to the therapist to | | | | patient/client is usually suffering a clinically diagnosable |
| “fix” them or help them eliminate their problem. | | | | condition, and sometimes they can be very fragile |
| The client will seek therapy to deal with their acute | | | | emotionally. Breeching these boundaries can often be |
| distress so they can then leave, terminate the | | | | devastating for the patient/client. Some boundaries can |
| relationship, and resume their previous life. In short, they | | | | include no contact outside of the therapeutic setting, |
| are being treated for something. | | | | e.g., office, clinic, hospital, etc. except in very rare and |
| | | | | extenuating circumstances. Self-disclosure on the part |
| More about the differences between Life Coaching | | | | of the psychotherapist is generally minimal. Also, |
| and Psychotherapy | | | | allowing a genuine two-way dialogue to evolve is not |
| | | | | supported. Life Coaching has a much more flexible set |
| In Life Coaching, the relationship may typically be short | | | | of boundaries. The assumption is that the life coach is |
| term or it could last months and years. Sometimes | | | | dealing with an emotionally healthy, relatively |
| there are situations where a client wishes time-limited | | | | well-adjusted and effectively functioning individual. |
| life coaching , such as being coached through a special | | | | Therefore, appropriate self-disclosure by the coach, |
| project or personal transition. An example might be | | | | more authenticity, lightness, fun and friendliness in the |
| learning how to better communicate in preparation for | | | | relationship is often the rule. |
| a job interview or promotion. This is different from | | | | |