How to determine whether you should find a coach or a therapist

You are ready to do the work, but now what? 

Are you ready to dive in and work with someone one-on-one? Maybe you’re unsure of whether you’re looking for a coach or a therapist. I remember at the beginning of my healing journey wondering which container was right for me and how I would find the right person to work with. It can feel overwhelming to have made the decision that you’re ready for this next step, but are unsure how to proceed. There is no one size fits all advice, but here are some ways to determine whether therapy or life coaching will be the best fit. It might even be a combination of the two!

Certification and Licensing

There is one main difference between a therapist and a life coach and that is the process to becoming a practitioner. Therapists and other mental health professionals go through a rigorous training process, usually involving obtaining a higher degree, and are required to be certified and licensed. They also have an extensive code of ethics and confidentiality regulations to follow. 

Life coaching is more flexible, and there are many paths that lead to someone deciding to become a life coach. In the United States, life coaches are not governed by a board and are not required to comply with HIPAA. Life coaches typically have an individual confidentiality agreement and code of ethics they follow in their practice, but it varies based on each coach. For this reason, a life coach should not be considered a medical professional, and life coaching should not be considered a substitute for therapy or any other mental health service.

Therapy versus Coaching: The Work

If you have specific traumas you are looking to address or are looking for a specific diagnosis, then you might consider seeing a therapist or other mental professional. Therapy is a great place to focus on what I call the uncovering work. What is uncovering work? The short answer is that you’re building the timeline from present all the way back to birth, piecing together any wounds you might have incurred and anything that might need healing. Imagine you are in the attic of your inner world and slowly going through the boxes, looking through everything to see what you have. Once you have everything unboxed, that’s when you can really start the healing process.

In my own experience, it took me a couple years of consistent therapy to really piece together my story and understand what wounds needed to be addressed. The main difference between therapy and coaching is that therapy starts from the present and looks back, using your past and your history to inform what is happening in the present. 

In coaching, you start at the present moment and look forward, envisioning where you would like to go, what goals and dreams you have, and ways to move forward. The coaching industry is vast, and each coach has their own niche. If you’ve thought of it, there’s probably a coach out there specializing in it. I’ve found a lot of valuable healing while working with a coach, while also establishing new skills and building new tools that help me with what I’m trying to accomplish. 

Both coaches and therapists are a great resource to support you as you navigate the complexities of daily life. They can both hold space for you while you navigate what’s happening in your present life. The question I would ask if you’re unsure of which path to take is: are there experiences in your past that need healing, or are you looking for a path forward? You can always book consultation calls with a variety of therapists and coaches to help you find clarity as well.

Finding a Therapist or Coach

This leads me to what can feel like the most challenging hurdle to overcome. How do you find the right person to work with? My recommendation is to start out by doing some research. Go to each person’s website, read their about page and learn more about their process. Once you have an idea of who they are and what they do, close your eyes and picture yourself sitting in a room across from them. Imagine having a conversation with them. Can you imagine yourself feeling comfortable enough to open up to them? What are you feeling in your body as you go through this visualization? Do you feel at ease, or can you feel your body tensing up? This is all information that can help you narrow down your search. Once you have a short list of potential practitioners, I would recommend scheduling consultation calls. A good therapist and coach will offer a free consultation that will help you determine if they’re a good fit and vice versa. These containers are a vulnerable space and it’s important to work with someone who you’re excited to build a relationship with. I want to acknowledge that cost can also be a factor, so that is something you will need to consider as well. 

Preparing for Your Consultation

If you’re a listmaker, it might feel good to write down all the qualities you’re looking for in a facilitator. As you go through your consultations, you can use your list to see who is a best fit for you. If you’re more of an intuitive person, I would focus on how that person makes you feel during your consultation. Trust that you will know when it feels right. 

Additional Factors to Consider

I want to acknowledge that these containers are a financial investment in addition to being an emotional and time investment. It’s important to consider how much you are willing and able to invest at the moment. Insurance and frequency of sessions will also affect the overall investment. Typically therapists accept payment on a session by session basis with varying cancellation policies. Coaches usually give options for a long term container and either expect payment upfront for all sessions or offer a payment plan. You can always discuss the cost of working together in your consultation call. Anyone who pressures you to commit on the spot or is rushing to receive payment from you is someone who does not have your best interests at heart, and I would encourage you to proceed with caution. Take as much time as you need to make your decision.

Working with a coach or therapist is also an emotional investment. It takes a lot of vulnerability to show up, and the work you do in your container might also have an impact on your daily life. Are you in a place where you feel like you can navigate that? When you start work with someone it might be valuable to create a list of tools and ways you can support yourself when you’re feeling a little raw or sensitive. It’s also important to consider where you’re at in your healing journey. What are you hoping to gain from working with someone? 

Once you’ve started to work with a facilitator, I would check-in with yourself after a few sessions. How are you feeling about the work and the relationship you're building? Be kind to yourself and remember that you are in control of your own healing journey. It’s always okay to stop working with someone if you feel they are no longer a fit. It’s okay to ask to take a break to reevaluate. Ultimately therapists and coaches are here to support you and help you on your journey, and you should feel supported by them. 

Still have questions or are unsure of what your next steps are? I invite you to fill out my coaching interest form. You can also send me an email! I am here for you.

Disclaimer

I am not a licensed medical health professional, and this is not medical advice of any sort. I am merely sharing my opinion and experience with the intention of offering my own perspective and potentially providing more clarity for you. 

If you are struggling and need immediate help, I recommend the following resources:

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Textline: text “HOME” to 741741

Online Crisis Chat: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/