Coaching vs. Therapy: How to Know Which is Right for You
What is Therapy?
Therapy (or psychotherapy) is designed to help you understand and work through emotional, relational, or psychological challenges.
Licensed Psychologists and therapists use evidence-based approaches to:
Address anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns
Improve coping skills and emotional regulation
Heal past wounds that impact present functioning
Strengthen relationships and communication skills
Therapy often explores both the past and present, creating insight into how experiences shape your thoughts, behaviors, and feelings today.
What is Coaching?
Coaching is a forward-focused, goal-oriented process that helps you identify strengths, clarify goals, and move into action. Coaching may address specific personal projects, life balance, job performance and satisfaction, or general conditions in the client’s life, business, or profession. Coaching utilizes personal strategic planning, values clarification, brainstorming and activities to enhance self-awareness.
Executive or personal coaching can help you:
Build confidence and executive presence
Navigate career transitions or leadership challenges
Develop decision-making strategies
Improve productivity and performance
Align daily actions with long-term goals
Unlike therapy, coaching does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, it emphasizes unlocking potential and accelerating growth.
Key Differences Between Coaching and Therapy
Focus: Therapy often looks at healing and resolving, while coaching emphasizes growth and performance.
Scope: Therapy can address mental health conditions; coaching focuses on personal and professional development.
Timeline: Therapy may involve long-term exploration. Coaching is typically structured and time-limited.
How to Decide What’s Right for You
Ask yourself:
Am I struggling with anxiety, depression or unresolved emotional challenges? — Therapy may be the right fit.
Am I functioning well, but want to grow, gain clarity, or grow in achieving their full potential?
Therapy is essential for individuals struggling with mental health concerns.
Coaching is ideal for those who are already functioning well, but want to elevate their performance and/or address issues including imposter syndrome, navigate career transitions, burnout, and improve self-confidence.
The Benefit of Working With a Psychologist
As a licensed psychologist and coach, I bring a unique lens: the depth of therapy training with the action-oriented strategies of coaching. This means I leverage my deep understanding of psychology to provide insights and strategies in coaching contexts, helping clients to optimize their potential and achieve meaningful progress in personal and professional lives.
Final Thoughts
Both therapy and coaching can be powerful investments in your growth. The key is identifying where you are right now and what kind of support you need most. If you’re unsure which is right for you, I welcome you to schedule a free consultation. We can clarify your goals and design a path that fits your needs.
