Young female client having consultation with psychologist
Coaching is now one of the most requested employee benefits. It is also called "corporate therapy." How is coaching different from seeing a psychologist?
Both coaches and therapists can help you identify strengths and weaknesses and overcome obstacles holding you back. But who you should see depends on your issues and what you want to achieve. While coaching and therapy are not the same, they are compatible and even complementary. Still, it is essential to notice the difference to understand what you may need at this point in your career.
The following are the five main differences:
- Past vs. future: A coach looks at your present to help you create the future you desire, while a therapist looks at your past to help you manage your present. Clients who keep talking about the past may need healing and support from a therapist.
- Diagnosis vs. cocreation: Therapists diagnose disorders and work with traumas, while in coaching, the solution is cocreated between the coach and the coachee. The coach doesn't tell the client what to do but asks questions and facilitates their thinking process to maximize their strengths and resources.
- Relationship patient vs. equal: in therapy, the relationship is between doctor and patient who needs to receive treatment, while in coaching, both client and coach are consider equal, there is no hierarchy or anyone who knows better.
- Focus on understanding and healing vs. empowering to create solutions and action plans. Therapy is focused on understanding the past and healing traumas. The coach is focused on learning from experience and creating solutions or baby steps to thinking and acting in different ways and moving forward.
- Topic personal vs. professional: even when you can discuss any issue with both professionals, many clients find it harder to explain technical problems to therapists, such as what is a PM (product manager), Scrum or how to manage time effectively. Likewise, some people may feel uncomfortable sharing personal matters with coaches, such as grief.
Typical topics to discuss in coaching sessions
The most common topics to discuss in a coaching session are self/actualization and well-being needs. Self-actualization needs are positioning for a promotion, role-related issues, self-confidence, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, public speaking, time management, communication and performance reviews.
Well-being needs are related to stress, such as coping with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or burnout, and relationship needs, such as being respected or included.
If the line seems a bit blurry, coaches are trained to refer clients to therapists or other coaches if they identify recurring issues that may need a treatment they cannot provide. Besides, you don't necessarily have to choose; you can have both. Starting a session takes courage, but if you find the right coach, it will feel like talking to a dear friend.
