Therapy vs. Coaching
Should you begin therapy or coaching? You’ve heard of both, but you may realize you don’t know which is best for you. Feeling a bit confused about which one is right is normal. There is overlap between the two, but they also serve different purposes. Both can address behavior changes and bring new awareness that can lead to powerful transformations. In this post, I’ll explain in greater detail the purpose of therapy and the purpose of coaching, clarify the differences, and ask you to reflect on which may be best for you at this moment.
Let’s start by looking at the function of therapy. Therapy addresses many domains—family dynamics, anxiety and depressive symptoms—but to simplify it, we can think about therapy as working from the inside out. A therapist will ask a client to go inward—reflect on feelings, think about their past, including family dynamics and past relationships, and address anxious and depressive symptoms. Therapy is a space for emotional processing, self-understanding, and healing patterns that are rooted in past experiences. While therapy is often sought during times of crisis, it is not limited to crisis management. It can be a space where you have a general feeling that something doesn’t feel quite right, even if your life appears to be in order.
While therapy can be seen as working from the inside out, coaching can be thought of as working from the outside in. Coaching is a space for actions, goals, and forward momentum. Coaching is a space to work on skills that will help you navigate the world—to be accountable, to perform higher, to stay organized. People may seek coaching when they want help clarifying objectives and goals, identifying obstacles that are holding them back, and creating strategies to improve their lives. A coach will often help a person in these domains by giving direct advice.
To help clarify the distinction between therapy and coaching, it’s helpful to look at the key differences between them. One of the important things to understand between the two is that therapy explores the why—the underlying emotions, thoughts, and experiences that shape behavior, while coaching more often explores the how, or the steps needed to move forward. Therapy more often deals with emotions and feelings—coaching can touch on emotions, but won’t work deeply with them. Coaching often involves external goals—therapy can include goals, but that won’t be the main focus. Another key difference between the two is in the approach of the therapist versus that of a coach. A coach will provide direct advice, offering concrete strategies and action steps. A therapist, on the other hand, tends to be less prescriptive. They will give less direct solutions and opinions, and instead be more of a guide—helping the client explore their inner experience and arrive at their own understanding and resolutions.
Finally, therapists are licensed and ethically regulated to treat mental health concerns, whereas coaching credentials vary widely and are not subject to the same legal oversight. Before deciding between therapy and coaching, it can be helpful to pause and reflect on your intention. Ask yourself what you’re struggling with: Are you feeling generally emotionally stable but in need of direction, structure, or momentum, and do you need help with productivity, decision-making, or follow-through? Or are you feeling stuck, or emotionally overwhelmed? Maybe you are noticing troubling patterns in your relationships or family dynamics. Therapy and coaching are responses to different needs, and clarity often comes from being honest about what you’re facing in this moment.
Ultimately, the “right” choice depends on what will best support you right now. Be honest with yourself: Do you need understanding or direction? Depth or structure? Sometimes people begin with one and find that it naturally leads them to the other over time—both therapy and coaching are meaningful ways of working on yourself. What matters most is choosing the kind of support that meets you where you are and helps you move forward.