Coaching and Counseling Distinctions
Coaching Model
Paradigm: Personal development and human potential. Nothing is broken. The client is already whole, functions well, and wants to create a more fulfilling life.
The Coach does not "treat" the client.
Focus: Create your ideal life & relationships.
Focus: The present and the future
The client is the expert on their own life.
The coach is an expert on the facilitation process.
The coach asks strategic questions so client accesses their own answers. The coach is a sounding board.
The coach provides accountability so the client is more likely to follow through. Or clients get clear that do not want to make a commitment. Either way, the client becomes more empowered.
The client develops their own success plan. The client is not treated by a professional and there is no power hierarchy of one-up and one-down. There are equal power bases between coach and client.
Takes a strong stand for the client's autonomy and eliminates unhealthy dependence on a professional.
Counseling Model
Medical model. Fix what hurts and is dysfunctional.
Focus: Clients have problems that need healing or recovery.
Focus: The past to the present
Therapist has expertise in the recovery process that the client does not possess.
Therapist is seen as having more power than the client. This is a hierarchical model.
Therapist develops a treatment plan with the client, usually based on a mental illness diagnosis. This is required for insurance and Medicaid reimbursement.
This model can foster dependency due to hierarchal power structure. *
* Statement by Benita Esposito: I am dedicated to facilitating personal empowerment instead of fostering dependency. I counsel you to define your core values, identify your strengths and talents, and develop effective action plans to reach your goals. As a proponent of humanistic psychology, transpersonal psychology and positive psychology, I honor and respect you as the unique person are. I am a strong advocate for you to develop your full human potential.
There is an appropriate place for counseling and for coaching. Many people are able to reach their personal and business goals with coaching. However, sometimes they benefit from healing their family of origin patterns that have caused them all kinds of trouble as adults. Sometimes people stay stuck in a revolving door caused by unhealed emotional wounds. That can cause depression, anxiety, PTSD, relationship difficulties, physical pain and stress-related illness. When inner wounds heal, clients find it much easier to create the life of their dreams. The clouds vanish so the sun can shine brightly.
A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is required to complete a far more rigorous training and credentialing process than a life coach. As an LPC, I completed a bachelor's degree in psychology, and a 2 year master's degree in clinical psychology along with a year-long practicum. I am required to document a minimum of 35 hours of continuing education every 2 years.