Designing their future, learning new skills and seeking more balance in their lives
Psychologically dysfunctional in a some way
Seeking self-understanding
Asking “why”
Dealing with old issues, emotional pain or traumas, seeking resolution and healing
Approach with Coaching:
Approach with Therapy:
Begins with premise the client is whole
Refers individuals with prolonged depression, severe anxiety, phobias, harmful addictions and destructive or abusive behaviour patterns to mental health professionals
Primary focus on actions and the future
Oriented toward solving problems through action
Works mainly with the conscious mind
Assists the clients in identifying, prioritizing and implementing choices
Helps client learn new skills and tools for personal growth and mastery
Helps client get clear on his or her own values and align actions to them
Encourages and requests proactive behaviour
Begins with the premise that client needs healing
Treats individuals with prolonged depression, severe anxiety, phobias, harmful and destructive or abusive behaviour patterns
Primary focus on feelings and history
Works to bring unconscious into conscious
Assists the client in untangling unconscious conflicts which interfere with choices
Helps client resolve old pain and terminate old coping mechanisms.
Process of Coaching:
Process of Therapy:
Focused on recognizing and developing potential
Main tools include accountability, inquiry, goal-setting and strategy
Deals mainly with external issues, looks for external solutions to internal blocks
Focused on healing and restoring functioning
Main tools include listening, reflecting, confrontation and interpretation
Deals mainly with internal issues; looks for internal resolution
Source: Hayden and Whitworth’s Distinction between Coaching and Therapy