In our journey of self-improvement and well-being, we may choose to seek various forms of support and interventions, such as counselling, psychotherapy, coaching, mentoring, or training, among others. At times, we may struggle to figure out which of these would best meet our needs. For instance, counselling and coaching may at times be conflated, due to lack of an appreciation for what each entails. This article aims to provide an introduction to Counselling and Coaching modalities, and also explain the differences between them, in order to guide the reader on what modality might be most helpful for them.

Counselling

Counselling is a form of “talk therapy”.

It helps in the treatment and management of certain mental health conditions and disorders. It can create greater awareness of one’s symptoms and triggers, and support by providing tools and strategies to manage or overcome these.

It also provides a safe and empathetic space for clients to process past traumatic and difficult experiences, and heal from them. It paves the way for closure and acceptance.

Furthermore, it helps to develop greater awareness and understanding of one’s own emotions, thoughts and behaviors, as well as those of others. By doing so, it promotes self-discovery and responsibility.

Counselling also enables new perspectives and different ways of looking at issues, events and relationships. It identifies limiting beliefs and negative thoughts which may be keeping us “stuck” and keeping us from healing or growing. By reframing of these thoughts, clients are empowered to problem-solve and take conscious steps towards mental and emotional well-being.

Coaching

Coaching aims to facilitate client progress towards agreed goals; these can be in the areas of personal development, career, relationships, health and wellness, financial well-being, or others.

Coaching is essentially future-focussed. Whereas it may identify past experiences that may be holding clients back, it will not delve into these at length. It will focus on the present behaviors, mindsets and life choices that are blocking client progress, and help identify ways to move forward from these.

The coach works with the client as more of a “partner” in their development. They will not normally give advice or solutions to the client. Coaching is based on the premise that the client has the capacity to arrive at their own solutions and answers; the coach acts more as a “catalyst” to enable that process.

Coaching emphasizes action and practical steps towards client goals. It helps create a sense of urgency and accountability for the client.

Therefore, even though there may be some overlaps between counselling and coaching, the focus and aims of each of these modalities are quite different:

• Whereas Counselling may delve deeply into a client’s past, in order to create a better understanding of “why” clients are struggling, coaching primarily focusses on present issues, and identifying future goals and actions to take the client forward
• Counselling is, in essence, a “therapeutic” process, and aids in healing; coaching is more goals-oriented and performance-driven
• Whereas counselling may focus on exploring and understanding one’s feelings and emotions, as well as behavior changes aimed at well-being, coaching will primarily aim to drive change through actions and practical steps
• The nature of relationship in each of the modalities also differs. Counsellors approach client issues with a spirit of empathy, compassion and an unconditional positive regard. Coaching on the other hand, lays greater emphasis on creating accountability and self-responsibility for the client
• Coaching generally has a short-term, time-bound focus, whereas counselling is generally a longer-term process

Next steps…

Ready to take the next step on your journey of self-improvement and personal growth? Whether it is counselling or coaching that interests you, our Counsellor and Life Coach can help by creating and holding the space you need, and assist you each step of the way. Feel free to book a session, or a complimentary, short chat to discuss your needs further, and explore how we can best support you.