COACHING VS THERAPY
Let’s unpack how coaching is different than therapy/counseling.
Coaching
Coaching is a term applied to anything where a mentor, confidant, or teacher who is knowledgeable or skilled at a higher level than you may be is helping you develop further and reach a goal. It’s common to hear this term in sports and any sort of performance realm, but more recently we’ve seen a surge in life-coaching, as well. A life coach can help you think and act in new and different ways that will help to change your life! Coaching is usually goal-oriented, solution-focused, and all about what’s possible in your life! Some people seek life-coaching for specific desires like career enhancement and promotions, finding their purpose, moving on in relationships, or achieving big dreams. Others seek life-coaching to gain self-awareness, understanding, and empowerment. Through Awarding Life, I use the term ‘coaching’ to broadly encompass the many ways I can support you based on my credentials and skillset. Under the realm of coaching, I can meet you where you are and utilize both past experiences and future desires to address present habits, thoughts and lifestyle. I can blend my clinical counseling skills with nutritional strategy and behavioral science in a way that allows you to reach your goals. While learning and education can be a significant component of coaching, there is no need for clinical diagnosis, breach of confidentiality, or medical record-keeping. Coaching services are fluid and flexible based on the agreed trajectory where you and I decide together how long support needs to be in place after the initial commitment and what that support looks like. Coaching removes barriers that are often present in clinical practice and allows us to fully explore and expand YOU.
Therapy
Therapy defines the clinical practice of diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. Traditionally, therapy is anything that is therapeutic, or healing, in nature and provided by a qualified, licensed individual. This could apply to massage, nutrition, physical rehabilitation, and of course- mental health. All mental health professionals who provide therapy must be trained and credentialed through state and/or national governing bodies by going through rigorous post-graduate programs and lengthy residencies. Therapists are primarily focused on helping you identify and resolve mental health issues and obstacles. Clinical therapy is recognized as a health profession and is often covered by health insurances. When you utilize health care coverage for clinical therapy, there are parameters, guidelines, and even limitations to treatment and services. Any strategy used by a therapist must be deemed medically necessary and approved by the health care coverage. Therefore, a mental health diagnosis and treatment plan are required for each client. This can impact the length of time a client is able to receive covered services as well as the type of support a therapist can offer. For example, support with weight loss, specific nutrition guidance, alternative supplemental recommendations, and even some clinical services like trauma-support can be limited or disallowed. Because of these limitations, I have specific parameters around when and for whom I will provide outpatient therapy to. When we remove the health care insurance option, we gain some freedom back for all-inclusive support, but I remain accountable to the licensing board. I highly recommend private/self-pay therapy for those who have mental health needs because of the ease and flexibility this brings to the actual service and results you will get. I can only provide clinical therapy to residents of Virginia due to licensing mandates. Therapy may be a great option for some, while the previously defined coaching service may be more fitting for others. I invite you to reach out if you’d like to consider either option for your own needs. Together, we can figure out what works best for you in your current phase of life!