Coaching or Counselling
Are you wondering what the differences are between coaching and counselling?
Most people are unsure of the differences between coaching and counselling, so here is an essential guide to help clarify that these two different health professionals are doing similar jobs.
What is The Definition of Life Coaching?
The field of Life Coaching encompasses various holistic, Eastern, and Western-based therapies, with Health Coaching being a part of it. It is considered an alternative care profession, and life coaches may have different qualifications from various training establishments. It's important to verify their credentials and ensure they have indemnity insurance before starting any sessions.
Life coaching helps clients visualize their future selves and establish daily practices to help them achieve their goals. Coaches often conduct sessions in the client's home or workplace, gaining a unique insight to assist the client in working through their life's goals within their daily environment.
Life coaches possess the skills to identify problematic behaviour that hinders clients' life goals and take a holistic approach to address their physical and mental needs. They may collaborate with other mental health professionals to create a treatment management plan that focuses on mental health education during the client's sessions.
Coaches work with clients to change old habits and problematic behaviour by teaching essential mental health life skills and providing emotional support throughout the process. They assist in identifying, clarifying, and defining goals, creating a strategic plan to leverage the client's skills and strengths, holding the client accountable for progress, and providing structure, inspiration, guidance, motivation, and support.
Coaches help with:
Identifying, clarifying, and defining goals.
Creating a strategic plan to use the client's skills and strengths to reach those goals.
Holding the client accountable for the progress and achievement of those goals.
Provide structure, inspiration, guidance, motivation, and support.
What is the Definition of Counselling?
Counsellors can seem to do much the same as coaches, but they have a greater scope of clinical knowledge. They can work with diverse clients, be attached to an organisation or larger mental health facility, or be in private practice.
In Australia, a registered counsellor can only practise with a Certified Diploma, and session fees can be claimed through most health insurance funds. Counselling is considered a medical profession, and registered counsellors must follow strict guidelines set by a governing body such as the ACA and have indemnity insurance.
Counsellors can work with individuals with normal cognitive processes who have experienced challenging life events. They can also work with people who have severe mental issues that require specialised acute medical care. Counsellors are often included in larger medical response teams, including physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers.
Breaking down the differences Between Coaching & Counselling
Counsellors frequently work with clients whom a health care professional has advised needing therapy or counselling.
Coaches work with clients who often use a coach of their own volition.
Counselling is seldom a quick fix – it may take years to work with some severe mental disorders & traumas.
Coaching is sometimes a quick fix, though it usually takes a few months to help people overcome fears, phobias, and self-created obstacles.
And how both can work side by side…
Despite significant differences between coaching and counselling, there is also a definite overlap. Both do a great job of helping clients, and they can coexist side-by-side to help people overcome mental health issues and work toward their life goals.