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• Therapists assess, diagnose, and treat mental illness. As such, therapists often focus their work on identifying and reducing symptoms.

 

• Coaches motivate and encourage people to achieve specific goals. Because coaching does not involve identifying and reducing mental health symptoms, coaches often describe their work as being more positive in nature.

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• States regulate mental health licensure exams and the licensing process for therapists. Every therapist must have a license or work under supervision. In addition to the training and exams, licensure requires a graduate degree.

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• Coaching, on the other hand, is largely unregulated.  Although, all of our coaches are also licensed as an LPC, LMFT or LCSW.

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• Insurances do pay for therapists and do require in most cases a diagnosis.  Coaching is private self-pay only.

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• Coaches work with people so that they can do a transition from functional to optimal individuals, while therapists help people transition from a dysfunctional state to functional one.

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Of course, there is overlap—many therapists focus attention on client strengths and resources, and many coaches aim to reduce and resolve the problems that stand in the way of clients achieving their goals.

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