What's the Difference Between Coaching and Psychotherapy?
Updated: Feb 20
Often times people ask me if I am going to psycho-analyze them. I am not a licensed psychologist, friends. Therefore I do not have the skills, education, or training to psycho-analyze anyone. I do however have training as a coach. I have decades of experience in the sex and relationship world to back up this training. Coaches help clients make and achieve goals. Psychologists help clients process the past and how it affects them. Read on for more differences. Please text me at 775-413-0504 if you think sex and relationship coaching can help you grow and live your best life.
Psychotherapists treat mental illness; coaches do not.
It is unethical and illegal for unlicensed coaches to offer “therapy” for a common mental health problem such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychotherapy is the way to go.
Past vs. future orientation
Generally speaking the focus on psychotherapy is more on healing from the past, while the focus on coaching is more on getting you to where you wish to be next.
Differences in payment
Psychotherapy may be covered by your insurance company, coaching is typically not covered by health insurance because the focus of coaching is not on treating an illness.
Accreditation
In order to legally provide psychotherapy, one requires an advanced degree and a state license to practice. While there are many certification programs for coaching, there are no governing boards for life or success coaches.
A WIHL coach is able to offer guidance by:
Clarifying and achieving personal intimacy, sex, and relationship goals
Identifying and addressing patterns and blocks
Setting clearer, healthier relationship parameters
Uncovering new mechanisms for listening and expressing oneself
A therapist, on the other hand, focuses on ways to:
Recover from past traumas
Explore why past relationships have been destructive
Work through depression or anxiety that affect your ability to maintain a healthy relationship
Survive a divorce or loss of a loved one
The WIHL certified life coaches on staff to help you make and achieve your goals. Our coaching programs are customized to clients’ unique challenges.
The WIHL works with counselors licensed in psychotherapy who can help clients work through trauma related to abuse.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255