As many of you know when I am not helping people heal through their traumas and mental health struggles I am a full on Life Coach and Yoga Therapist. In the past, there have been many stigmas around both Therapy and Life Coaching however, Therapy has been held in a higher regard when compared to Life Coaching for many reasons. Historically, Life Coaching has been looked at with a skeptical eye as though a field to not be trusted. Some may even see is as a joke. However, on the opposing hand many people do not trust therapist as well. So, where does this leave us? Because I work in both fields I firmly believe both have their rightful places within the health and wellness communities. Why?! you may ask. Because therapy is designed for more specific needs and life coaching caters to everyday needs many people struggle with. When we are chatting with our family and friends about our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health needs, there’s a few things to consider when trying to decide whether or not one needs a life coach or a therapist.
What is life coaching
Life coaches also referred to as lifestyle gurus, is a profession that consist of typically (however not always) certified individuals consulting with clients to establishes healthier or more effective ways to create a more quality life or lifestyle. When speaking of a more quality life or lifestyle, this simply means establishing a more fulfilling, less chaotic, healthier, and more balanced lifestyle. Life coaching focuses on life-style and life-style alone. With that in mind a life coach aids a client with time management, building health relationships, self confidence, establishment of routines, finances, nutrition, mindfulness practices, motivation, work-life balance, work/career transitions, motivation, and other areas related to life-style changes. Life coaching is a collaborative based intervention designed to help people reach their life goals. Because of this it is imperative clients have goals and target areas they wish to work on.
Similarly to therapist, life coaches have their specialties or niches. This allows the life coach to focus on areas of their expertise or interest. For example, I am a Holistic Life Coach. My specialty is helping clients create a more balanced way of living. I incorporate mindfulness into sessions and we talk about finances, movement/exercising, time management, stress management, relationships, self confidence, spirituality, and values. I only take clients who are interested in those areas. There are life coaches that focus on career changes and all things business/career related; as their are life coaches more fitness based. Life coaching is not a one size fits all intervention making it flexible to the needs of the clients and can last anywhere between 3 weeks, 90 days, to 6 months.
What are the benefits to Life Coaching?
Life coaching is collaborative at it’s core. Because of this your life coach becomes an accountability partner who has access to the most personal parts of your life. With a life coach you are establishing goals together and working tirelessly together to reach those goals. Your life coach has the flexibility to come to your home or meet you in designated locations conducive to the goals set. Because life coaching is goals based you will have homework to help reinforce what is being worked on in session. Life coaching has no set rules making it easy for life coach to work with you anytime anywhere. Your life coach is also able to give you advice and be more candid with you due to the nature of the work. With life coaching the goal is to develop healthier habits, consistency, and ultimately create an improved lifestyle. Because of this you genuinely have someone coaching you through the ropes before turning you loose to do the things on your own. Also, life coaching is solution focused and straight forward because of this is you are putting in the work you will see results and improvements in your daily life.
How is Therapy any Different?
Psychotherapy also called Therapy consist of a variety of treatments and interventions designed to aid a client in identifying, alleviating, and/or reducing painful emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Therapy focuses on problems such as cognitive impairments, behavioral problems, and emotion dysregulation. Therapy consist of a State and Board Licensed professional who is able to diagnosis people with disorder, administer mental health assessments, and conduct psychological evaluations. In most cases a Therapist also works with those who are suicidal, self harming, and/or experiencing the inability to function well in one of these areas: home, school, work, relationship or all 4 areas.
Therapy can and will also focuses on quality of life areas similarly to Life Coaching however, quality of life goals are set as reminders that therapy is in services to making quality of life goals more obtainable. Consequentially, the more a clients mental health improves the more quality of life goals are achieved naturally because mental health impacts quality of life. In therapy a typically quality of life goal may look like but is not limited to increasing motivation, improving current relationships, advocating for needs. The idea is to get an idea of what areas of the client life is the mental health impacting, bringing areas to the barriers, and setting those as “subtargets”. In a nutshell, Therapy does not tackle quality of life first or head on as Life Coaching does.
How Do I Know If I Therapy vs Life Coaching?
A common question for many of us may be, “How to I decipher if I need one over the other?” There are a couple of ways to assess if therapy would be a better fit for you compared to Life Coaching. Number one, if you believe you need a therapist please reach out to a Mental Health Agency for an assessment and an intake. There are assessments and protocols in place to assess the goodness of fit for specific therapy styles and interventions. One can also assess be asking these clarifying questions:
- Where are my problem areas? In find a direction in life and/or managing a life transition (Life Coach) or In regulating my emotions and/or engaging in life threatening behaviors (Therapist).
- What are my needs? Assistance in making lifestyle changes and/or setting + achieving goals with a specialist in a specific area (Life Coach) or Assistance in understanding + regulating my emotions and/or reducing life threatening behaviors + learning skills to manage distress and crisis (Therapist).
- What are some of my barriers? Finding time, lack of direction, lack of confidence (Life Coach) or Trauma, Intrusive thoughts or urges, chronic anxiety (Therapist).
When trying to decide what is the best fit according to a need a Certified Life Coach will also let a client know if a client needs a therapist based on the goals and content that arises as early as the initial consultation. Also, scheduling an intake with a Licensed Mental Health provider or Certified Life Coach is also helpful because you are able to ask questions to help make an informed decision. Bare in mind an individual can work with both a Therapist and a Life Coaching in tandem if that is most effective.
In a Nutshell
Both Therapy and Life Coaching have their respective roles within our society having helped millions of people. When considering a Life Coaching it is important to remember the work will be focused on improving/enhancing a specific area in your life and goal oriented. Because of this it will typically be time frame based as well. Life Coaching does not focus on trauma work or psychological problems and does not diagnose. Therapy is designed to help people who in need of psychological care. A person can see both a Life Coach and Therapist to integrate care. And there are therapy styles that blend Life Coaching components. Today we see many Therapist who offer Life Coaching, such as myself who blend styles for a holistic approach.
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PS. The Healing Yogi 