Therapy vs Coaching
Coaching
Coaches motivate and encourage people to achieve specific goals. Because it does not involve identifying and reducing symptoms, coaches often describe their work as being more positive in nature. 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. Unlike the practice of therapy, coaching is not regulated by the government. In other words, there are no state or federal laws nor regulations that govern coaching as a profession or define a scope of practice for those who offer coaching services. As a result there can be a much wider range of what is considered coaching. If zero is a neutral point many individuals looking for coaching may believe that they are functioning at or above zero. While coaching is a legitimate field with a growing research base and a code of ethics, adherence to that code of ethics is entirely voluntary.
Therapy / Counseling
Therapy is provided by someone who has specifically studied counseling which has somewhat different origins. Counseling grew out of the child guidance movement, and from research focused on human development. As a separately licensed profession, mental health counseling is relatively young, with most state licensure laws taking effect in the early nineties. Mental health counselors are generally licensed at the masters degree level, though some also have doctorates. States heavily regulate therapy. Therapy tends to be more focused on a medical model of assessment and diagnoses. Therapy is often covered by and individuals medical insurance. If zero is a neutral point many individuals looking for therapy may believe they are functioning at or below zero. Therapists (counselors) assess, diagnose, and treat mental illness. As such therapists often focus their work on identifying and reducing symptoms.