While there is a small amount of overlap, there are big differences between therapy and life coaching.

This is a PSA + warning.

Life coaching is NOT therapy, and therapy is NOT coaching.

I just turned away another almost-client so she could find a therapist to work with instead.

Honestly, most of my clients have already been to therapy.

  • They’ve either had a fantastic therapist, but are ready to get a fresh perspective. (5% of them)
  • Or they couldn’t find a therapist that understood them, or they didn’t feel connected with them. (35% of them)
  • Or they felt great during talk therapy, but left wondering “ok, now what do I do?” (60% of them)

I’ve turned away several clients because what they really need is therapy, not coaching.

(that’s one of the reasons I require consultations before working with someone new).

👉🏻 Therapy is incredibly important – if you need therapy.

And if you DO need therapy and have had a bad experience – you probably haven’t found the right therapist or type of therapy yet – so keep looking!

But how do you know if you need therapy or coaching? Here are 12 differences between therapy and life coaching:

Here’s how I feel about it, anyway.

6 Signs of needing therapy:

  1. 💗 You are looking for or need diagnosis and treatment of a mental illness.

  2. 💗 You have suicidal thoughts (if that’s you, call 800-273-8255).

  3. 💗 You are non- or low-functioning (usually due to depression) i.e., can’t get out of bed, go to work, take care of yourself, etc…

  4. 💗 You are stuck in the past and can’t/won’t move forward and need to process and heal from past trauma.

  5. 💗 You are convinced all your problems are external (other people, their job, the government).

  6. 💗 You don’t believe you can change.

6 Signs you’re ready for coaching:

  1. 💚 You’ve learned on your own with self-help books, podcasts, or have been to therapy, but now want someone to help you turn that knowledge into action to figure out who you really are underneath years of anxiety or living inauthentically – and love the sh*t out of yourself.

  2. 💚 You realize that growth is a journey, and you aren’t looking for a quick fix, but rather lasting change by learning to believe whole-heartedly in yourself, and you are willing to do the work.

  3. 💚 But you do know that by hiring an expert who’s been there and has a proven process to help you transform your life, you will reach your goals much faster than on your own.

  4. 💚 You are high-functioning – i.e. you are able to take care of yourself, do your job – but feel like you are struggling to live your best life and enjoy all the little moments with your kids (or by yourself with a glass of wine in the tub!).

  5. 💚 You have the means to make an investment in yourself – i.e. you don’t have to choose between putting food on the table or coaching.

  6. 💚 You are ready to become the next best version of you, living your best life.

One is not better than the other.

But coaching won’t truly help (and even could hurt someone) if they really need therapy.

And therapy will feel frustrating and not get you where you need to go if what you really need is coaching.

If you’re not sure and you are suffering, start with therapy.

When you’re feeling healthier and ready to take yourself to the next level, it’s time for coaching (if you’re into the whole ‘self-improvement thing’ to live your best life and achieve your goals faster with a coach, that is).

If you are ready for damn good coach…

Think of me as your Resilience Sherpa, guiding big-hearted women leaders up Anxiety Mountain, carrying your pack and cheering you on while you climb to your way to become the most Zen-Badass version of yourself from the boardroom to the family room using the Graceful Resilience Method.

Watch: 3 Steps to Trust your Empowered Action (14 min mighty-but-mini-training)

Did you find this list helpful??? Anything you would add???

Comment below!

Where to go from here:

  1. Work with me 1:1: For leaders and parents feeling lost trying to grow and heal on their own, ready for a guide on their journey out of anxiety into the happiest, most Zen-Badass version of yourself from the boardroom to the family room.
  2. 21 Day Meditation-in-Action emotional transformation (now only $37). In as few as 4 minutes a day, learn how to retrain your mind for resilience, peace and focus.
  3. Free Training – Learn the 4 Shifts to Ease Anxiety and Find Your Inner Zen-Badass: Access the free mini-but-mighty Graceful Resilience® training to learn the skills to become calm, confident and in control over your emotions so your career and relationships thrive.