Clients can often get confused and not understand the difference between these two disciplines and therefore not sure who can help them with their needs.
The sort of situation where you wished you hadn’t said what you said or maybe spoke out of turn, because you know you will have to interact with this person in the future.
What is Life Coaching?
Life Coaching is a way of providing people with personal support that is committed to their success and development. The coach is someone who will make a difference in the client’s life by supporting them and by encouraging their personal and professional growth.
The coach helps the client identify where they are now, where they want to be and how to get there; and then keeps them on track until they achieve their goals. It is important that the life coach does not impose their own ideas on the client as it is about asking the right questions to draw the solutions from the client.
Life coaching is not about being a therapist, mentor or counsellor, it is not about looking back into past experiences or emotional issues. Equally it is not a short-term measure to cope with a trauma.
- Life Coaching is a temporary relationship between two people, the coach and coachee
- The relationship depends on commitment from both parties
- Life Coaching is a holistic approach and considers all aspects of the coachee’s life and situation
- Life Coaching is action driven and the outcomes that derive from those actions are more important
- Life Coaching’s goal is to assist clients to define and achieve their goals.
- Life Coaching is looking forward and creating a desired future.
What is Counselling
Counselling is focused on the past as a way of making sense of the present. It is largely about explaining emotions, feelings and reactions, and the experiences that combine to make us the people we are. It is based on the premise that by understanding an event, and working through the associated emotions, we can reduce its power and move nearer to fulfilling our potential as human beings. In bereavement counselling, for instance, the client will be encouraged to untangle the complex mix of emotions they have about the death. By identifying the feeling, and giving it expression, it loses its power. Life coaching, in contrast, focuses almost exclusively on the ‘here and now’ and the future.
- Counselling is a temporary relationship between two people
- Counselling will assist in uncovering root causes of problems
- Counselling is focused on building self awareness
- Counselling is a talking therapy
- Counselling’s goal is to help the client to cope on their own
- Counselling is looking back to bring the client up to the present.
The Difference’s
So now you know what they both are, the differences are:
Focus
Life Coaching is looking to the future and oriented around goals.Counselling is looking back and uncovering past events and working to get some understanding and to reduce the power of the emotions associated with them.
Objective
Life Coaching’s objective is to assist clients to define and achieve their goals.
Counselling’s Objective is to help the client to cope on their own.
What can they do for me?
A life coach works to create a future in some of these areas
- Relationships
- Parenting
- Career planning
- Confidence
- Motivation
- Starting a new business
- Performance
- Stress
- Finances
- Time Management
- Motivation
- Self Esteem
- Creating an exciting future
- Sport
- Life
A counsellor helps clients in some of these areas
- Bereavement
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Eating Disorder
- Bullying
- Mental Health Issues
- Infertility
- Anger
Please note this is just a sample what both of these roles do and they both do a lot more. This blog is just a start for you to be aware of the differences. If you want to know anymore about Life Coaching or would like to train as a Life Coach, please get in touch on 07876 578055 or email june@thoughtitude.co.uk.
If you would like to more about Counselling here is a link to the NHS Page www.nhs.uk/conditions/counselling/
Enjoy your week!
June