Life coach vs therapist…who should I be working with? Which one is for me? What the heck is the difference anyways??! It’s easy to get confused between a life coach vs therapist. But while on the surface they may seem a lot a like, in reality they use very different techniques and processes to get results from clients. We get asked a lot about the difference between a life coach and therapist, so today our goal is to answer that question and provide as much information as possible so your choice can be an easy one!

What does a life coach do?

To get started on the differences between a life coach vs therapist, we define life coaching as the bridge that closes the gap between who you are today and where you want to be tomorrow. Life coaching is present and future based. It is encouraging, motivating, collaborative, action-oriented, and sometimes challenging. The purpose of a life coach is helping you find what’s wrong, fixing it, setting goals, and moving towards achieving them. It doesn’t dwell in the past or fixate on underlying issues. It’s solution-based, not problem based.

What does a therapist do?

Therapy is also an equally incredible experience, but the process and the results are very different. If you want to know the main difference between life coaching and counseling, mental health therapy seeks to resolve issues from the past in order to raise you to a normal level of functioning for the present. It dives into old wounds and undiagnosed behaviors in order to find understanding into why we are holding ourselves back from everyday life. Therapy looks to fix you and help you become whole again. The process is non-judgmental, people-centered, and inquisitive.

Should I see a therapist?

In order to decide on life coaching vs thearpy, ask yourself these questions:

• Am I currently living at a normal level of functioning for someone my age?
• Do I have severe behaviors that I do not understand and cannot control?
• Am I looking for medication to help me move forward with problems?
• Have I engaged in self-harm or the harm of others?
• Do I feel lost, hopeless, confused and melancholy?
• Have any of my behaviors created alienation between me and my family or close friends?

If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then you are most likely an ideal candidate for mental health therapy and should look for a therapist in your area.

Is a life coach right for me?

In order to decide between a life coach vs therapist, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I feel stuck in my current relationship, job, or lifestyle?
• Do I want to make a change in my life, but I’m not sure how or are too scared?
• Do I have a goal I wish to accomplish, but have no clue how to start?
• Am I experiencing disappointment in myself and the choices I’ve made up until this point?
• Do I lack the self-confidence I need in order to move forward in life?
• Am I acting in a way that is sabotaging my happiness and I need help stopping?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions,  then you are most likely an ideal candidate for life coaching and should start seeking one out today.