Distinctions of Coaching

IAPPC NEWSLETTER

THE COACHES AGENDA

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COACHES

DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN COACHING & THERAPY

C. J. Hayden & Laura Whitworth, CPPC

Therapy and Professional Coaching have several aspects in common. To an outside observer, they may look similar. Both professions are based on an ongoing, confidential, one-to-one relationship between the therapist of Coach and their client. Clients come to therapy or Coaching wanting change, and both professions assume that significant change will only occur over time. Within the therapy or Coaching relationship regular sessions are scheduled, during which conversations occur. Other similarities of practice exist.

However, therapy and Coaching are radically different in the context of the relationship, condition of the client, and content of the sessions. In the outline below, we have attempted to define some of the major distinctions between therapy and Coaching.

In reviewing our outline, keep in mind that these are distinctions between the disciplines, not a complete model of either. Also, we refer here to one-on-one therapy or Coaching, rather than group processes. Finally, generalizations are always necessary in comparisons of this sort, but we believe these distinctions to represent the norm in both professions.

Coaching

Therapy

Models or Paradigms

Sports training and coaching	Medicine and healing
Business skills training and performance development coaching
Personal growth seminars
Self-mastery disciplines and practices

Works with people who are

Eager to move to a higher level of functioning	Psychologically dysfunctional in a quantifiable way
Seeking focus, strategy, and motivation	Seeking self-understanding Asking how to questions
Asking what and how questions Designing their future, learning new skills, and seeking more balance in their lives	Dealing with old issues, emotional pain, or traumas: seeking resolution and healing

Approach

Begins with the premise that the client is whole	Begins with the premise that the client needs healing
Refers individuals with prolonged depression, severe anxiety, phobias, harmful addictions, and destructive or abusive behavior patterns to mental health professionals	Treats individuals with prolonged depression, severe anxiety, phobias, harmful addictions, and destructive or abusive behavior patterns as well as other conditions
Primary focus on actions and the future	Primary focus on feelings and history
Oriented toward solving problems through actions	Oriented toward exploring the psychic roots of problems
Works mainly with the conscious mind	Works to bring the unconscious into consciousness
Assists the client in identifying, prioritizing, and implementing choices	Assist the client in untangling unconscious conflicts which interfere with choice
Helps client learn new skills and tools for personal growth and mastery	Helps client resolve old pain and terminate old coping mechanisms
Listens to feelings as clues for how to get the client into actions and leads the client to an action step	Listens for feelings as symptoms of underlying dysfunction and follows the client on any valid exploration of their feelings
Typically directs the client to return to action	Often directs the client to go deeper into feelings
Encourages and requests proactive behavior	Counsels on becoming less reactive
Gives advice only in areas of expertise and with client permission	Usually does not give advice

Process

Focused on learning and developing potential	Focused on healing and restoring function
Main tools include accountability, inquiry, requesting, goal-setting, and strategic planning	Main tools include listening, reflecting, confrontation and interpretation
Other tools depend on Coach’s training and expertise, e.g. NLP, money management, or professional organizing	Other tools depend on therapists’ training, e.g. EMDR, sand tray, or hypnosis
Deals mainly with external issues; looks for external solutions to internal blocks	Deals mainly with internal issues; looks for internal resolution

Relationship & Structure

Alliance designed jointly by Coach and client	Nature of alliance largely designed by therapist
Discourages transference as inappropriate	Encourages transference as a way of objectifying issues to be explored
Sessions may be in person or by telephone	Sessions conducted face-to-face
Sometimes deductible as a business expense	Often reimbursed or deductible as a medical expense

While this list of distinctions does not paint a complete picture of either therapy or Coaching, our aim is to continue clarifying the respective roles of the two professions. We consider this outline to be a work-in-progress, and welcome your comments and contributions!

The authors wish to thank Madelyn Griffith-Hayne of the Optimal Functioning Institute, who provided many of the distinctions used here. Madelyn’s company helps ADDults develop systems to reach their goals and live their dreams. C. J. Hayden, director of Wings Business Coaching in San Francisco, is a Business Coach who specializes in working with women. She serves on the national board of the Professional & Personal Coaches Association. Laura Whitworth is director of the Coaches Training Institute, and serves on the board of both IAPPC and PPCA. She has been a Professional Coach since 1988 in her ay Area practice, PriorityOne.