What is the difference between a Life Coach and a Therapist? Part 3

Therapist’s rarely leave their offices to provide services. They may leave the confines of their office to testify on behalf of a client.  Most coaches include house/office calls; attend the clients challenging situations and render service at the clients preferred location. For example: I had a client that was giving a presentation every week and was not getting positive feedback after the fact. I attended the meeting as his guest; offered questions that engaged the others, which helped the client understand how the group thought. After the meeting I coached the client on the contents and delivery of his presentation. The next time he presented material, others came to him afterward for more information.

Coaching is about this: helping you to create and or change that image of you in the future.

 What a I Will Do                                           What a Therapist Won’t Do

• Work with emotional, spiritual and physical challenges as one energy- not separate entities
• Share personal experiences that are relevant to the process
• Go the where the client is experiencing a situation they need help with such as a their home, office, day care, Dr, attorney, school professional mediator, presentation, social event, airport, elevator or work out center.
• Listen to them about their religious beliefs and guide them in what they need
• Meet after 5pm and weekends
• Help build a Business Plan, Relationship Plan, Marketing Plan, Life Balance Plan, Parenting Plan etc.
• Give you directions to successful behaviors by installing ways you will hold yourself accountable.
• Help you discover your external and internal resources.

 A Life Coach serves as a liaison between what is learned from education, therapy, support groups, self-help books and seminars. The focus of the coaching relationship is solution-driven and the process is action-oriented.  Coaches facilitate growth and healing by helping clients concentrate their thoughts and efforts on the present and future; whereas therapy focuses on the past or the “problem” in order to help the client accept the problem.