Soho House New York

As a former therapist turned board-certified coach, I get asked ALL the time: “Is a life coach the same thing as a therapist? Which is right for me?” I’ve worked professionally in both capacities and have much to say on the topic. I’ve also personally worked with (and benefited from) therapists and coaches. At different times of our lives and depending on where we are in our careers and healing journeys, one may be more helpful for you than another. You might think of a coach as more of a process and future-focused cheerleader, while a therapist will have much more training in things like privacy, ethics, and how to handle difficult topics.  Note there is a lot of overlap - and the above graphic is not at all meant to cover it all! There are a lot of coaches who do unregulated work that mimics therapy, and there are therapists who employ many progressive techniques that may seem more in line with coaching. I explore this more in-depth on my blog - including the importance of ethics and privacy (guess who’s trained on those…). Have you worked with a therapist or a coach? What was your experience like? I’d love to hear!