Therapy Vs Coaching
When you’re seeking support, it helps to understand the difference between psychotherapy and coaching. Both can be powerful, but they serve different purposes.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a healthcare service focused on mental health and trauma resolution. It involves the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders, and therapists are required to complete a postgraduate degree, years of training and supervision, and hold a state license in order to practice.
Therapy often addresses areas like:
Trauma healing and resolution
Anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders
Deep relational wounds
Grief and loss
Family-of-origin issues
Therapy provides a structured process to work through past experiences and emotional injuries that continue to impact your present life. The goal is not only relief from symptoms but also deeper healing and integration.
“Am I willing to give up my idea of success, my need for approval, my desire for understanding, my comfort in conforming, to bravely live the truth that has always been inside me?
- Danica Joy
Coaching
Coaching is not a healthcare service—it’s a collaborative, goal-oriented process designed to help you move forward. While it does not diagnose or treat mental health disorders, coaching can support you in clarifying your values, building healthier relationships, and navigating life’s transitions with greater intention.
Coaching often focuses on areas like:
Personal development and growth
Navigating life transitions
Family or relationship dynamics
Spirituality and values clarification
Life balance and fulfillment
Specific personal or professional projects
Think of coaching as a way to clarify what matters most to you and to practice new ways of living aligned with those values.
Honesty, Empathy, and Growth
I agree with Terry Real that empathy and truth go hand in hand, a concept he calls “joining through the truth.” Empathy alone is not enough, while truth spoken without compassion can cause harm. The most meaningful growth happens when honesty is delivered with care—helping us face challenges directly while feeling deeply supported.
A Client-Centered Approach
Whether in therapy or coaching, I believe you are at the heart of the process. My client-centered approach honors your unique experiences, perspectives, and pace. By fostering a supportive, nonjudgmental environment, I offer both empathy and truth-telling so you can explore your feelings, uncover insights, and take meaningful steps toward change.
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