Life’s Canvas Soul-Focused Coaching and Counseling

Life’s Canvas: Soul-Focused Counseling and Coaching, Marietta and Atlanta Locations (727) 266-6863

Coaching or Counseling

           

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to decide?

 

Know what you want.

 

We all want a better life no matter how good it is, but what is it specifically that you want help with?  

 

A good coach or therapist can help you explore: what you need and want, specific goals, the order in which they need to be addressed, and, finally, the best coach or counselor for you (which may be a coach or counselor other than himself).  This takes careful, compassionate and trained listening and humility.  Many coaches and therapists have their own agenda or ego and are not really helping clients discern their own needs.

 

Distinguishing between the two:

 

Analogy: If you are a basketball player and you get injured, you need a therapist to help get you back on the court.  If you are healthy and want to win the championship game, you need a coach.

 

Legitimately, there is overlap between the two; however, coaching is primarily about goals for the future and counseling is about healing the past to free us up for the present and future.

 

Legally, one has to be licensed by the state to provide counseling and it is illegal to do counseling as a coach.

 

Practically, coaches counsel and counselors coach.  

 

Specifically, coaches and counselors all have their areas of expertise.

 

Although, counselors are trained to help clients problem solve and move forward, and coaches learn how to work with emotions, thought patterns, and the past it is not their focus.  

 

Things that I would want to know:

Why are they a coach or counselor?

What training and background do they have?

Do they know themselves well; are they grounded and compassionate?

Do they have a good understanding of how to get me from point A to B?

Do I connect with them?

 

There is no standard training or regulation for coaches.

Licensed counselors, including LPC, MHC, LCSW, Psychologists, and LMFT, have to complete at least a master’s degree, pass a licensing exam, and receive clinical supervision for approximately 3 years.

Although someone has a license or certificate, you need to checkout or inquire what their training and background is because it varies greatly.