Coaching v. Counseling

There has been a huge increase in the number of people pursuing a career in coaching across many fields including mental health related topics. Both counseling and coaching can be a good option for finding the help and healing you are looking for, but you need to be careful about finding the right person to set you up for success. 

So what is the difference? Coaching is different from professional counseling in many ways. It is usually a more short-term, targeted approach that is very goal driven. On the other hand, counseling is a more comprehensive, deep dive into the concerns a client may have. Depending on what the client’s goals are and type of concerns they have, both can be a valid approach to getting help. However, there are a number of things to keep in mind when trying to find the right helper.

What does healthy, ethical coaching look like?

First of all, there is a huge difference in what it takes to become a coach versus a counselor. In theory, anyone can call themselves a coach. You want to make sure the person you are working with is qualified in their field! There are many licensed mental health providers who provide both counseling and coaching. Licensed professionals are usually limited to practice counseling in their home state, and coaching provides a way for them to help those all over the country or world. No matter what the background of the coach is, an ethical coach knows when to refer the client to a local counselor. Ethical coaches know they are not acting as mental health professionals and cannot therefore diagnose or provide treatment for mental illness. Even if the coach is also a licensed mental health professional, they cannot provide therapy outside their state. 

What should you look for in a counselor?

There are also a number of people calling themselves counselors who are unlicensed. On the surface, more people working in mental health sounds like a good thing, right? But the type of service you are receiving as well as the qualifications of the provider are incredibly important to consider when choosing the type of help to get. Possibly the most important consideration when looking for help is making sure the provider is qualified. With professional counseling, this means making sure the person is licensed! 

Why does this matter?

 Because you deserve the best care! You also deserve the knowledge and safety of knowing your therapist is held accountable and constantly pursuing knowledge of the best treatment. Licensed counselors have to complete several hours of continuing education every two years in order to renew their license. Another concern relating to accountability is the issue of protecting clients. Licensed counselors have to abide by HIPAA, which means that the client is legally protected from malpractice and privacy violations. This is extremely important to consider when choosing a counselor!

Mental health IS healthcare. You would probably not want to see any other type of healthcare provider who was not licensed. While those who want to provide mental health care probably have the best of intentions, caring about the work does not automatically qualify someone to do the work. You deserve the healing you are looking for, so you owe it to yourself to make sure you have the right person for your healing journey.