The Difference Between Life Coaching & Therapy

The Difference Between Life Coaching & Therapy

Therapy is amazing. Coaching is amazing. Both can work well together or separately depending on your needs!

Here’s a little breakdown of how the two are different so you can decide if coaching is right for you.

Key Differences

  1. Therapy is often past-focused, while coaching is present and future-focused.

  2. Therapists can diagnose and treat mental health disorders.

  3. Coaches DO NOT diagnose or treat mental health disorders.

  4. Therapy is a great fit for someone who is struggling to function in their daily life.

  5. Coaching is for individuals who are functioning but want to create change, improve their mindset, and take action.

  6. Coaching is not meant to cure any mental health diagnosis.

  7. Coaching is not covered by insurance (although some companies now are offering to fund Life Coaches for their employees).

Both coaches and therapists work to improve their clients’ lives. We both hold a safe space for our clients.

What I Do as a Coach

I am trained and certified through The Life Coach School, but I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I also have an Advanced Certification in Coaching Mastery Coaching. This has helped me develop a style of coaching that is client-focused, which means I pull from different tools and methods to meet you where you are—not just what I learned in certification.

However one thing remains consistent in my practice: combining thought work with action—because transformation requires both. You can’t fully shift your external reality without also shifting your internal beliefs.

Unlike action based coaching, I don’t tell you what to do. Changing actions alone won’t create lasting change if you don’t shift the thoughts fueling those actions. And at the same time, sitting around changing your thoughts without taking action won’t get you anywhere either.

My coaching focuses on:

  • Awareness so you can make intentional choices.

  • Understanding how your thoughts create your feelings, which drive your actions.

  • Exploring the stories that are keeping you stuck and shifting them to create different results.

  • Taking action that aligns with your values and the changes you want to see in your life.

Coaching is About Unlocking Your Own Genius

Your wisdom and potential have always been there. They’re just buried under limiting beliefs.

I don’t sit and agree with everything you say. I stay neutral and help you see different perspectives. Coaching isn’t about fixing you because you are not broken.

I love my clients too much to let them stay where they are. If you come to me for help, I’ll keep it real AF so you can see exactly why you don’t have what you want—all from a place of love, of course.

Is Coaching Right for You?

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start making real changes, coaching can help you:

  • Feel more in control of your emotions and stop letting self-doubt run the show.

  • Navigate relationships—whether with yourself, your partner, or others—without people-pleasing or resentment.

  • Work toward a goal that actually excites you (not one you think you ‘should’ do).

  • Break the cycle of negative self-talk and build real confidence that lasts.

  • Show up in your life—at home, work, and beyond—as the version of you that you actually want to be.

If you’re ready to take control of your life and start shifting the thoughts and actions that are keeping you stuck, coaching might be exactly what you need.

Something not listed? Coaching covers a lot, so if you’re not sure, contact me and we’ll chat!