What is the difference between a life coach and therapist?
I received my life coaching training in 2016. The goal of a life coach is to encourage, offer valid support, inspire, and to build confidence. Life coaches do not diagnose clients, but rather focus on developing a different life journey so that clients can accomplish their objectives in a paced manner. Therapists are trained to recognize disorders that require clinical treatment for their clients and begin a treatment plan towards emotional resolutions. They have been trained on various styles of therapy. Some include: behavioral, cognitive behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavioral (DBT), motivational interviewing, humanistic, client centered and solution focused, delving into previous issues that help the client recognize and evaluate life choices in moving forward. Click here to read about various counseling styles. Therapy is very personal and each client is unique. It is important to choose a therapist with a peaceful temperament and one that is easy to connect and identify with. Whatever professional is chosen, both life coaches and therapists help to enable clients to make pivotal changes in their lives and become more gratifying.