Difference Between a Counselor and a Coach

The difference between a counselor and a coach is important when choosing the best for your needs. There are many ways to seek guidance in life. This may lead you to the question on the difference between counseling and coaching. Though in the same category of for helping others, they have similarities and differences. So what are the goals of a counselor, a coach, a mentor and sponsor?

How to I choose the best one for my personal needs? Which one will fit into my budget? Let’s discuss the difference between counseling and coaching.

Before we do, I’d like to try and define the different types of help professions…

What Is A Sponsor?

A sponsor is generally defined as someone willing to financially support a cause or individual. They supply funds for projects that they support. However, sponsor can have alternative definitions.

Recovery communities use the term to define an individual who will “show you the ropes” if you will. Historically groups were so small you needed someone to bring you in to even be invited. Groups were very anonymous and private. Today a sponsor is simply someone who shows you how to do what they did. It is suggested you find someone who has personal qualities you are looking to achieve. And then you discover how they met their personal life goals.

What Is A Mentor?

A mentor is an experienced individual willing to train and or advise you on something. They are well informed based off of personal experience. They  do not require formal training. Many have invested in personal education via mentors who have come before them. The most valuable thing we have in life is time. Mentors can save someone time and money by offering their personal life experiences and testimony to their success.

The role of a mentor can range from emotional support and motivation to paid training programs.

What Is A Coach?

A coach is a helping professional who may or may not have formal training. Coaches sometimes see themselves as more beneficial to future growth. Some coaches criticize counselors for focusing on the past. So they are focused on success in the future. Coaches are concerned with the present and the future, not the past. The International Coach Federation has defined coaching:

Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

Coaches should help clients produce fulfilling results in their lives by observing their personal strengths and encouraging them to succeed with assets they already possess, as stated by the ICF. “The coach’s job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources and creativity that the client already has.”

What Is A Counselor?

A counselor generally has the most training from any of the help professions listed above. Counselors give guidance on personal, social or psychological problems. A counselor would be the best choice if there are known psychological issues, because of the education and medical implications.

Counseling is more concerned with moving someone from a point of dysfunction to a point where they are empowered and healed.

So, What Is The Difference Between A Counselor And A Coach?

The two main differences between counseling and coaching and the amount of formal education required to practice and their main focus.

Why Choose A Coach?

If you are not struggling with any past trauma or psychological issues and are simply looking at how to streamline your life, creatively meet your goals and receive educated and guided encouragement, a coach is perfect for you. A coach is going to focus on your present and how to meet your future goals with strengths that you already have. If you know what you want and are just not sure how to get there, a coach can guide you in the way you want to go.

It is always easier to see things from an outside perspective. Have you ever been able to diagnose your best friend’s problems so clearly? And struggled with a similar issue in your own life without being able to follow your own advice? I know I can relate to that 100%.

A coach gives you guided advice that applies to your personal circumstances. They will be able to see things in a fresh way and use their experience with success to help meet your personal goals by listening, being personable and building a relationship.

You might start right here if you are interested in self care coaching to help meet personal goals for your future! AlisonsNotebook specializes in the art of self improvement.

Why Choose Counseling?

The best thing about a counselor is that they can do anything a coach can do and help you clean up the past a bit, too. This was one of the main differences between counseling and coaching.

Small things can be holding us back from progressing with full potential even if your past trauma is not scarring. Coaches deal mainly with the present and future and can help with personal guidance. They do not deal with past psychological issues. A counselor fulfills the roles of a coach and deal with the past as well. In other words, a counselor can do everything a coach can do. So once you have dealt with your past, you can move forward without switching helping professionals.

Counseling can be difficult to fit into a busy schedule. I had a really amazing experience with BetterHelp.com. I was personally struggling and needed an outside point of view. Needed to deal with some trauma. I wanted professional insight for some strong personal issues . I also was caring for 2 small children, and BetterHelp.com fit into my schedule where I needed it to, which changed everyday. There was no contract. I was never locked into a contract.  They worked with me financially when I was short on funds. And they have amazing customer service as well, which is great especially when you’re already struggling emotionally.

There are some great ways to look at the difference between counseling and coaching. They are not 100% interchangeable and they both have great functions for what you might need in your personal life. So if you have any questions feel free to contact us so we can help you further!