Coaching and psychotherapy share many common elements in terms of theory and their application in practice, which makes it difficult to distinguish between their practical differences (Cox, Bachkirova, & Clutterbuck, 2010).
Historically, psychotherapy developed as a practice traditionally aimed at “healing” the individual. It focuses on restoring mental functioning, liberating one from the bonds of psychological trauma, and helping the individual live harmoniously and balanced.
Coaching, on the other hand, was developed to help individuals improve their performance and achieve specific goals (Maxwell, 2009; Bachkirova & Cox, 2005).
Similarities Between Coaching and Psychotherapy
As practices, both coaching and psychotherapy aim to bring about changes in an individual’s thinking, emotions, and behavior. To achieve this, self-awareness is promoted within sessions, and patterns of thoughts and behaviors that hinder change are identified.
Moreover, in both coaching and psychotherapy, a relationship of trust is established between the practitioner and the client, which serves as the foundation for applying tools and techniques.
Additionally, common elements can be found in the philosophies of both practices: The individual is placed at the center of the process and chooses the topics to be discussed. The practitioner facilitates the process by creating a supportive environment of complete acceptance, which helps the individual develop their potential and initiate the desired changes (Bluckert, 2005).
Differences Between Coaching and Psychotherapy
1. Coaching focuses on the present and the future, while psychotherapy focuses on the past.
The above principle represents a generalized truth that shows slight variations depending on the case. One such variation is that some therapeutic approaches focus on the present, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Similarly, in coaching, there are instances where the coach may revisit the client’s past.
It should be emphasized that in coaching, the return to the past is done with the purpose of drawing lessons and recognizing positive aspects of the individual that will aid in their empowerment (Petras, 2018). In contrast, in psychotherapy, the return to the past is usually done to identify dysfunctional patterns and traumatic experiences.
2. Coaching is aimed at emotionally functional individuals, while psychotherapy is intended for individuals experiencing mental health challenges
As with the previous principle, it is helpful to make some clarifications here as well: It is true that coaching is effective for emotionally functional individuals (Bluckert, 2005), meaning those who do not face any psychological problems.
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, while it is targeted at individuals experiencing mental disorders, is equally appropriate and beneficial for those who are functional and mentally healthy. These individuals can, through therapy, discover deeper aspects of themselves, increase their self-awareness, and learn to better manage everyday situations.
3. The objective of a coaching intervention differs from that of psychotherapy
The natural environment of coaching is organizational (Petras, 2018). It was developed to enhance an individual’s effectiveness in their work environment. It should be noted that from the early days of coaching to the present, the practice has evolved and now also addresses issues beyond the workplace (Bluckert, 2005).
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, focuses on broader aspects of an individual’s life and daily functioning. Its impact brings about changes at the level of personality and transforms the individual as a whole. Additionally, intense emotional reactions often arise in therapy, which do not occur in coaching and require specialized handling.
4. The Coach has a different training background from that of a Psychotherapist.
The practice of psychotherapy and counseling requires intensive and long-term training, which involves therapists undergoing personal therapy themselves before taking on clients. In contrast, the training of a coach does not require personal therapy and can be completed in a relatively shorter period of time.
However, it is crucial for coaches to study and develop skills and knowledge related to the corporate environment and its practices (Bluckert, 2005).
A few more differences
Coaching, as an approach, focuses on solutions rather than problems, as psychotherapy does. Additionally, coaching is a much shorter intervention. There are cases where a coaching engagement may last from 10 to 15 sessions. In contrast, therapy is usually long-term, with the average duration being 2-3 years (Bluckert, 2005).
Coaching is result-oriented and drives action. From the very first sessions, the coachee (client) articulates a clear request, sets their goal, and is encouraged to take small steps toward the desired direction. In contrast, in therapy, the client’s initial request may be vague. The therapist, through dialogue, will bring the problem to the surface and will invite the client to process it when they are ready (Petras, 2018).
Conclusions
In conclusion, it is important to emphasize that individuals seeking psychotherapy and coaching services share a common challenge: the struggle to manage and achieve change (Spinelli, 2008).
Regardless of whether a person chooses psychotherapy or coaching as a solution, they can benefit from it only if they are willing to commit and work towards bringing about the desired change.
References
Bluckert, P. (2005). The similarities and differences between coaching and therapy. Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 37, Iss. 2, pp. 91–96.
Cox, E., Bachkirova, T., & Clutterbuck, D. (eds.) (2010). The Complete Handbook of Coaching. London: Sage Publications.
Maxwell, A. (2009). How do business coaches experience the boundary between coaching and therapy/counselling? Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 2(2), 149–162.
Spinelli, E. (2008). Coaching and therapy: similarities and divergences. International Coaching Psychology Review, 3(3), 241–249.
Petras, C. (2018). The Art of Coaching: Introduction to the Theory & Practice of Coaching Psychology. 2nd Enhanced Edition. Athens: iWrite.