Coach v Consultant v Therapist

A question I have been asked, and would like to provide more clarity on is - what is the difference between a coach, a consultant and a therapist?

The truth is that if you encounter someone that falls into one of these three professions, we all tread the same ground. We all cover similar topics, and we all ultimately have a burning desire to help you - the client, work through the roadblocks you’re facing.

But we do have some fundamental differences; so that depending upon who you are working with, this brief guide will give you a better understanding of what to expect and why your experiences with each will be different.

COACH
Since you’re here on this site, I’m sure you want to hop right into, “what is a coach?” first. Coaches have a drive to influence the client to rooting out their own roadblocks, and through this process, finding ways to navigate and eliminate roadblocks and to largely create self-confidence on gaining your own forms of insight through this medium. Tactical advice can and will be given situationally, but it is not the core purpose of the coach (see consultant below).

Example: A coach is going to help you define the strategy and make a plan to achieve your goals within a set time frame.

CONSULTANT
A consultant is someone that you hire to give you the answers, based upon their set of experiences. Consultants are largely used in the business realm, to expedite progress.

Example: A consultant will tell you how to navigate a merger with ease, because they have done so before and have had first-hand experience in what does and does not work.

THERAPIST
A therapist is someone who can identify problems, analyze them and through dialoguing assist you in finding a solution. This sounds very similar to a coach, right? True, but here’s the main difference - a psychotherapist or psychologist works on pathologies and chronic disease(s). A coach may work with someone who has a subset of problems that are being addressed by a psychotherapist or psychologist, but cannot and will not diagnose, cure or provide treatment for such issues.

Here’s the other cogent piece to remember; people of all walks of life suffer from anxiety, stress, roadblocks, and more. As long as this person’s mental health isn’t suffering chronically over an extended amount of time - asking for help from a coach BEFORE it becomes a chronic problem, can be preventative in not needing additional assistance from a psychologist or psychotherapist.

My other take away - everyone, at one point or another, needs help.

If you’re suffering from not getting the results that you want, based upon your need(s) or desire(s) - do you need a coach, consultant or therapist?

To be a bit presumptuous - If coaching is something you are considering and if you want to learn more about how your state of mind affects your productivity, success and overall life satisfaction - I invite you to reach out for a clarity session to see if Hey Mama Coaching is for you. Follow the link and book a FREE clarity session right now!

1:1 and Group Coaching spots are limited, but a quick clarity call can guide you on the path that will ultimately be best for you!