
Counselling vs Coaching
One may feel if they need Counselling or Coaching or a mix of both. Professional Counselling and coaching involve assisting people through challenging times, creating a confidential space for the client to share their life and working together towards client’s needs. Counselling and Coaching go hand in hand, yet please read further to understand few differences between both of them:
· Past, Present and Future - Counselling works with clients to address a psychological problem related to mental or emotional health. During Counselling sessions, counselors spend significant time listening to the client therapeutically, examine their past, their mental and emotional concerns, and work together with them using therapeutic tools. Coaches on the other hand, help clients in understanding their current situation and work towards creating goals for better future. However, there is a space when a practitioner works both as a counselor and coach if they are qualified to do so.
· Understand Yourself vs Plan for Yourself – Counselling helps one to understand themselves, their behaviour, attitude, choice-making and why is someone they way they are. Coaching on the other hand, may provide with a narrower spectrum with that specific challenge where you need motivation, strategy or support.
· Listening vs Solution – Counselling doesn’t necessarily mean to provide solution to a given problem as non-judgmental listening and letting go might be the best solution for a client. Coaching on the other hand works towards creating solutions to a given problem.
· Better Mental health vs Goal Oriented– Counselling may help you to create more awareness of how and why you are feeling, skills towards emotional regulation, and promote mental health. Coaching may bring this awareness with the focus to create solutions for a future goal which may be different than mental health.
· Duration – Counselling is therapeutic and may go for 6 months or even few years. Coaching on the other hand may be of a shorter duration such as 3 months to max a year depending on client’s need.
Counselling and Coaching are both ‘helping professionals’ and work towards betterment of the client. They work in a grapevine (past, present and future) supporting the individual with better mental health, career, relationships and a happier life. There are times when a person receives both and they intertwine towards holistic growth of the client.
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