Coach VS Therapist: How are they different?
There often comes a time in everyone’s life when one either needs motivation and guidance to pursue a set goal or is in dire need of psychological support and therapy. These substantial elements of life necessitate an expert’s help and guidance. In a true sense of the word, both coach and therapist are like psychologists and most of the times the words are used in a synonymous matter, yet, some differences make their spheres contrasting.
Coaches help clarify future visions, goals and objectives whereas, Therapists work to change problematic human cognition, behaviors and thoughts from the past.
– Adeel Arshad
The primary domain of a therapist contains analyses and lengthy processes of resolution of psychological problems coupled with detrimental behaviors, feelings, and cognitive issues related to the past of a person. Whereas, a coach focuses more on future by clarifying the vision, goals and objectives by help creating an action-based mechanisms to eradicate the problem of the client. Both enable the client to tackle the problems of life but through psychological and physical methods. The key for both is ‘Listening’ as without listening to the problems, the therapist will not be able to identify the problems associated with the past of the person to offer best possible solutions, and the coach will not be able to understand the present of the clients, in order to clarify and brighten the path to the future.
Do you need a Coach or a Therapist?
The answer is very simple. You need a therapist if the problems are related to your past and these problems are bugging your psychology. You need a coach, if your problems are related to your future and you need to sort out the things in you life, career, business, relationship, mindset or anything like that. You need a business coach if you are struggling to find growth in your business and you think that your actions are the reason. Similarly, you need a life coach if you are struggling to build a better life and you think that your life choices (not psychology) are the problem.
Additionally, a therapist tends to resolve issues introspectively and provide healthy mental strength to the client. While a coach works on outward notions and conflicts. He merely works to identify the problem and describe it to the client so he would ponder upon the identified fault lines in an active way. A therapist uses a client’s past events as a case study to derive future resolutions for him. In short, a therapist concentrates on the reason behind certain behavioral changes; while a coach focuses on how certain methods should be applied to resolve the issue.
A coach, ultimately, gives weightage to the client’s future and a therapist focuses on his past events, tragedies, and conflicts. As far as the small and higher levels of business are concerned, a coach mentors the businessman to focus on future profits and productions through identifying issues in his current setup. On the other hand, a therapist guides a businessman through shedding light upon his past mistakes followed by the fault lines that are present in his business structure. Through coaching sessions, one can be able to witness the underlying problems that are the primary causes behind one’s failure. Therapy sessions can equip one with the strength to not only become mentally stable but also to learn from the mistakes of past and present. The vital difference between a coach and a therapist is their orientation of the time.
To encapsulate, both coach and therapist have the responsibility to guide the client as a mentor and helper; and enable him to efficiently come out of the problems. The prime difference lies in their professional structure. A coach build’s one’s morale while a therapist helps to construct one’s personality. A coach speaks less and listens more. A therapist, however, speaks more to extract the core issues underlying deep in the mental chambers of the client.
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