Coaching vs. Counselling...Which one?

You matter

Hi, you! Yes, you! 

Since you’re reading this, it’s a beautiful sign you’ve embarked on your personal development and mental healing journey. BRAVA dear brave one! 

So - you’re probably wondering: what’s the difference?

But first, it’s important to recognize the unique differences and approaches these professions bring to the table, and how they can help you transform and evolve. In this article, we’ll dive into the distinctions between a life coach and a counsellor, and most importantly realise understanding their respective areas of expertise, methodologies, and goals. 

I can totally understand why coaching and counselling can be mixed up for one another, yet this article is here to set the record straight.

And to be upfront, I love counselling and talk therapy! These forms have saved my life, and I’m so thankful for it.

Who is a Life Coach?


A life coach is a professional who focuses on empowering individuals to reach their full potential, set and achieve goals, and create a fulfilling and meaningful life! Life coaching is mostly future-focused and action-oriented. It aims to bridge the gap between where a person is currently and where they aspire to be. 

What does a life coach help you with? 

1. Setting goals and holding you accountable to achieve them:

 Life coaches work with clients to identify their meaningful goals, aspirations, and dreams. They help individuals clarify their vision, develop action plans, and provide support and accountability to propel them forward. Different life coaches may be stronger in particular areas, such as career coaching, health and wellness, or life planning. When I work with my clients, I often dive deep into their purpose as well, and bring in underlying spiritual lessons and strengths building activities!


2. Finding Solutions for Current Circumstances:

Life coaches emphasize finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Often times clients come to coaches as they are facing a niche problem, and have difficulty seeing a path through the issue. Coaches encourage clients to explore their strengths, values, and resources to overcome obstacles and achieve desired outcomes. You can think of this process like creating a starmap that highlights your strengths, and uncovers the gems that have been in you all along so that you can reach your potential! 

3. A Guide for Personal Growth and Development, and Shifting your Mindset and Setting Action Steps to Achieve them: 

 Life coaches facilitate personal growth by assisting clients in identifying limiting beliefs, exploring new perspectives, and fostering self-awareness. They help individuals unlock their potential and cultivate a mindset that sets up a favourable environment for success and fulfilment. While there are coaches who focus on mindset, mindset is the underlying force for positive change and transformation when it comes to bridging where you are vs. where you’re ready to be! 

4. Tools and Strategies: Life coaches use various techniques, such as effective communication, visualization, goal setting, and action planning, to support clients in making positive changes and achieving their objectives. In my sessions with my clients, I often create visuals and a theme for the session. The client clearly knows the outcome they will receive when they do a specific session with me. In comparison, I do make space for what comes up for a client, as these sessions are totally catered for the client’s needs, sprinkled in with my discernment for what can help the client move forward from their stuck-ness as well. 

According to Better Help, a mental health platform based in the US, If you’re thinking about life coaching, here are a few life-changing benefits and outcomes you’ll likely experience!

  • A growth mindset. Receiving coaching allows your perspective to shift, and open up to the growth mindset! Why is this important? A growth mindset allows you to release fixed ways of being that hold you back, and allows you to change how you see the world so you can fulfil your God-given potential! With coaching, you’ll expand and nurture your growth mindset. 

  • Improved self-awareness. Most people believe they are self-aware - however, the reality is, sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know. The research found that only 10-15% of people studied were self-aware. Yet with coaching, you’re guided to reflect on your progress and your levels of self-awareness. The process helps you strengthen your self-awareness muscle and build more confidence in knowing who you are!

Now, turning it over to amazing counsellors: 

What does a counsellor help you with?
A counsellor, often referred to as a therapist or psychotherapist, is a trained professional who specializes in addressing mental health concerns, emotional challenges, and psychological well-being. Counselling is focused on understanding and resolving past and present issues that may be affecting an individual's mental and emotional health.

Here’s what a counsellor does: 

1. Diagnose, Treat and Help You Manage Your Mental Health: Counsellors are trained to diagnose mental health conditions and provide evidence-based interventions to alleviate distress. They use therapeutic modalities including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches to address specific concerns.

2. Exploring your Past Wounds: Counseling often involves delving into an individual's past experiences, childhood development, and relationship dynamics to gain a comprehensive understanding of their current challenges. This exploration helps clients gain insight into patterns and triggers that may be impacting their well-being. They provide a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore and process their emotions, traumas, and psychological difficulties. It takes more than a few sessions to really dive deep into wounds that have been lodged since childhood. 

3. Therapeutic Relationship: Counselors establish a strong therapeutic alliance with clients built on trust, empathy, and confidentiality. They provide a non-judgmental space for clients to express themselves and work collaboratively towards healing and growth.

Tony Robbins explains the key differences between the work of a life coach and a therapist as being tied to 2 key factors:

  • The focus of the problem: it’s about current behaviours and future goals for the life coach, versus a therapist’s focus on the underlying psychological causes for present behaviours and feelings.

  • The goals of the program: a therapist will focus on a client’s mental health, with an ultimate goal of progress towards wellness. A life coach is about actionable goals to help a client move forward from their current situation. 

The biggest difference is that coaches are more like guides that support you to take leaps and create a plan for the present and future that you’ve never done before. Oftentimes, life coaches will provide more ongoing support in between sessions, and the duration of a client/coach relationship is relatively more compressed as it is action-oriented. Goals become a big focus. On the other hand, counsellors help to unravel and dive deep into your past to heal. Both are incredible tools for healing and self-growth. Therapy is an ebb and flow, as it takes time and deep work to uncover what has been residing within that impacts your mental and emotional health.

Both sides of a magnet are essential to balance. 

Full Disclosure: Yinki is not a licensed mental health counsellor or medical professional. Please see a mental health professional as required.

Yinki Nicole Wong