Coaching and counselling, both germinate with the same premise. The presumption for both will always remain that every individual undergoes pain in their life in some form or the other.
And that many individuals do not go to the bottom of the core problem and rather live with the wound unhealed – raw or camouflaged. This happens more unconsciously and many accept their problem as part of life and do not feel the need to seek help.
Sometimes these often recurring problems are so entrenched into their daily way of living, that it seems normal.
Let us Explore the Differences Between Coaching and Counselling:
A primary difference between the two is the focus. Counselling concentrates on the person’s past and deals with healing emotional pain. It is therefore geared towards understanding and resolving the past. Thereby, helping someone move forward and be able to reach their individual potential in life.
Coaching focuses on the present and the future. That it helps an individual identify goals, set them and plan a way to achieve them through actionable strategies. Coaching aims to leverage personal strengths to maximise potential. This can be on a personal or professional level. Thus, the focus within a coaching relationship is on goals, strategizing, action and accountability.
Within a counselling context, the aim is for the client to be accountable for their feelings and emotions. In most types of therapy, change is often identified on a more internal than external level.
However, coaching goals are similar to business goals. They are often related to one’s external world and one’s behaviour in it and are based on measurable outcomes. Clients are therefore held accountable for their actions, as specifically linked to strategies designed to achieve their self-identified goals.
there are distinct differences when it comes to the training required for the counselling and coaching professions.
After initial broader qualifications are achieved, counsellors require extensive expertise in the subject matter of the therapy they focus on. For example marital counselling, addiction counselling, dealing with trauma and types of abuse.
In contrast, coaches are more process orientated. They, therefore, do not necessarily require extensive subject-matter expertise. They are process experts that know how to create the exact learning environment needed for an individual client. Such a client can draw on their own experience, and resources and activate their potential within their unique contexts. That said, however, specialist training can be a great way for a coach to advantage themselves. Business, training, leadership or a psychological background can deeply enhance the coaching process. This is because coaches can utilise this experience towards a greater understanding and knowledge of the client’s strengths and weaknesses
The relationship between client and counsellor/coach shares similarities. Both counsellor and coach offer perspectives and assist the individual to discover his or her own answers. How this works out practically differs.
A counsellor helps a client to understand and see aspects of their life more clearly. As part of this process, they often provide advice and guidelines to provide a path to healing.
Coaching can be described as more of a co-creative partnership. A coach is a thinking partner who, together with the client, helps identify challenges. Then holds a client accountable, while supporting them to turn these challenges into victories to achieve identified goals.
