Navigating the Differences Between Therapy and Coaching: Finding What Works for You
When it comes to mental health and personal development, the lines between therapy and coaching can often seem blurry. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the choice, especially when the terminology and credentials are confusing.
So, what’s the difference between a coach and a therapist, and how do you decide which one is right for you?
Therapy vs. Coaching: What’s the Difference?
Let me start by saying that everyone in the mental health field is legitimate in their own way, but not every coach or therapist is created equal. Both therapy and coaching have their place, and it can be challenging to discern where your needs fall on that spectrum.
Therapists:
Therapists are licensed professionals who have undergone rigorous training and met specific licensure requirements before practicing independently. They are qualified to diagnose, treat, and bill insurance for their services. If you've used insurance for therapy before, you know it can make mental health care more affordable. You pay a co-pay, and your insurance covers the rest, based on medical necessity—meaning your therapy is deemed essential for your overall health and well-being.
However, billing insurance as a therapist is no walk in the park. It requires a diagnosis, meeting medical necessity criteria, and involves tons of documentation and admin work. The lack of interstate contracts adds another layer of complexity. This is one reason many therapists are moving away from accepting insurance—it's a bureaucratic hassle that can feel like it's working against the very people it's supposed to help.
Coaching:
On the other hand, coaches offer a more focused service, typically for less severe or situational issues. Coaching doesn't have the same stringent credentialing requirements, which allows for more flexibility and creative freedom. This can be a win/win situation—less burnout for the coach and a more dynamic, personalized experience for the client.
Coaching also comes with no regulatory oversight. That means no need to "fit" someone into a diagnosis for insurance purposes, no labels, and nothing going into a medical record. Coaches can work with clients from all over the world, unlike therapists who are often limited to practicing in the states where they're licensed.
Why I choose to be a therapist
As a trauma-informed therapist, I often struggle with having to pathologize trauma just to satisfy insurance documentation and reimbursement requirements. I'm tired of being under the thumb of insurance companies that don't always have your best interest in mind. Behavior is typically an indicator of something deeper—an opportunity to get curious about the "why." For instance, borderline personality disorder is often a trauma response. Misdiagnoses and over-medication happen too often because of the way our healthcare system is structured.
A trauma-informed therapist is a mental health professional who understands the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into their practice. They are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in their clients and to approach treatment in a way that is sensitive to the potential effects of trauma.
That said, I'm not against medication—I'm on meds myself for ADHD, depression, and anxiety ("TAKE YA MEDS FAM!"). But medication isn't the only answer, and it's certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution.
The research is clear: trauma changes our brains and our DNA. Adverse childhood experiences can literally alter the way we develop. But here's the thing—humans are naturally resilient. We adapt, and sometimes those adaptations lead to harmful thinking patterns and behaviors. These behaviors are defense mechanisms that have protected us over the years. But letting go of them can be scary, even if they no longer serve us. That's why people often choose a "familiar hell"—it's what their nervous system knows.
So why am I diagnosing you with generalized anxiety disorder when your behavior might be a trauma response?
Why am I labeling neurodiversity as a "disorder"? These labels can be harmful— that's a conversation for another day.
Neurodiversity is the concept that neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other conditions, are natural variations of the human brain and should be recognized and respected as such. Rather than viewing these differences as disorders that need to be cured or fixed, neurodiversity advocates for acceptance and understanding of diverse ways of thinking, learning, and interacting with the world. The neurodiversity movement emphasizes that these variations contribute to the richness of human experience and that people with different neurological profiles should be valued for their unique strengths and perspectives.
Finding What Works for You
I hope this helps clarify the differences between coaching and therapy, and why I choose to offer both. They each have their place and are both valuable. You might be wondering why I still work with insurance if I'm so frustrated with the system. The truth is, accepting insurance can protect us both. Sometimes medical records are crucial, and it helps alleviate the financial strain associated with quality mental health care. Coaching offers an alternative, non-traditional path to mental well-being.
Resources and Information
Therapist: A professional trained and credentialed to provide therapy, which can include mental health counseling, psychotherapy, or other therapeutic services.
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker): A therapist who holds a master's degree in social work and has met specific state requirements for clinical practice, including supervised experience and passing a licensing exam.
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology): A doctoral degree in psychology focused on research, theory, and clinical practice, allowing the holder to practice as a psychologist, conduct research, or teach.
PsyD (Doctor of Psychology): A doctoral degree in psychology with an emphasis on clinical practice rather than research, preparing the holder to provide psychological services.
LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor): A therapist with a master's degree in counseling who has completed supervised experience and passed a licensing exam, allowing them to practice independently.
LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist): A therapist with specialized training in marriage and family therapy, holding a master's degree and meeting state licensure requirements, including supervised experience and passing an exam.
Insurance Billing for Psychotherapy: The process of submitting claims to an insurance company for reimbursement of therapy services provided to a client. This involves documenting the therapy sessions, ensuring they meet the insurance company's requirements, and then filing a claim to receive payment.
Credentials: Qualifications, certifications, or licenses that a professional holds, demonstrating they have met the necessary education, training, and experience requirements to practice in their field.
Diagnosis: The identification of a mental health condition or disorder based on an assessment of a person’s symptoms, behavior, and medical history. This is typically provided by a qualified mental health professional, such as a therapist or psychologist.
Medical Necessity: A determination that a specific treatment or service is essential for a patient’s health and well-being. In the context of psychotherapy, it means that the therapy is required to treat a diagnosed mental health condition, and is necessary for the patient’s overall care.
Neurodiversity is the concept that neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other conditions, are natural variations of the human brain and should be recognized and respected as such. Rather than viewing these differences as disorders that need to be cured or fixed, neurodiversity advocates for acceptance and understanding of diverse ways of thinking, learning, and interacting with the world
trauma-informed therapist is a mental health professional who understands the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into their practice.
