In general, life coaches are PRESENT AND FUTURE FOCUSED. Life coaches help their clients explore their past only as a means of understanding their current life experience and belief systems. Their primary goal is to help a client look at where they are, where they want to be, and how to get from point A to point B.
A life coach can use therapeutic and psychological tools to help people:
*Change their thinking
*Identify the lies that are believed
*Increase their emotional wellbeing
*Change limited belief systems
*Reframe past experiences
*Set and achieve goals
*Make life changes
*Increase motivation
*Learn a new skill
*Change their self-identity
Life coaches often use “therapeutic” tools, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Therapeutic Art, and other psychological techniques, with clients. The word “therapeutic” means that it benefits the body or mind and increases wellbeing. Using these tools is helpful as a coach, however it is not the same as conducting “therapy” like a therapist.
In general, therapists are PAST AND PRESENT FOCUSED. While a therapist may work with clients to set goals and make changes, primarily clients come to them seeking assistance with healing trauma, overcoming abuse, treating addiction or treating mental illness.Because therapists have a specialized graduate degree and clinical training, they have an extensive foundation of knowledge about the mind, biology, and human behavior. They are qualified to help clients in these sensitive areas, and, more importantly, they are properly trained on how to handle the volatile nature of these situations.
A therapist may also help clients with these areas of their life, but they also help their patients:
*Treat mental illness or clinical anxiety or depression
*Heal past trauma
*Cope with traumatic loss
*Cope with abuse
*Treat addiction or substance abuse
*Cope with relationship turmoil or violence
Life Coaches and a Therapists can both be really healing at different points in your journey. Where would you like to focus?
