What It Is, What It Isn’t — and Why the Difference Matters
There’s a myth I hear all the time:
“Life coaching is just therapy with a new name, right?”
It’s a fair question — especially in a world full of wellness buzzwords and half-explained healing modalities.
But the truth is this:
Life coaching and therapy are cousins, not twins.
They may both offer safe, intentional space for growth, but the roots, goals, and methods are entirely different.
As a coach with a background in the biological sciences, I want to help you understand the distinctions — not just so you choose the right support, but so you can walk into that support with confidence.
🔬 Therapy: Healing the Wound
Therapy, or psychotherapy, is a clinical process focused on diagnosing and treating emotional and mental health conditions. Therapists are licensed professionals trained to support clients with:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- Grief
- PTSD
- Personality disorders
Sessions often involve exploring the past — childhood, attachment styles, life events — to understand how past patterns are affecting the present. The goal is healing. Stability. Integration.
Therapists may use modalities like CBT, EMDR, or somatic therapies. They help clients regulate, repair, and rebuild.
Think of therapy as tending to an injury:
Before you can run again, you need to stop the bleeding, clean the wound, and gently restore strength.
Without that, forward momentum might cause more harm.
🌿 Coaching: Cultivating the Next Chapter
Coaching, on the other hand, is non-clinical and forward-facing. Coaches don’t treat or diagnose — instead, we support emotionally healthy individuals in building clarity, momentum, and aligned action.
At I CAN BE Coaching, I work with high-achieving adults who feel “fine” — but stuck. They’re not falling apart. But they’re not fulfilled either.
They’re often asking:
- “What’s next?”
- “Why don’t I feel excited anymore?”
- “How can I live more on-purpose?”
Coaching is about movement.
We work with goals, values, self-belief, behavior patterns, and intentional design.
We don’t go back to the past to heal it — we honor it and build forward from it.
We use tools like:
- Goal-setting frameworks
- Mindfulness and breathwork
- Strengths assessments
- Boundary work
- Visualization and journaling
- Somatic awareness
The focus is not on what’s broken. It’s on what’s becoming.
🎓 Education & Ethics: What Sets the Professions Apart
Therapists are required to hold advanced degrees — typically a Master’s or Doctorate in Counseling, Psychology, or Social Work. They must pass state licensing exams, meet supervised clinical hour requirements, and maintain ongoing continuing education under strict medical and ethical guidelines.
Life coaching is currently an unregulated field, which means anyone can technically call themselves a coach. But many professionals are choosing to raise the bar through advanced certification and continued education. There is growing momentum toward establishing standards, credentialing systems, and stronger oversight through organizations like the ICF (International Coaching Federation) and the ICC (International Coaching Community).
Personally, I’ve chosen to deepen my training with certifications through the Jay Shetty Certification School and continued studies with the ICC. This commitment to professional development ensures I bring structure, integrity, and evidence-based practices into every session. Coaching may not yet be regulated — but many of us are choosing to uphold it with care and accountability.
✨ So… Which One Do I Need?
If you’re experiencing mental health symptoms, intense emotional distress, or need to process trauma, therapy is the right place to begin.
If you’re functioning day-to-day but feeling misaligned, stuck, overwhelmed by choice, or ready to grow, coaching may be the right fit.
Here’s a quick guide:
| Ask Yourself… | If Yes → Therapy | If Yes → Coaching |
|---|---|---|
| Am I struggling to cope emotionally? | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not ideal |
| Do I feel overwhelmed by past trauma? | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not ideal |
| Do I want to build toward a goal or shift? | ❌ Less helpful | ✅ Yes |
| Am I ready to take action, but unsure how? | ❌ Not always | ✅ Yes |
| Do I need a diagnosis or clinical treatment? | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not applicable |
đź’ˇ Coaching + Therapy Can Coexist
Many of my clients work with both a coach and a therapist. It’s not either/or — it’s a matter of what you need most right now.
Therapy helps you come home to yourself.
Coaching helps you decide what kind of home you want to build next.
🌸 A Final Thought
I believe in healing. I believe in science. And I believe in the sacred.
Coaching is where all three can meet. It’s a place to pause, get clear, and move forward on purpose — with both feet grounded and your heart open.
You don’t have to do it alone. My goal as a life coach is to expedite what can become a long and often feel like an isolating experience.
