Therapy can resemble health coaching, and vice versa. Both are wonderful, and the intention of this blog is not to persuade you to pick one or the other. Actually, I recommend both! Allow yourself to try all the healing and self-care activities that interest you — you deserve it.

My intention here is to clarify some differences and similarities between the two to allow for better understanding. Although there are many types of therapy and coaching, in this post I am going to focus on psychotherapy (AKA mental health counseling), and health coaching.

Let’s start with the main differences…

Therapy (as in psychotherapy or mental health counseling):

• definition: “the treatment of mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means.”

• focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions

• practitioner is a licensed mental health professional (with a master’s degree or Ph.D/PsyD)

• may be covered by health insurance

• usually problem-oriented

• often aims to achieve mental stability after acute trauma

Health Coaching:

• definition: “the use of evidence-based skillful conversation, clinical interventions and strategies to actively and safely engage clients in health behavior change.”

• does not involve diagnosing or pathologizing; does not require the client to have a diagnosis

• practitioner has training & certification in coaching, but does not require a particular license

• draws on principles from positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, motivational interviewing, and goal setting

• usually not covered by health insurance (but maybe someday…)

• goal-oriented; aims to support client toward self-actualization

I personally believe that the biggest difference between therapy and coaching is in how you interpret them. In this blog, they are just words, open to anyone’s interpretation. But in your own reality, they probably come along with a lot more! Take a moment to notice what thoughts, beliefs and emotions come up for you when you think of “therapy” and “coaching.” Notice the subjective perspective you bring into the equation. Then get curious about your own viewpoint… Are those beliefs always true? Where do they come from?

Our perspective will heavily influence what self-care practices we are open to. Some will avoid therapy and lean toward coaching, simply because of the unfortunate stigma of mental illness. Others will scoff at the idea of coaching, based upon whatever pre-conceived notions they have about coaches/coaching. Personally, I used to dislike the idea of coaching because I really didn’t know what it was or all that it could be, and I had thoughts and beliefs (that weren’t true) that coaches were “bossy” or “know-it-alls” giving unprofessional advice. Ironic that I’ve ended up here, as a coach, right? I’m thankful for recognizing my own misconceptions!

Personal perspectives aside, the next most distinct difference between psychotherapy and health coaching is the credentialing process behind each profession. There are various paths one can take to become a health coach, including many different training and certification programs. Coaches might even have professional licenses, although it’s not required. But someone can only legally call themself a “psychotherapist” or “mental health counselor” if they have specific licensure. Because there are so many possible paths one can take, it can get a little blurry. That being said, it’s always most important to learn about the unique training, education history, and experience of anyone you are considering working with. In my experience, there’s a lot more to a practitioner than the word that best describes what they do, what they call themself, or the letters at the end of their name.

Now let’s look at the similarities…

Both Therapy & Health Coaching:

• are supportive & therapeutic

• promote health & well-being

• add accountability for self-care

• honor the client as an expert on their own life

• empower clients to make self-directed positive changes

• influence personal growth & development

• help clients overcome obstacles to achieve their goals

Ultimately, I feel that nearly anything you do with the intention to nurture yourself and promote well-being will have great benefit. Every practitioner, whether a health coach, therapist, or whatever else, has a unique approach that is perfect for some and not ideal for others. That’s the beauty of this world of private health practice! We have so many choices.

So which category does my work fall into?

My work is technically in the category of health coaching because I am not a licensed therapist. I graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in the science of nursing, but despite having a registered nurse license in Hawai’i, my work here does not include nursing care. My education and training as a nurse is just a (big) part of my background, education, and knowledge of health.

I’ve paved a unique path for myself which allows me to support others in a way that I feel aligns with my gifts and purpose. My professional coaching history began in 2015 when I became a certified personal trainer with NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). In that role, I supported my clients toward physical health and fitness goals, without much attention to mental aspects of health. Coaching was also an integral part of my nursing and case management experience over the years. But as I continued to learn and evolve, I started to question the focus of my work with clients as a health professional. Working with people in the midst of their suffering from mostly preventable diseases made me curious: How did this happen?

To me, it feels backwards to focus solely on the physical manifestations of clearly deeper issues. It makes more sense that the priority focus should be on one’s thoughts, which lead to behaviors, which influence health more than anything else. As my focus shifted and my desire to work in a more holistic manner grew, I dove deeper into coaching training and became a certified holistic nurse coach and health & wellness coach with AHNCC.

My strong attraction to psychology led me to pursue education and training in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of therapy by the IFS Institute, which makes my coaching style especially therapeutic. So technically, I am a “practitioner” of IFS, but not a “therapist.” But since IFS is a major aspect of our work, many of my clients see me in the same light that they would see a therapist.

. . .

As I finish writing this, I wonder if I’ve clarified, or just made the comparison of therapy and health coaching that much more confusing… Either way, I hope this has opened your mind to the possibilities. I hope you take away an awareness that both therapy and coaching can appear many different ways, and they may not always be as you assume or as you’ve experienced in the past. If you’re searching for the next step on your journey, know that there is an abundance of support found in therapy, coaching, and more. And if you’re a health practitioner, know that you can pave your own creative path.

Feel free to comment any questions or insights!

And if you’re curious about my unique coaching style, reach out to connect with me. I’d love to work with you! 💜