Therapy or Coaching - which do you need?
More than ever, I’ve been receiving messages about when the right time is to invest in therapy or coaching. So in today’s email, I am going to break down the differences between the two, and a few tips on how to select a coach or a therapist.
The difference between therapy and coaching is completely dependent upon who you ask!
Licensed therapists are just that: licensed, educated, and regulated, whereas the coaching industry is not. The truth is anyone can become a coach, so the difference between the two is really up to the client – what does the client need, why does the client need it, who does the client trust, and who can support them the most, etc.
Examples of when to reach out to a coach or therapist:
You are dealing with a life or career transition
You have a goal in mind & need strategies and support to get to this goal
You are looking for expert advice on how to change a habit
You are trying to beat imposter syndrome and build up your confidence
You want an objective person in your life to bounce ideas off of
Breaking down the difference of therapy and coaching with examples:***
Therapist: dealing with grief or loss, learning how to manage any diagnosable mental health disorder (depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, bipolar, etc.), marriage counseling, codependency, learn self-worth, alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, etc.
Coaching: strategies on how to optimize your career or life, learning a specific sport or fitness, learn how to enjoy public speaking, break through imposter syndrome, weight loss tips, objective support to bounce career ideas off of, leadership and executive level support.
***depending upon the therapist or coach, there may be cross over in these two examples. Again, it really depends on the nature of what you are looking for.
How to choose a therapist or a coach:
Date around. Sometimes finding a good therapist or coach requires you to test the waters. Similar to marriage, you might need to go on a few dates with this person before you commit long term. After meeting with about 4-5 therapists in the last decade, I found my current therapist on Instagram. I was meeting with her weekly for about 2-3 months because chaos was happening inside my family, and now I have regular check ins with her every other month for maintenance support.
Know what type of support you are looking for. Identify your triggers and your needs, then go on a hunt to find the person who can support you. I have multiple different coaches that I have on speed dial to bounce an idea off of - and I trust these people more than I trust some (okay most, lol) of my own family members.
Reviews. These days everyone is checking out yelp or LinkedIn reviews for a reason: reliability and trust factor. Make sure others can vouch for this person before you commit, especially if it is a high dollar investment. If they received the results that you are looking to achieve, this is an indicator that the coach or therapist is a great fit for you.
Bottom line: there is NO shame in reaching out to a therapist or coach to find the support you deserve. In order to live your best most optimal life, you need people around you who support you, who understand you, and who want to see you thrive (and kick ass!).
Most importantly.... Whether you end up working with a therapist or a coach, it is up to YOU to do the work.
Have an awesome week!
Let's do this!!!
Be well,
Ash
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Ashlee Klevens Hayes, PharmD, MHA
Career Expert + Interview Prep Coach
e: HELLO@RXASHLEE.COM
(SHE/HER/HERS)
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