Should you see a therapist or a life coach
I had someone ask me this question the other day-Should I see a therapist or a life coach? First off, it is disclaimer time and I am not a therapist, but I have spent a good chunk of my life in therapy. I 100% believe in therapy and anti-depressants or whatever medication is needed to get one through life. I have at different points in my life been in therapy, or seen a life coach and at one point I was seeing both.
At its most simplified, therapy generally focuses on the past and life coaching is about setting future goals. Therapy is focused on your mental health and healing and life coaching is focused on helping you get clear on what you want in order to help you grow and succeed.
I have at times in my life suffered from PTSD, depression and anxiety. I thank therapy for helping me heal from the PTSD (especially EMDR) and the depression/anxiety combo. I still have to manage my depression and keep an eye on it, but it isn’t something I worry about on a daily basis. FYI most people who have just met me don’t know this about me. That is because I have done the work and I have had some amazing therapists in my life who have worked with me and given me the tools to live my life to my fullest.
On the flip side when you are juggling all of these things it doesn’t give you much time to think about the future or what you want to do with your life. That is when I turned to life coaching. I learned so much more about how my brain impacts how I am feeling and how I view the future and gave me the tools to change those negative thoughts. It gave me the space and opportunity to dream, refine those dreams and set goals to accomplish them. In fact that coaching is what lead me to becoming a life coach.
If you have unresolved trauma, are depressed and actively struggling with your day to day then I would say go see a therapist. If you aren’t sure, which one would be right for you, I would again say, go see a therapist.
If you are feeling a little adrift, unsure what you want to do with your life, career or relationship, have been through therapy but want to focus on your future plans, are feeling stuck or feeling unengaged in your life, then I’d say a life coach would be a great fit.
Coaching is a much more collaborative process, while in therapy the therapist is the expert and will guide your treatment plan. Coaching focuses on the life that you want to create and therapy looks at what you need to resolve or fix. In some cases coaches and therapists work together to support a client. It depends on each individuals needs.
If after reading this, or doing some research on your own, you aren’t sure, then I would suggest reaching out to a therapist first. If you want to talk more about what life coaching can do for you, then feel free to sign up for a free one hour coaching consult. I’d love to talk more about coaching.
