Differences: Counselor and Coach
Counseling helps people address past issues to move to a better future.
Coaching looks from the present to the future.
What is the difference between a therapist and a life coach?
Licensed therapists must meet their specific state's requirements in order to be licensed to counsel people with mental health diagnoses.
Licensed therapists must obtain an advanced graduate degree, after which they must qualify and be approved for supervision as interns.
Each prospective therapist must have an internship practicum (usually 3,000+ counseling hours under supervision), which adds several additional years after graduate school before their career can be established. Supervisors must be state-approved.
After completing an internship, prospective therapists must then pass their state’s licensing board exams and make an application prior to receiving licensures. States may also require ongoing training (continuing education units or CEUs) throughout a therapist’s career, depending upon their state licensing board’s requirements.
Licensed therapists treat people whose ability to function is impaired by the client’s condition, which will carry a diagnosis. Therapists' and healthcare professionals’ services are eligible for insurance programs coverage, depending upon the diagnosis and insurance company.
Even though the ‘licensure portability’ laws are constantly changing, most therapists are only allowed by their licensing boards to counsel residents in their state of licensure. In most states, a therapist can only provide counseling services to residents residing in the state where the counselor is licensed.
Therapists may address issues such as: depression, divorce, family counseling, self-esteem, personality disorders, anxiety, anger issues, phobias, communication issues, pre-marital or marital situations, parenting, stages of development, school issues, panic attacks, pain management or other mental health issues.
Life coaches (& other types of certified coaches) help people who want to improve performance in an area of their life or to be more successful in setting and achieving goals.
Most coaches specialize in an area in which they have experience or training. Coaches carry a certification (not required in all states) rather than a license from a state licensing board. Life coaches are not eligible for insurance reimbursement and are paid out of pocket by their clients.
Certified Life Coaches (or coaches certified in other areas, such as “Professional Organizer” coaches, “Business Coaches”, etc.) may practice coaching for residents of any state. Coaches may help build you build self-confidence & identify your strengths, be a motivation, help you set goals for self-improvement, assist in job performance improvement or job changes, help as you begin a business, assist in learning time-management skills, help you in building positive relationships and balance in life, assist in financial planning, help in career development, improving life, improve health and well-being, unlock creativity, and gain overall clarity.
Another difference between a therapist and a life coach is similar to a person going to a licensed physical therapist for physical therapy rehabilitation versus going to a personal trainer to become physically fit.
Some people may see both therapist and coach at the same time, such as counseling with a therapist to address mental health counseling issues while also seeing a life coach for non-counseling goals.
More info:
Treat mental health issues: Counselor-Yes; Coach-No
Usually covered by insurance: Counselor-Yes; Coach-No
Can be seen by out-of-state clients: Counselor-No; Coach-Yes
Can be seen by clients worldwide: Counselor-No; Coach-Yes
Graduate degree required: Counselor-Yes; Coach-No
Provide diagnosis: Counselor-Yes; Coach-No
State licensure required to practice: Counselor-Yes; Coach-No
Clients self-pay: Counselor-Yes (may be covered by insurance); Coach-Yes
Certification required: Counselor-No (unless therapist voluntarily adds areas of specialty certification for expertise); Coach-recommended, not required.
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream! (C.S. Lewis)
You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. (Les Brown)
If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.
(Albert Einstein)
“As a counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist, my licenses allow me to help Texas residents with issues interfering in life and relationships. My clients experience changes over time in therapy, not just in addressing life changes and decisions but in understanding that they can be confident in who they are, what they can do, and how to make a plan for success.
Register & schedule for mental health counseling via our home page.)
As a certified Life Coach, I also work with clients (worldwide) to attain personal or work-related goals and live more peaceful and satisfying lives. Please contact my offices at 210-970-1511 for information about scheduling Life Coaching appointments.” - Clifton Fuller.
Read more about the difference between Counseling and Life Coaching Here.
Note: Clifton is the author of “The Marriage Vampire” (dealing with narcissistic personalities), now available on Amazon.
Clifton Fuller
LCSW, LPC, LMFT
