Coaching vs. Counseling: Similarities and Differences

People often ask, “Are coaching and counseling the same thing?” You may find yourself wondering too. No. They are not. Understanding the difference between coaching and counseling will help you determine which route is best for you.

Counseling is focused on the past and is designed to help you experience emotional healing and restoration. A counselor diagnoses you and creates a plan to help you be whole again. In contrast, Christian coaching is a future-oriented approach that partners with the Holy Spirit to bring about heart transformation. It is an individualized approach that helps you set goals and provides accountability and encouragement as you take the next step toward fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. It takes you from where you are to where God desires you to be.

Is coaching better than counseling? This is a trick question. Everyone’s needs are different. Generally speaking, an emotionally healthy person can benefit from coaching. If you have unresolved trauma in your life, then counseling may be the best place for you to start. Once you have experienced healing and restoration then coaching becomes a more viable option for you.

We should note that Christian coaching is also different from mentoring and consulting. Mentors share specifics on how they obtained success to help you learn from their life experiences. Mentoring is most effective with individuals who are a few steps behind the mentor in their life experiences. Consulting is similar to mentoring except a consultant is usually an expert or specialist in a specific topic. A consultant provides advice on what steps to take next and provides an action plan to the client.

If you find that you still have questions regarding coaching, you can learn more by reading the post “What is Christian Coaching?“.