Coaching and Therapy
At Set Apart Ministries, all of our services are provided within a Judeo-Christian Biblical worldview and always include a prayerful focus.
A provider may be both a therapist and a personal coach. They will clearly define which role they are in with each client's mutual consent. A client may have both a therapist and a coach, but they would not generally be the same person for both. A coach can and should refer a client for professional therapy if that appears to be needed and a therapist may well refer a client to a coach for specific areas of need. Even if a coach is also a therapist, they would generally refer to another therapist if that need were evident in order to prevent confusion of expectations in their already established relationship. Coaches and therapists can and do refer to one another if they see specialty needs. SIMILARITIES Both Coaching and Therapy involve: a helping professional who comes along side an individual or group to offer encouragement, empathy, humor, respectful criticism, creativity, experience and knowledge about the process of change through the use of powerful questions to help them develop and grow in various areas of life. a regularly scheduled meeting time. a good interpersonal match between provider and client. a confidential relationship (although some states may not extend all the same confidentiality protection to coaches that therapists generally experience.) a system of accountability, either by supervisory professionals or peers. Coaches are encouraged to and usually do have their own coaches. DIFFERENCES Healing vs Moving Forward Therapy is a professional relationship between provider and client/patient in which the provider evaluates and designates a medical diagnosis as part of the treatment planning for the individual.The general focus is on the healing and restoration of emotional or behavioral malfunctions, disorders or relationships. It often does include encouragement and practical help toward personal development. Coaching is more clearly focused on moving forward with no medical diagnosis involvement. Coaches encourage their clients to set their own expectations and goals as well as asking clients about what kinds of encouragement, accountability or celebrations they themselves would prefer in the relationship. Coaches concentrate on encouraging their clients to experiment and find the solutions they need. A coach puts less emphasis on why something came to be an issue and more on what you will do to successfully overcome the concern. Pain Relief vs Development Therapy is more often begun in response to a type of crisis or personally painful symptom. Coaching is more often begun to obtain support while moving toward a difficult goal. Need vs Want Therapy is often about what people need to do to alleviate symptoms or recover from mental, emotional or behavioral disorders. Coaching is something people want to receive in order to improve the quality of their lives. Location Therapy is generally provided in a face to face session held in a specific office. It is generally restricted to that setting by state guidelines (and therapists preference.) These guidelines in many states do not allow for provision of services on a regular basis by telephone, or across state lines. Coaching may be provided in a face to face office setting but is most often provided by telephone or internet connection or in an alternate location acceptable to both coach and client, such as a restaurant, park, etc. There is no restriction to the locations of coach and client so people can choose a coach in their home town, across the nation or across an ocean. Coaching boundaries are a little more flexible than therapy boundaries but remain subject to appropriate considerations for the safety and well being of both coach and client. Click here to return to the Coaching Information Links Page | 
