If you’re reading this blog post, you’re probably interested in changing your life for the better with life coaching or psychotherapy. While many are familiar with the term “psychotherapy”, the field of life coaching has emerged in recent years and is growing rapidly. With all the offers and noise out there, it can get confusing to differentiate between the two fields. What does “life coaching” mean? What does this service entail? How is it similar to and different from therapy? And most importantly, is a life coach or a psychotherapist best suited to support you in your current situation?

In this post, I will explain the main differences between life coaching and psychotherapy, as well as their similarities, to help you gain a better understanding of what they are, and equip you to understand which service is best suited for you, and your current situation and challenges.

How are you doing overall?

I (urgently) need help with a mental health challenge

If you feel that deeper-rooted themes are keeping you stuck, if you are aware that trauma work needs to happen, or mental health disorders that need professional care, between life coaching and psychotherapy, the latter is the only option! Psychotherapists are trained to assist people who are dealing with various mental health disorders, including anxiety, PTSD and depression. Life coaches aren’t. Period.

Life coaches may provide valuable support for your overall well-being, but they’re not equipped to manage mental health challenges of this severity. If you find yourself struggling with your mental health and are in need of support and guidance here, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a psychotherapist. Your well-being is important and getting the right help is crucial!

I’m in a stable place and want to work on specific goals

If you have a specific goal in mind, or a particular area of your life you want to address, life coaching sessions are a great choice! A life coach can help you in navigating various topics, such as changing your career, managing conflict, handling time or stress, achieving work-life balance, starting a new project or business, enhancing self-confidence, refining your relationship and communication skills. Even if you know you would like to make changes in your life but don’t have a clear idea of what those changes might look like, a life coach can help you identify what’s missing for you - as long as you’re willing to open up, self-reflect and be honest (to yourself and the coach).

Already found your answer and know you want to work with a life coach? Why not take the first step and book a free discovery call with me? Ask me any questions you might still have, and get a sense of where it feels like a match!

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Hmm, I’m undecided

Okay, let’s take a closer look at your current wellbeing. Are you relatively content with your life at large? Are you able to care for yourself and function in daily life? Do you have the resources to socialize and pursue your hobbies on a regular basis? Do you feel content with your life at large, yet feel like you want change and improvement in some areas of your life that would lead to greater overall life satisfaction? If yes, life coaching is likely a solid option for you.

Can’t I work with both?

Yes, working with both a psychotherapist and a life coach simultaneously can be possible. The only scenario that shouldn’t occur is the one where you should be seeking the support of a psychotherapist but aren’t, and are instead hoping to shortcut the process you need support with by turning towards a life coach.

If you sought the support of a psychotherapist for an acute mental health challenge, I would suggest that you take your time resourcing and processing. Once you feel you have the capacity and are keen to work with a life coach on concrete goals, this work can wonderfully complement the work you’re doing in therapy. For example, you could be recovering from anxiety whilst wanting support with establishing a work-life balance or building self-confidence - which in turn might help ease your anxiety.

Do you want to work on your past, present or future?

I want to work through challenging events from my past

If you’re seeking support specifically to process a past event, psychotherapy is the way to go. Psychotherapy sessions commonly involve revisiting the patient’s past to find healing here, whereas the work in life coaching sessions is geared towards the present and the future. It is still possible for life coaches to take information from the past, however, this is more of a means to an end, so we can use that information to understand how the past might be contributing to the client’s present, to help them meet their goals and find contentment in the here and now, and onwards. Also, responsible coaches will only turn toward the past with a client who has worked through their past before, is aware of how their past conditioned them, and can go there without being retraumatized.

I need some changes in my life and want someone to help me identify and/or implement them

Life coaching it is! Life coaches can help identify the changes a client craves, set goals and reach them. They can point out which behavioral and thought patterns are keeping clients stuck, and work with mindset shifts to tackle limiting beliefs, in order to help facilitate positive change in the client’s attitudes, and consequently in their life. While life coaching involves setting measurable goals, being action- and goal-oriented, and geared towards achieving behavioral outcomes, it still incorporates self-reflection, a willingness to be vulnerable and openness towards change.

What type of session structure are you looking for?

I want open-ended sessions to explore and understand my thoughts and emotions

Psychotherapy would be better suited for a deeper exploration of yourself than life coaching. The open-ended sessions provide a safe space for you to delve into underlying issues that may be negatively impacting your wellbeing. While life coaching also requires self-reflection and usually implies a desire to self-explore, psychotherapy involves a more comprehensive understanding of your emotions, thoughts and the root causes of the challenges you’re facing, thus facing foundational aspects of your wellbeing.

I want focused sessions that help me gain clarity, build confidence and take action, so I can reach my goals

Go for life coaching! During a life coaching process, the goal is to help a client improve a specific area of their life over a set number of sessions, that can be prolonged if required, while psychotherapy, dealing with deeper issues, can take a more extended period of time. The sessions of a life coaching process are more focused, and are geared towards the goal of improved life satisfaction - whatever that looks like for you!

I want a safe and judgment-free space

In both life coaching and psychotherapy, the relationship between the practitioner and the client or patient plays a crucial role. Both disciplines share the goal of building trust and cultivating a safe, judgment-free space to encourage open communication, vulnerability and a supportive connection. The quality of this relationship significantly influences the overall outcome of the process.

Since this relationship is shaped not only by the professionalism of the life coach or psychotherapist but also depends on the individual preference of the client or patient, I highly recommend scheduling a free discovery call with your prospective life coach, or a non-committal chat/first session with a prospective psychotherapist. Of course, building that vital relationship takes time but this first chat will allow you to get a feel for whether you feel comfortable and safe with them!

Summary: What kind of support do you need?

Both life coaching and psychotherapy are modalities for improving your well-being, personal growth and self-development. Both are a wonderful - and at times much needed - opportunity to get support when you need or want it. In summary, here are the similarities between the psychotherapy and life coaching discussed in this blog post:

Both life coaching and psychotherapy involve providing guidance and support to individuals seeking positive change.

The relationship between the life coach or therapist and the client or patient is recognized as crucial for achieving positive outcomes in both fields.

Both involve self-reflective work and creating internal changes in order to foster increased well-being, personal growth and greater life satisfaction.

When it comes to the question of choosing a therapist or a life coach, ask yourself what your current desired outcome is, whether you want support with exploring the past or with navigating the future, and what your preferred style of sessions and of time investment is. It’s not a decision for life. Our circumstances, goals, and needs change, and we might work with both life coaches and psychotherapists at different stages of our life. For now, get the support that aligns best with your current situation, goals and overall well-being.

Book a discovery call

Are you still unsure as to what type of support you need? Feel free to book a discovery call with me, so we can determine together whether life coaching sessions are suitable for the topic you’re bringing in and where you’re at. This is also your chance to ask any questions and see if you’d like to work with me - now or in the future!

Book a discovery call