Life Coach, Counsellor, or Therapist; - How do I choose?

Life coaching has become fashionable in recent years and there seems to be a big demand for what they offer. Counselling and many forms of therapy are also on offer, these may have been around for many years and have advantages to offer clients. Yet how do you choose which one to go for?

Choosing a therapist is possibly the easiest choice to make. Generally, a therapist will offer a form of therapy to treat a particular range of conditions in a particular way. So a reflexologist will offer to treat a range of ailments by using reflexology (generally massage of the feet). So you'd approach a therapist if you wished to try that therapy for your condition or you had previously had success from that therapy, or the therapy (therapist) had been recommended to you by a friend or other professional.

The more difficult choice comes between choosing a counsellor or a life coach. What is the difference in the services they offer? How do you select which one is best for you?

It would be a mistake to dismiss life coaching simply because it may appear 'new' or 'faddy'. Similarly, it would be wrong to choose counselling just because it appears to have more of a tradition or has become better established.

On the surface, there is much similarity between life coaching and counselling. Both are usually carried out in individual sessions or sessions for couples. The best life coaches treat their clients with 'unconditional positive regard' and to be 'non judgmental', so do counsellors. The best personal life coaches claim to be 'non-directive', whereas counsellors claim to be 'client centered' or 'person centred'. In fact, all these terms have their roots in the work of the same man; Carl Rogers.

If you go to both life coaching and to counselling sessions, you will notice similarities in the approaches used. The listening skills and the style of questions being used are often the same or similar. If you go to life coach or counselling training, you will see that there is great similarity between the two.

All the similarities make it difficult to choose between the two. Yet there are differences and it is these differences which make a decision easier.

Generally if you feel there is something 'wrong', you would be best to choose counselling. A counsellor will help you focus and understand what is 'wrong' and how it is affecting your life and help you find ways of dealing with the problem. Generally, if you feel there is nothing 'wrong' or 'dysfunctional' but you simply want to change, progress, improve or to achieve your ambition, then coaching would be better for you.

An additional factor you need to take into account is the qualifications of the life coach or counsellor. Counselling is an established profession and its practitioners should all have recognised qualifications. Life coaching is still new and there are a range of training bodies offering many different sorts of training. Indeed, some life coaches may not be trained at all. So do ask what qualifications and experience the life coach has.

Douglas Woods is qualified as a life coach, teacher and a counsellor. You can find out more about his work on his website, http://www.dougwoods.com

---

Two Leadership Strategies: Don?t Lose Your Mind & Be a Coach

Are you feeling overwhelmed, a lack of confidence or under... Read More

Successful Implementation of Company Wide Coaching Programmes

Ten years ago I was fortunate enough to be heavily... Read More

Controlling Behavior, Loving Behavior

When Zack and Tiffany started counseling with me, they were... Read More

Take Responsibility for Reshaping Your Life

We say we want to eat better, feel better, and... Read More

Parts that Make the Whole? or Not

There are many parts that make up you.There's the Musical... Read More

Top Ten Things You Would Never Hear a Coach Say (or then again?!)

When coaching, it's all about the client, be that as... Read More

3 Tips for a Great Summer - Developing Life & Business While Having a Blast

As the last day of school arrives I feel the... Read More

Think Twice Before Youre Nice

A few months back I had a disturbing dream. In... Read More

How to Kill Fear When Dealing with Aggressive People

The book Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by... Read More

How to Quickly and Easily Deal With Rude People

Where I live there seems to be a a growing... Read More

How to Get More Business Without Even Trying

Why are you in business? Hopefully you enjoy what you... Read More

3 Secrets to Developing Superior People Skills

1. If What You Are Doing Is Not Working Change... Read More

What Do You Have To Give?

"Happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly... Read More

The Magic of Hearing

I'm working on a coach training certification, and one of... Read More

Overcoming Work Addiction

Why are you so busy? Do you really have too... Read More

Do You Really Need A Home Business Mentor?

Having a mentor can mean the difference between success and... Read More

Are You Invisible?

Ellen was brought up to be invisible. She was taught... Read More

Is Your Attitude Destroying Your Health?

A positive attitude may bring good health and success. If... Read More

7 Steps to Take Control of Your Life

Taking control of your life is getting in touch with... Read More

Whats Up With All These Coaches?

If you are anything like me, you may have noticed... Read More

You Can Get There From Here

But first you've got to raise your standards.I know at... Read More

What Are Your Priorities?

"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want... Read More

The Executive Coaching Contract

Having found a coach you feel comfortable and excited about... Read More

The Fastest Way to Ruin Yourself

I don't know many people who would admit to wanting... Read More

Body Language Speaks Louder Than Words

Has it ever occurred to you how much you are... Read More

Do You Ever Give Up Coaching Employees?

In principle, we don't want to give up coaching employees.... Read More

Avoid the Tendency to Underestimate Your Greatness

As a whole I think there is a sad tendency... Read More

Business Coaching Legacy: Reflections on What You Want to Leave Behind?

Updating my will has been on my mind for quite... Read More

4 Ways To Avoid Looking Stupid When Making Small Talk

The fear of saying something silly and feeling embarrassed stops... Read More

Good Communication is Easy - Isn?t It?

My name is Steve Brummet and my business is to... Read More

Your Personal Treasure Chest

Sometimes it is helpful to review several of the basic... Read More

How To Give Criticism Without Bruising Egos

As responsible employers, parents, and friends, we have an obligation... Read More

Finding Peace: A Taste of Mindfulness

When we are ill and don't know it, we are... Read More