What is the difference between therapy and coaching?
This question has come from just about everyone from friends to potential clients and even from colleagues in the mental health and coaching professions. The best analogy I’ve come across compares therapy and coaching to a hole and a mountaintop.
The person that is in the hole is trying to get to the surface. They may or may not see the light, but the climb feels insurmountable and they may not be sure just what they need to do to climb out of this hole. They may not be able to function in some or all aspects of their life (such as at work, school, personal care, relationships) and it’s negatively impacting their quality of life. They need a helping hand to the surface and to understand how and why they ended up in the hole to begin with. This individual would benefit from psychotherapy. While a good therapist does partner with their clients, the therapist has the professional knowledge, skills, and expertise to help bring them to the surface which involves diagnosing the client and providing the appropriate treatment. Envision a helping a hand reaching into the hole and gently guiding the person to the surface.
The person that is on the surface is trying to reach their mountaintop. Things on the surface are “ok” or status quo, but there’s something missing. They may even have some feelings of guilt around feeling like something is missing, after all, things on the surface are just fine. There’s also the person that is pretty content, but wants to reach the mountaintop in one particular area of their life. Perhaps it’s to start or grow a business, maybe they want to travel more, or are experiencing a major life transition like the birth of a child, changing careers, or a break up and they want to figure out the next steps to navigating their new role or position. A coach partners with this person and acts a guide up the mountain. The difference between this guide and the aforementioned is that this guide is walking alongside the individual. Effective coaching works around the premise that the individual has everything they need to get to where they want to be; the coach focuses on helping the client uncover their internal resources, discover external resources , map out a plan of action, while providing accountability to help the client bring their goal to fruition.
There’s a lot to psychotherapy and coaching that aren’t explained here and at times there may be overlap. This is just a visual reference to give you the gist of what to expect in psychotherapy and coaching. If you still have questions about the difference and which is best for you, please feel free to contact me.
What is the structure/frequency of coaching sessions?
I offer several different coaching options which include individual, group, and intensive sessions. Sessions are typically 60 minutes for 1:1 and 90 minutes for group and can be done weekly or biweekly. Intensive sessions are sessions that are customized to the unique needs of the person being coached and are structured as a “mini-retreat”. Sessions are conducted in person or via Zoom (web-conferencing). Please contact me for more details.
What is the structure of therapy sessions?
Therapy is delivered in individual, couple, or group therapy sessions. Session lengths vary based on the service, but generally it’s 50-75 minutes for individual sessions, 75 minutes for couples, and 90 minutes for group therapy. Sessions are typically weekly, but the frequency can be adjusted based on your needs. This is often discussed throughout the therapy process as frequency often changes over time. Sessions are delivered in person (NY & FL) and virtually. I’ve found that many of my clients appreciate the flexibility of this approach as scheduling conflicts around jobs, travel, and family obligations can make scheduling difficult and thus therapy becomes a burden instead of helpful. Life happens, but consistency in therapy is very important and this approach allows for both.
How do you breakthrough the negativity around “therapy”?
It’s unfortunate that there is still stigma around therapy in our society today especially in certain communities. It’s a topic that I encourage my clients to be open about in our work together. Deciding on a way to look at and conduct therapy in a way that makes sense for them is a part of our process. This includes deciding on whether or not they need to share with anyone that they are in therapy.
How do you measure results for your clients?
With all my clients, whether they are in therapy or coaching, we discuss their expectations and desired outcomes at the very beginning including getting very detailed about how they will know when that outcome has been reached (for example how will their life look, feel, and be different as a result of our work together). We continue to assess progress as we go along, and decide if things are working, and if they’re not what needs to be changed or focused on to get the process on the right track.
What differentiates you from other therapists or coaches?
Therapists and coaches bring our whole selves to our work and I am no different. My clients appreciate my down to earth nature and sense of humor, but also my dedication to providing the best services possible in a professional manner. This means staying up to date on best practices, research, and training, knowing when I can help or when another provider may be a better fit, and treating my clients the way I’d want myself or a family member to be treated.
Like with any relationship, not everybody is for everyone. I’m always excited to work with clients that are the best fit for my practice and happy to offer referrals for those individuals that can best be served by other competent professionals.
Do you accept insurance?
I provide out of network services for most insurances. You will need to contact your insurance company to verify your out of network benefits for psychotherapy.
Can I use my health insurance to pay for coaching?
Coaching is paid for out of pocket since insurance companies do not cover coaching services. I offer a number of different packages and payment options. Please contact me to discuss which option is the best fit for your needs.