Counselling & Coaching – what’s the difference?

While there are real differences between coaching and counselling, there are also similarities.  Both are usually concerned with gaining some sort of clarity around issues and problems, understanding oneself, personal-development and, hopefully, positive change.

Counselling, is often concerned with alleviating distress by exploring the past as well as the present, with a focus on coping, healing, change and repair.  Counselling often works at a slower pace than coaching as emotional layers are uncovered and we strive for deep psychological understanding.  Counselling is largely concerned with feelings and emotions.  We allow insights to appear in their own time, without time pressure or need for a specific agenda or plan.

Coaching usually has specific aims, objectives or goals, is generally forward-facing and emphasises change, action, choice-making and personal responsibility.  While counselling is often reparative in nature, coaching has more of a developmental focus.   My background allows me to work at emotional depth but in coaching we won’t be sitting in the past.  Once we know what makes you tick, we will be thinking more about the present and future.   I am a fully qualified, experienced, BACP-registered counsellor and relational therapist enabling me to bring a wealth of psychological knowledge and insight into my coaching work.