Psychotherapy or Coaching: You Mean There is an Option?

3 min readOct 11, 2021

Psychotherapy or Coaching: You Mean There is an Option?

As a therapist I decided to add coaching to my list of services so that I could expand the work of positive psychology without being restricted by diagnostic criteria and insurance billing.

There are many times an individual has come in for the first appointment and stated, “I just thought I would benefit from someone to talk to.”

After the first session, I am put in the uncomfortable position of diagnosing this individual with something that may or may not impact them negatively down the road at some point. Luckily, the handy-dandy DSM-V has me covered. There is literally a diagnosis for just about everything… with a broad enough brush stroke.

Since I began practicing I have had a fair number of individuals contact me from other states — even countries, because of my stance as a liberationist healer and activist. Face it, there are not nearly enough of us out there. Coaching helps me to level up the playing field for those of whom it has always been uneven or even closed.

Before I proceed, let me state without equivocation: Coaching does not take the place or replace psychotherapy in instances where psychotherapy is warranted.

Key Differences and Similarities Between Psychotherapy and Coaching

Therapy

· Therapists are only allowed to practice in the states (United States) in which they are licensed.

· Clients receive treatment. They are patients, no matter the semantics, and are given a diagnosis. This diagnosis serves two purposes- appropriate levels of care and billing insurance.

· Many forms of therapy are very like coaching, but the client is still the patient, and there is still a diagnosis.

Coaching

· Coaching is not restricted to states, regions, or even countries.

· Clients are clients. They do not receive a diagnosis. They are not “treated.”

· Many forms of coaching draw upon therapeutic models such as positive psychology and cognitive behavioral psychology. However, the client is still the client, the client receives the benefits of the skills and techniques provided but does not receive a diagnosis or treatment.

How to determine which is right for you?

1. Are you experiencing symptoms of depression that include a change of personality, change in sleeping or eating, thoughts of suicide or self-harm?

2. Are you experiencing periods of unusually elevated or exaggerated mood, to include euphoria or anger?

3. Are you experiencing sensations of depersonalization or a loss of reality?

4. Are you seeing, hearing, or feeling things that others do not?

5. Have you gone through a recent or past trauma from which you still experience anxiety, sleeplessness, reactions to lights, sounds, or events?

6. Do you feel you would benefit from someone to talk to, to bat ideas about?

7. Would you like help in refocusing your energy to become the best version of yourself?

8. Would you like to improve self-esteem, learn how to put your best efforts forward?

9. Would you like to change your relationship with food, drink, or humans?

10. Would you like to develop a more positive mindset towards yourself, your job, your family/significant other, or the state of the world in general?

Using your Smartphone scan the QR code for your results.