Coaching Versus Counseling: Why Your Therapist Might Be Keeping You Stuck

Coaching: The Wild, Wild West

So what do people do when therapy doesn’t work?

They turn to coaching. And listen, I love coaching. I’m a Board Certified Coach myself. Coaching—when done right—is a powerful, structured, action-oriented process that helps high-functioning people create real, measurable change and achieve their goals.

But here’s the kicker: coaching is completely unregulated.

Literally anyone (your cousin, your dog walker, your neighbor’s teenage gamer) can call themselves a coach and start charging $300 an hour. No training required. No license. No accountability. No oversight.

That’s bananas.

And it’s dangerous—especially when people who are struggling with legit mental health issues turn to unqualified coaches who don’t know how to recognize or address clinical needs. On the flip side, it’s also a problem when people just want to solve a problem in their lives—like fixing their relationship or finding their life’s purpose—and they wind up with a therapist who only knows how to treat depression and anxiety.

Coaching Versus Counseling

So what’s the difference between coaching versus counseling?

Let me break it down for you real simple:

	Counseling / Therapy	Coaching
Focus	Healing, mental health treatment	Growth, performance, personal + professional goals
Client type	People with mental health conditions	High-functioning individuals without diagnoses
Approach	Past-focused, insight-oriented	Future-focused, action + results-oriented
Regulated?	Yes (requires license + oversight)	No (anyone can call themselves a coach)
Ideal for…	Depression, anxiety, trauma, serious distress	Goals, confidence, clarity, career, breakups

Now here’s where things get juicy…

There’s a highly effective approach that is the best of both worlds: evidence-based coaching delivered by licensed therapists. This is what we specialize in at Growing Self, and honestly? It’s kind of magic.

Why Coaching With a Therapist Is a Total Game-Changer

When you work with a licensed therapist who is also a trained coach, you’re getting someone who:

•  Knows how to recognize if a deeper issue (like undiagnosed anxiety) is blocking your progress
  
•  Has the tools to go deep with you emotionally and help you connect the dots
  
• Will hold you accountable, create structure, and guide you toward real results
  
•  Isn’t just talking about change—they’re helping you make it happen

So… Therapy or Coaching?

Ask yourself this:

• Do I need to heal from a diagnosed mental health condition? → You need therapy.
  
• Am I processing grief or a deep emotional loss? → Therapy could be perfect.
  
• Do I want to understand myself, build new habits, level up my relationships, or take meaningful action toward my goals? → Coaching is your new BFF.
  

But not just any coaching. You deserve support that’s qualified, structured, and effective.

Ready to Gain Clarity and Confidence?

If you’re done having the same conversations week after week, and you’re ready to actually do something with all that beautiful self-awareness you’ve been cultivating, I want you to know this: real, lasting growth is possible. But only when you’re using the right tools with the right person.

That’s exactly why I created our Clarity & Confidence Coaching. It’s 8 affordable, action-oriented coaching sessions designed for smart, growth-minded people (like you!) who are ready to stop spinning and start soaring.

What makes our Clarity & Confidence Coaching different? It’s led by licensed therapists who are specifically trained in coaching psychology—not just therapy, not generic coaching, but the real-deal, evidence-based approach that combines the depth of clinical insight with the momentum of results-focused action.

We help you get clear about what matters most, build real skills to get out of your own way, and follow through on the life you know you’re meant to live.

👉 Schedule your free consultation call and let’s chat about where you are, where you want to be, and how we can help you get there—strategically, effectively, and with heart.

Let’s Connect! 

If you’re not quite ready to dive into coaching just yet, no worries! You can still hang out with me and get tons of free insights and encouragement every week.

You can find me on Instagram, where I share mini coaching lessons, empowering reminders, and the occasional spicy truth bomb, and on YouTube, where you can find video episodes of the Love, Happiness & Success podcast, live Q+As, and snippets from awesome interviews. 

Come join me. I’d love to hear from you!

Xoxo

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

P.S. Know someone who’s stuck in endless therapy loops or about to drop a paycheck on a coach who “just vibes”? Send them this article. Let’s all get clear, confident, and moving forward—together. 

Resources:

Grant, A. M., & Palmer, S. (2002). Coaching psychology. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=snys_ihoEigC&oi=fnd&pg=PA183&dq=coaching+psychology&ots=5yQPXY_IDx&sig=Trzq621qr3gddnU37-iweZWC9pU

Hart, V., Blattner, J., & Leipsic, S. (2001). Coaching versus therapy: A perspective. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 53(4), 229. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2002-00097-002.html

Greif, S. (2007). Advances in research on coaching outcomes. International Coaching Psychology Review, 2(3), 222-249. https://organisationalpsychology.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/International_Coaching_Psychology_Review_Volume_2_No_3_November_2007.pdf#page=6