I love working with adolescents, young adults, and adults who are autistic or are struggling socially to help develop better relationship building skills. I am aware of how challenging it can be to work on those social relationship skills and I will help you to set goals that are positive and achievable. We will talk about your progress and continue working until you decide that you have accomplished as you want.
I use a HIPAA secure ZOOM account and offer free 30-minute initial consultations. The cost of coaching sessions is $50/hour.
I also use the HIPAA secure EHR, Sessions Health.
Beyond individual coaching, I worked as a group social skills coach for IRL Social Skills for 4 years.
These are not therapy relationships. If you are struggling with emotional or mental health issues, I will refer you to a therapist or ensure that the organization that I am working with can help to help meet those needs.
See my certifications.
How is a Life Coach Different than a Therapist?
Life coach and a therapist both provide guidance and support, but they differ in their roles, focus, training, and the types of issues they typically address. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
1. Focus and Goals
- Life Coach: A life coach focuses on helping clients achieve personal goals, enhance their performance, and improve their overall life satisfaction. They work on areas like career development, relationships, health, personal growth, and productivity. Life coaches are future-focused, helping clients develop actionable strategies to achieve their aspirations and overcome obstacles.
- Example: I hope you set social communication and self-care goals.
- Therapist: A therapist (e.g., psychologist, counselor, or licensed clinical social worker) works with clients to address emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues that may stem from past trauma, mental health conditions (such as anxiety, depression, PTSD), or difficult life circumstances. Therapists help clients understand their thoughts and feelings, process past events, and work toward mental well-being.
- Example: A therapist might help you work through feelings of depression, unresolved trauma, or relationship issues that affect your mental health.
2. Training and Credentials
- Life Coach: Life coaches do not require formal mental health training or credentials. They may have completed coaching certification programs, which vary in quality and depth. While they can provide valuable support, they are not licensed to diagnose or treat mental health conditions.
- Example: As a life coach, I am not working with my therapy license. I am not a therapist in this role, and will refer you for therapy if you are having emotional or mental health problems.
- Therapist: Therapists are highly trained and licensed professionals with graduate degrees in psychology, social work, counseling, or other related fields. They are licensed by the state or country in which they practice, and they are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Their education includes coursework in psychotherapy techniques, mental health disorders, and ethical practices.
- Example: I am an LPCC-S in the state of Minnesota, where I do assessments and counseling. I do not provide assessment or counseling skills outside of my therapy practice.
3. Scope of Practice
- Life Coach: Life coaches primarily work on personal development and goal setting. They do not typically work with clients who are dealing with serious psychological or emotional disorders. Their services are about moving forward, making decisions, and creating plans for achieving goals.
- Therapist: Therapists are trained to handle mental health conditions, trauma, and emotional struggles. They can provide psychotherapy, help with stress management, address issues such as anxiety and depression, and support clients through difficult life events (like loss, divorce, or trauma).
4. Methods and Techniques
- Life Coach: Life coaches typically use goal-setting techniques, motivational interviewing, action plans, and accountability structures to help clients move forward. They might use assessments to evaluate where a person is in their life and where they want to be, and then develop a plan of action to close that gap. I use the CLEAR Framework. I also am trained on the UCLA PEERS program, although I did not follow the certification route. I use parts of this empirically validated program as a tool in my toolbelt. I also like Jed Baker’s work and have completed his trainings Preparing for Life and No More Meltdowns.
- Therapist: Therapists use evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help individuals cope with mental health issues. Common therapeutic approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Focuses on emotion regulation and improving interpersonal effectiveness.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores how past experiences influence current behavior.
- Trauma-Informed Therapy: Focuses on helping clients heal from trauma and its effects on their lives.
5. Emotional Support vs. Mental Health Treatment
- Life Coach: Life coaches generally offer support and guidance focused on personal growth, but they are not trained to handle clinical mental health issues. They might support clients in building self-esteem, improving relationships, or navigating life changes, but they don’t treat mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.
- Therapist: Therapists offer emotional support and provide professional help to address underlying mental health issues. They are trained to recognize when a client needs more than just guidance and can refer individuals to appropriate professionals if needed (e.g., psychiatrists for medication).
6. Client-Centered vs. Therapeutic Relationship
- Life Coach: A life coach’s relationship with the client is typically more collaborative and action-oriented. They work together to set goals and track progress. The relationship tends to be more coaching and mentoring rather than one focused on emotional healing.
- Therapist: The therapeutic relationship is more about creating a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Therapy can be more introspective, with the therapist guiding the client through difficult emotional processes.
7. Duration of Sessions
- Life Coach: Life coaching sessions are usually shorter-term (from a few weeks to months) and are focused on achieving specific goals. The relationship with a life coach is often time-limited and structured around tangible outcomes.
- Therapist: Therapy can be long-term or short-term, depending on the issues at hand. Some clients may have ongoing therapy for several years, while others might engage in short-term therapy for acute problems. The focus is often on long-term mental health, emotional healing, and managing symptoms.
Summary of Key Differences:
| Aspect | Life Coach | Therapist |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Personal development, goal setting, growth | Mental health, emotional healing, therapy |
| Training | Coaching certifications (no formal therapy training) | Licensed professionals with advanced degrees in psychology, counseling, or social work |
| Scope | Goal-setting, motivation, life transitions | Diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma) |
| Methods | Goal-setting, action plans, motivation | Psychotherapy, therapeutic techniques like CBT, DBT, etc. |
| Approach | Action-oriented, future-focused | Healing-oriented, past and present-focused |
| Eligibility | Suitable for personal growth or life transitions | Suitable for individuals with mental health disorders or emotional difficulties |
| Duration | Short-term, goal-oriented | Long-term or short-term, depending on the issue |
Conclusion:
A life coach is focused on helping you achieve specific life goals, improve personal growth, and develop action plans for the future, while a therapist addresses emotional well-being, mental health issues, and psychological healing. If you’re dealing with serious emotional or psychological challenges, a therapist is the appropriate professional to consult. If you’re looking for guidance in setting and achieving personal or career goals, a life coach could be a great fit.
In some cases, people choose to work with both, seeing a therapist for emotional and mental health support while also working with a life coach for personal or professional development.