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Do you need a coach? Or a Therapist? Or a Consultant? It’s all so confusing!

Let’s break out these terms and look more closely at your options.

 
 

Coaching
A collaborative journey where coach and client work together as partners, with the fundamental belief that clients already possess their own answers and solutions. The coach's role is to provide skilled listening, highlight key insights they observe, and offer safe challenges that help clients unlock their inner wisdom and move forward toward their goals.

Example 1, a management coach might work with you to clarify your values or communication style, identify the qualities with which you want to lead and how, and create an action plan with weekly check-ins to keep you on track.

Example 2, when you're struggling with a career decision, your coach doesn't tell you what to do but instead listens deeply to your concerns, reflects back patterns they notice in your thinking, and asks thought-provoking questions that help you discover the path that feels right for you.

Consulting
A professional service where an expert provides specialized knowledge, analysis, and recommendations to help organizations or individuals solve specific problems or improve performance.

For example, a marketing consultant might analyze your company's current campaigns, identify why lead generation is declining, and provide a detailed strategy with specific tactics to improve your conversion rates.

Mentoring
A relationship where an experienced person shares their knowledge, wisdom, and guidance with someone less experienced to support their personal or professional development over time.

For example, a senior executive might mentor you by sharing lessons from their career journey, introducing you to key contacts in your industry, and offering advice when you face challenging decisions.

Therapy
A clinical treatment process where a licensed mental health professional helps individuals address psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues through evidence-based techniques and interventions.

For example, a therapist might help you work through anxiety by teaching you coping strategies, exploring the root causes of your worries, and using cognitive behavioral techniques to change negative thought patterns.