What’s the difference between health coaching and mental health counseling? These two practices have a lot of overlap and several important differences. Let’s break down the differences and similarities of these two approaches to supporting a life well lived.
Quick definitions:
Health and wellness coaching involves partnering with a coach to help you meet your holistic health and wellness goals. Health coaching is a good fit for someone hoping to make behavior or lifestyle changes in order to improve or fine-tune specific aspects of their overall health and wellness. A few examples of this could look like wanting to implement a new exercise routine, begin a mindfulness practice, or track your spending to improve financial health.
Mental health counseling (also referred to as therapy or psychotherapy) is a versatile approach that can help people experiencing a wide array of mental health concerns. Clinically, it is defined as the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders. However, many people access mental health counseling in a more holistic sense.
How do these overlap?
- At their core, health coaching and mental health counseling are interested in a person-centered approach to helping people overcome difficulties or barriers in their lives in order to lead healthier, happier lives.
- Partnering – Foundationally, coaches and counselors provide a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental space for their clients. They will act as your partner, essentially walking along the path with you as you work toward your goals.
- Confidentiality – It is an honor and a privilege to hear about the details of a person’s life. Coaches and counselors alike will hold this information confidential; only under extreme circumstances (such as ensuring that people are safe from harm) is this confidentiality broken.
- Training – Coaches and counselors each go through training specific to their modality in order to ensure effective, ethical, and thoughtful care.
- Goal oriented – Although the goals of coaching and counseling can differ, each of these approaches keep a goal in mind as the process progresses.
- Ethical code of conduct – Coaching and counseling each seriously consider the ethics of working with people in order to help them lead happy, healthy lives.
- Science-backed interventions – Both coaching and counseling rely on interventions and techniques that have been studied and vetted through the scientific process. A coach or counselor should never give you advice on something just because they ‘think it’s a good idea’ – rather, they should offer you approaches that are supported by empirical research.
What are the differences?
It’s important to understand the differences between health coaching and mental health counseling to ensure that you’re approaching your goals in a way that’s most beneficial for you, and also ensuring that you’re getting adequate care for your specific needs.
- Training and certification – While coaches and counselors both go through specific training, they are different kinds of training. Coaches can gain certification through a variety of institutions, as well as board certification through organizations such as the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches or the International Coaching Federation. Counselors will have completed a Master’s degree in a mental health specific field and then will go on to gain state licensure. The training for mental health counseling is more rigorous and time consuming than the training to become a health and wellness coach.
- Diagnosis – Counselors are qualified to provide mental health diagnoses, whereas coaches are not.
- Scope – It’s essential that both coaches and counselors alike work only within the scope of their area of expertise.
- Time focus – Coaching should mostly be focusing on present and future areas of interest, while counseling can also delve into things that have happened in the past.
Final Thoughts
Knowledge is power! If you’re interested in seeking help or support, it’s important to know what kind of services will best suit your needs. Perhaps one of the most important similarities between the two practices is that the coach or counselor is there for you. If you ever feel like you’re not getting what you need with a coach or counselor, you can try asking for a different approach or maybe it would be more helpful to seek out a new practitioner. It’s your time, and this is your permission to be empowered to make the most of your time in coaching or counseling.
Verne Wellness 