Is coaching the same as psychotherapy?

Coaching differs from therapy because coaching sessions are primarily focused on the future. Coaching puts emphasis on moving forward, learning and achievement. Therapy, on the other hand, puts emphasis on healing emotional pain and/or dysfunctional behavior stemming from past experiences. Coaches help clients to make changes in their lives by discussing their present lives, creating a vision of the future, and designing an action plan. Typical elements of therapy like analyzing past events, understanding emotions, or determining the cause of behaviors are normally not addressed in a coaching session. As co-active coach, I view my clients as naturally creative, resourceful, and whole people.