Are you wondering: “What’s the difference between Counseling and Coaching?” - so you can make an informed decision about what kind of help to seek?
COUNSELING: Counselors at WellSpring are licensed therapists. All have at least Masters (some might have a Ph.D. or Psy. D.) degrees in counseling related fields like psychology, counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work. In addition, they are licensed by the State of Ohio as Psychologists, Social Workers, Clinical Counselors or Counselors, or Marriage and Family Therapists. They are trained in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, in addition to other counseling related disciplines. Licensed clinicians are eligible for third party billing reimbursement (insurance benefits).
Counseling Interns – also known as Counselor Trainees, are completing their graduate education. They see clients and can practice the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders while having the benefit of supervision from a Clinical Supervisor. Intern staff at WellSpring offer their services on a sliding scale beginning at rates which are half those of licensed counselors.
COACHING: Coaches may have Master degrees, but they have considerable specialized education, training, and experience in helping people with interpersonal issues, family dynamics, career counseling, pastoral counsel, and/or life development. They offer specialized help in a variety of areas including, but not limited to: healthy relationship training; parent/child relationship coaching; marriage relationship coaching; premarital preparation; career counseling; life coaching; corporate coaching; pastoral counseling; cultural adjustment for internationals; and more. Coaches do not diagnose, nor do they treat mental and emotional disorders. Should those needs surface in the course of a coaching relationship, a referral is made to clinical staff. Coaches do not bill insurances and tend to have fees which are comparable or less than those of clinical staff.
Therapy and professional coaching have similarities and differences. Similarities include:
- An ongoing, confidential, one-to-one, fee-for-service, relationship
- Working with clients who want to change
- Assuming change only occurs over time
- Regularly scheduled sessions
- Use of verbal dialogue as the primary service activity
| Coaching |
Counseling (Therapy) |
- Foundations are in personal growth
- People work toward better functioning, self-improvement
- The focus is upon actions and the future
- Solution focused
- Clients are self-motivated
- Works for external solutions to overcome barriers, learn new skills and implement effective choices
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- Has it’s foundations in a medical model, using diagnosis
- People work to achieve self-understanding and emotional and interpersonal healing
- The focus can be upon feelings and past events
- Works for internal resolution of pain and to let go of old patterns.
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| Adapted from Hayden and Whitworth, 1995 |
For further information, see the listing of counselors and coaches with each of their specific areas of focus. If you need additional assistance call WellSpring at (614) 538-0353 where someone can guide you in finding just the right fit for your needs.
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