The Difference Between a Psychotherapist and a Life Coach

Some people may think that all psychological disciplines and departments are the same or serve the same purpose. They may be unable to distinguish a psychiatrist from a psychotherapist and use the title "doctor" even for a psychological counselor or life coach.

What does life coaching have to do with psychological disciplines and professions?

Life coaching has recently become the profession of the moment and now covers many areas of training, including the psychological field. But is this really within a life coach's scope? Does a psychotherapist or psychological counselor train a patient to re-engage with life, or does only a life coach do that? Let us set out some differences so that we can distinguish each field and give each its due.

Life coaches and psychological counselors may offer some of the same services, such as training in life skills including effective social communication, time management, problem-solving, and decision-making. They may also share principles and practices such as respect for the client, privacy and confidentiality, refraining from giving advice, active listening, asking open-ended questions, and setting practical goals to help clients achieve their aspirations. However, psychological counseling and guidance differ in that they are based on a recognized field of study and scientific specialization supported by research demonstrating their effectiveness.

Like other registered disciplines and professions, psychological counseling safeguards the client's rights and privacy. Its professional ethics prohibit any kind of relationship between the client and counselor, affirm respect for clients regardless of gender or religion, and require counselors to remain neutral and keep personal considerations out of the counseling process.

Life coaching, by contrast, is a form of training through which people are prepared to practice the profession, and no studies have been conducted to confirm or refute its effectiveness. Psychological counseling provides preventive guidance before and after a disorder and helps clients find balance in their lives, make decisions, solve problems, manage the various pressures they face, fulfill themselves, and reach their goals. A psychological counselor does not provide psychotherapy; that is the domain of the psychotherapist, who studies clinical psychology and is qualified to provide treatment. Unfortunately, however, some life coaches may claim that they can treat depression, free clients from anxiety and various fears, and modify their thoughts and beliefs.

How can they understand depression without studying human personality traits and the biological, psychological, behavioral, and environmental factors that affect it, all of which psychological counselors study? And how can they modify thoughts and beliefs without the study and training provided through cognitive therapy?

Through their studies, psychological counselors can distinguish normal from abnormal symptoms for each person based on their circumstances, age, and other individual characteristics. They can refer the person to the appropriate specialist when symptoms requiring treatment are present. Life coaches, however, cannot make this distinction and therefore cannot refer the person to the appropriate specialist except in advanced cases. Thus, psychological counselors perform the same tasks as life coaches, but their work is supported by a scientific background and follows a formal, professional approach.

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