If you’re on the cusp of a life change, you might be tossing around the idea of therapy or life coaching. But which is the right fit?

At Rob and Katie Truax, our team is obviously fans of both, so here are a few things that set each apart...

When making a change in your life, is therapy or life coaching the right fit?

Therapy is provided by a licensed healthcare provider; life coaching isn't always, but can be.
Therapy sometimes focuses on the past and present in order to make a better future; life coaching sometimes focus less on the past or present.
Therapy can be more emotion and process focused; life coaching can be more behavior and thought focused.
Therapists are trained to work with more severe mental health presentations than are life coaches.
Therapists are trained to work with couples and families and life coaches may not be.
Life coaches may bring in more activities to the session than a therapist (but not always!)

Do you feel more drawn to one more than the other? The beauty of therapy and life coaching is that you don’t technically have to choose— you can begin with one or the other and then make the change to the other, or you can work with both modalities at the same time.

Therapy tends to be an in depth exploration and discovery of present, past and future. A great deal of time may be focused on feelings, behaviors, and underlying cognitions and thought patterns that are helping maintain maladaptive ways of being in the world. Sometimes we need to look hard in the mirror or at others. Sometimes we need to grieve.

Coaching tends to take a more present and future-oriented approach to behaviors and ways of being. Coaching asks about goals and takes an active approach toward reaching those goals, step by step, while pausing to examine any deeper rooted thoughts and patterns which may be holding you back. Sometimes we need a reality check. Sometimes we need another brain to brainstorm with.

If you're ready to change the course for the rest of 2023, send us a text to 404-429-2505 to get started!

We are so proud to offer Therapy and Life Coaching to support you through all your goals and life changes! Learn more about How We Help here.