Wellness Coaching Vs Counseling

Which should I choose? Coaching or counseling?

In general - the distinction between counseling and coaching can be nebulous and confusing. In many circles, the terms are interchangeable.

Wellness coaching and counseling both aim to improve a person's well-being, but they differ significantly in their focus, approach, and scope. In general, the key distinction is that coaching is future-oriented and focuses on action, while counseling is often past-oriented and focuses on healing.

As for my practices and offerings - here's how I like to delineate it:

Wellness Coaching -

As a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), coaching sessions are typically 25-30 minutes long. The focus is on setting clear goals and creating a plan to achieve them. This work is all about empowering you to take action and make sustainable changes to improve your life.

While these can be health related goals and activity, they are often focused on improving lifestyle choices and, managing stress, or finding a better life balance.

In these sessions, we'll work together to tap into your own strengths. I'll help you create actionable steps and provide the accountability you need to reach your goals. Coaching is ideal if you're feeling good about your life but want to get unstuck and make positive changes.

Counseling

My counseling sessions are 50-55 minutes long and offer a space to dive deeper. This is a therapeutic process designed to help you understand and cope with the emotional and psychological issues that might be holding you back.

This is the place to explore the causes of your challenges, work through unresolved issues, and find peace in some areas for which there no answers. In a confidential and non-judgmental environment, you can explore your feelings and develop the coping skills you need to feel more at ease. Counseling is a good fit if you're dealing with trauma, emotional struggles, or a persistent sense of being weighed down.

My Approach: A Blend of Both:

The truth is, we don't have to choose just one. I believe your well-being journey shouldn't add more stress to your life. That's why I offer a flexible approach tailored to your unique needs. I will work with you to come up with an approach that fits best with your life and goals for working together.

For some, it's best to start with shorter coaching sessions to tackle specific goals. Often, this work reveals deeper issues that you may be ready to explore in longer counseling sessions later on.

For others, we begin with counseling to address the bigger issues first. Once you feel a greater sense of peace and a handle on what was holding you back, we can transition to coaching to work on future-focused goals that previously felt overwhelming.

My goal is to meet you where you are and create a plan that works best for you and your life. What approach feels right for you today?