Life coaches and therapists both play a critical role in helping people with personal development; however, the objective and process by which they operate is quite different. This article outlines the differences between life coaching and therapy and the benefits of both.

The Goal of Therapy

First, let’s look at therapy and its role in the personal development process. Licensed therapists and clinical psychologists aim to help their patients uncover and health wounds of the pasts. The process of therapy involves “peeling” back layers of your subconscious mind to discover emotional wounds, many times occurring during childhood years. Moreover, therapists help their patients learn why they are behaving in certain ways in an attempt to address and heal the wounds triggering this behavior.

Life Coaching

Life coaching, on the other hand, aims to find solutions to problems and to develop actionable insights to achieve success. Unlike a therapist who is paid to look in the past, a life coach looks towards the future. Life coaching can be quite beneficial whether you are experiencing a mid-life crisis, changing career paths, or simply looking for personal empowerment. Many times, a life coach will help guide you through problems and even take on the role of a partner in helping you to achieve success.