There is a difference between therapy and coaching. Although recovery coaches and therapists occasionally help clients with similar problems, their work is not the same. To get the right kind of professional expertise, it is crucial to know which kind of guidance will serve you best. Depending on where you are in your recovery, you may find tremendous benefits from working with either or both kinds of helping professional.
In therapy, (also called counselling or psychotherapy) clients work with a healthcare professional to diagnose or determine illnesses and pathologies so their patients can be clinically treated.
Recovery coaches work on “how” to work towards your desired goals. Both aim to resolve suffering in hopes of creating positive personal change.
Naturally, the decision to seek out a therapist or a recovery coach is a very personal one. It might help to imagine yourself getting ready for the trip of a lifetime around the world. Your expedition will be by boat and you could encounter some rough waters, terrain, and challenging situations. You could either hire an expert travel guide for your journey or a doctor. Which should you choose? Which one will be most helpful during your specific voyage?
WHAT ONE IS RIGHT FOR ME?
If you are physically depleted, unwell, disabled by illness either temporarily or permanently, you would be in danger if you even attempted the trip, an expert guide would not do you any good. Therapists, with their expertise and experience, are best suited for helping us when we are in this stage of our journey. You need to be at a certain point before you enter uncharted waters at all, so if you are not, you might need to see the doctor before trying something that challenging.
However, if you have gotten your illness under control and need someone to help you with navigating the waters, mapping out and creating a self-supporting survival plan, providing tools and supplies to steer you towards finding the best path, then the expert guide is the best bet. The recovery coach is the travel guide. He or she has an expert knowledge of your trip around the world and can help you reach your destination.