The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”

Coaching is for individuals who are functioning and managing well but want to unlock more of their potential. Coaching is appropriate for individuals who are well and want to be better.

Daily Functioning: Unlike in therapy, the ICF clarifies that coaches work with “well-functioning individuals.” Coaching aims to help people who are already well and high-functioning work through challenges to optimize or enhance their functioning.

Presenting Problem: Coaching does not assess, diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Little Bird Wellness Coaching seeks to help individuals unlock their potential and find their balance amidst life’s responsibilities. Clients who would like a partnership to help explore one’s priorities and where they can fit into their life. Clients who desire to find a healthy lifestyle and wellness balance between career, health, family and fun; moving forward into a balanced, more confident you.

Purpose: The purpose of coaching, according to the ICF, is “frequently about performance improvement, learning, or development in some area of life,” while therapy tends to “dive into deeper-seated emotional issues to work on personal healing or trauma recovery…works more with developing skills for managing emotions or past issues than coaching.”

Focus: The purpose of coaching, according to the ICF, is “visioning, success, focusing on the present and moving into the future.”

The American Psychological Association defines psychotherapy as “the informed and intentional application of clinical methods and interpersonal stances derived from established psychological principles for the purpose of assisting people to modify their behaviors, cognitions, emotions, and/or other personal characteristics in directions that the participants deem desirable.”

Daily Functioning: Therapy is appropriate for individuals who are noticing daily/life impairment in one or more domains (e.g., work, relationships, physical health, etc.). Individuals who find themselves struggling to cope with various daily stressors/demands/responsibilities and/or manage emotions effectively are appropriate for therapy.

Presenting Problem: Therapists assess, diagnose and treat mental health disorders. Little Bird Wellness Therapy Services specializes in individual, adult psychotherapy with a focus on anxiety, depression and trauma. If you are dealing with a mental health problem or significant or intense emotional or relational concerns, therapy is your best choice.

Purpose: The purpose of therapy, as differentiated by the ICF, “dives into deep-seated emotional issues to work on personal healing or trauma recovery” and “works more with developing skills for managing emotions or past issues than coaching.” Simply put, therapy is for individuals struggling to cope with life’s stressors and it is a method of medical treatment to treat and work towards improving one’s level of impairment.

Focus: The ICF differentiates therapy by it’s tendency to emphasize “psychopathology, emotions and how the past impacts the present.”