FAQs

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. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.”

The differences between coaching and therapy are based on focus, purpose and population. Coaching focuses on visioning, success, the present, solutions and moving to the future. Therapy focuses on psychopathology, emotions, problems, and exploring the past in order to understand the present. The purpose of coaching is performance improvement, learning, or development in some area. The purpose of therapy is to dive into deep seated emotional issues to heal from trauma or address mental illnesses. Coaching is for well-functioning individuals whereas therapy tends to be for individuals with some level of disfunction or disorder.

The coaching industry is governed by the International Coaching Federation, or ICF. Learn more about the ICF here.