I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the differences between coaching (as in a life-coach) and counseling (as in psychotherapist)… I think there are many ways in which the two overlap, and yet there are definite differences in scope of practice as well as in style of contact.

Coaching is typically more limited in scope - focusing on the present and future in order to define and move towards goals.

Counseling is present, past and future depending on the needs of the client and the orientation of the therapist.

My work lands in the in-between… working in the present to discover goals and healthy strategies to achieve those goals, while at the same time considering the past - how it has informed us, and how we can apply that information to our life needs.