How Life coach and therapist roles differ

When it comes to helping people improve their lives, life coaches and therapists serve different purposes.

Although both life coaches and therapists can help improve your life, they do so in different ways. Individuals may seek help with their relationship, work, family and life problems at different times.

Carol Kauffman, psychologist and leader coach, was able to see that therapists are focused on healing people, while life coaches help them achieve their goals. She completed a 6-month coaching program in the past.

Life coaches and therapists can help you achieve your goals.

She says, “It was clear to me that coaching was a unique approach to changing and that training is essential.”

Kauffman is a psychologist who specializes in peak performance training. She works with high-achieving CEOs and their teams. Kauffman is also a leader coach. She says, “I realized that I was always a coach because my approach revolved around strengths and potential.”

Coaches focus on the future, while therapists probe the past

Kauffman, who was co-chair of McLean Hospital's Institute of Coaching in Boston and a Harvard Medical School affiliate, has been a leader in the coaching profession since that “aha” moment. Her work has been widely published and she is a Harvard Medical School faculty member.

Kauffman states that therapists follow the person's path of tears while coaches follow theirs.

Kauffman's 2006 groundbreaking article, “Positive Psychology: Science at the Heart of Coaching”, was published in a book about evidence-based coaching. This is how she describes the differences between coaches and therapists.

Kauffman states that “in essence, the clinician has been trained to follow the trail if tears.” The past is often a source of emotional conflict, depression, anxiety, and other symptoms. Therapists look for these signs in clients. Coaches on the other side “shift attention away from what causes pain to what energizes or pulls people forward.” They are the ones who follow the path of dreams.

Four Key Ways Therapy and Coaching Can Differ

Catherine Wood, PCC is a life and executive coach and founder of Unbounded Potential. Unbounded Potential is a coaching company that helps rising stars and women entrepreneurs. Wood, a former economist, has led retreats and workshops around the globe to assist social change-makers in creating successful businesses.

Wood states that she is aware of the confusion clients may have about the differences between therapists and coaches. She addresses the question in the FAQ section on her website. Wood explains to prospective clients that coaching differs from therapy in four important ways.

Wood, like many other accomplished coaches, has her own coach. She says, “It was hard, but with the help my own coach, it was possible to take a stand for my goals.” It was a risk, but I am happy with my life today.

She continues to work closely with her coach on her projects and goals, so she can serve clients at a high standard.

Basic Differences at a Glance

Source of salaries: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019,

Therapy and coaches can work together

Many life coaches work with clients who are also seeing psychologists and therapists, but some coaches prefer to work with their clients alone.

Coaching and therapy teams work together when the client requests it and is in the client’s best interests.