There have been several questions about making the switch from therapy to coaching. Honestly, these questions are valid, as this field is constantly changing.
These questions have been asked of me and I’ve seen other coaches be asked about these. And, on my social media, I recently did a video addressing these. It seems only beneficial to share them on the website, as well.
In my coaching program, I focus on topics such as:
burnout recovery & prevention
keeping our identity during life stages
how the ups and downs of creativity & business affect our mental health
dealing with stress & overwhelm
handling anxiety around specific situations
designing our dreams - and acting to live them
radical self-acceptance & life acceptance (accepting our own choices in the face of rejection or judgement)
setting boundaries and assertive communication in relationships
self-esteem and self confidence
faith deconstruction and reconstruction
balancing work and life
These are all things I found myself working on with clients when I was practicing therapy, and now continue to work on as a certified coach. Yet, there are stark differences in the approach and the level I work with, and would be so, even if I was still in private practice as a therapist.
Let’s dive into some questions I’ve recently gotten about the shift to coaching and who I work with, and how I work with them.
What’s the difference?
What’s the difference between coaching and therapy? Especially for what I do, this comes up a lot.
Therapy is about diagnosing and treating clinical issues. It deals with DSM-5 diagnosable mental health issues and works to treat these in clients. Of course, beyond that, therapy can also do what coaching does, but often is really centered on the clinical side of things. It often focuses on the past, how we got here, and processing everything from events to emotions. Therapy also works to process and heal trauma (and this healing is beautiful).
Coaching is about the present and the future. We do look at the past, how these patterns came to be, but it’s about taking ownership over what’s happening right now. How do we take skills and improve upon them.
I personally work with things a therapist might work with, but it IS NOT diagnosis or treatment of mental illness.
I work through things like: burnout, identity, self-discovery, how we deal with the ups and downs of creative business (rejection, loneliness, isolation, etc.) and how we deal with the excitement (and what we do when others judge or aren’t as excited for us).
I love the non-clinical side of things.
In coaching, I am not working with clients that have an acute, diagnosed mental health disorder - unless they come to me specifically for coaching on the skills I work with. Not for treatment.
When I get my license back, I might take on therapy clients again, but they will be distinct and separate areas of business.
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Why do the distinctions matter?
These major distinctions between therapy and coaching matter because, as I said, I refuse to act illegally or unethically. This is why I’m so clear about what I do now, and how it differs from therapy.
Do I have the education, training, and qualifications to do therapy? Yes (esp. once I have my new license). Still, even then, the distinction matters. Ethically. Legally.
Also, the need behind the services differs. Therefore, clients can understand what they’re getting in my program vs a therapy relationship.
Why switch to coaching?
I was a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Oklahoma, where I was fully licensed for two years before it lapsed. It lapsed because the world went into a pandemic & we were due to move to a new state. We still moved early in the pandemic, and I didn’t move forward in transferring my license in my new state at the time.
Still, even while licensed, I was still branching into the coaching world. It felt more natural, made more sense to me.
I had just had my daughter in early 2019, and also got sick. My chronic illnesses flared and developed, and I needed something to do at home. Coaching fit the bill. This was a way to do what I love while being home with my kids.
Also, in that vein, I love what coaching is about. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being a therapist, too. I love working with clients. But, I love the work of coaching and Christian counseling.
The issues in coaching are not as acute or crisis focused. Coaching work IS NOT clinical work.
I love being able to see the growth in clients, even in times of non-crisis.
What issues do you work with & why does it matter?
I work with non-clinical issues. Especially things like:
burnout recovery & prevention
skills for handling anxiety in certain situations
keeping or rediscovering identity in creative business (&motherhood)
developing social skills
emotional intelligence
stress, overwhelm
building confidence and assertiveness
self-care/soul-care
setting boundaries
how it is to be the one who is in charge, making all the decisions, and how we handle that in our business.
Issues like this matter because as we build our businesses and our families, we want to be able to build everything together and still feel like we are okay.
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Do you only work with women? Why?
I do only work with women. This is something I’ve been very clear about.
The reason is: I am more comfortable with women, personally. Also, I’m in a place in my career where I get to determine who I work with. The third reason is that I understand women better than men (as I am one, not that we are all the same at all!)
Sure, I have book learning and a Master’s Degree - I’ve done continuing education - so I have the understanding of how humans work. But I am more comfortable with how women process and show up in the world.
Why even worry about getting your license in your new state if you only plan on coaching?
My license is my back-up plan. We live in an up & down economy. I know the mental health field is always evolving and changing and growing. Still, if I ever want to go back to private practice or agency work doing therapy (treatment, diagnosis, etc.), I have to have an active and valid license. I refuse to do anything illegally or unethically, so it is imperative to have my license if I ever want to fall back on therapy.
If my family ever gets in a position where I need to go to an agency for steady work or open a private practice for extra income, I have to have a license.
Overall, it just makes sense to keep it active, especially now that the children are growing, and I can get it in the state I plan on living in long term.
How can people work with you? Do you do 1-1 coaching?
I offer 1-1 coaching and run a membership.
I am taking on 1-1 clients, and you can find more information about my services on my website: soulcadencecoaching.services.
To know more, you can contact me, and we can have a free 15-minute phone consultation.
