cliffs down to beach

People often ask us if there is a difference between coaching, counselling and psychotherapy so we thought it might be helpful if we explained the difference from our perspective.

Coaching

The art of improving the performance of others by helping them to define and achieve clear goals

Eaton & Johnson (2001) 

Coaching is a disciplined process in which individual skills performance is improved and working relationships enhanced.  This is usually to benefit your job, though it may be for another area of your life. Many people are natural coaches and participate in informal coaching at home without even knowing they are doing it.  Common examples include teaching or assisting children to do things.

Formal coaching is a dynamic process that occurs for an agreed and negotiated time.  Our clients typically work with a coach to achieve a set goal and move forward in their career, ending that episode of coaching when the career move is complete or skills competence achieved.  They may also then return to the coach at some point in the future to achieve another goal in a totally different area of their work.

Psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling

Psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling are talking therapies designed to help people with emotional, social or mental health problems.  The term ‘psychotherapy’ covers a range of approaches and methods including, talking on a one to one basis, to role play or group work. 

  • work life balance
  • anxiety or an inability to cope or concentrate
  • problems dealing with stress or recovering from stressful situations
  • lack of confidence or extreme shyness
  • coping with the effects of abuse
  • feelings of depression, sadness, grief or emptiness
  • difficulty making or sustaining relationships, or repeatedly becoming involved in unsatisfying or destructive relationships
  • difficulties coming to terms with losses such as bereavement, divorce or loss of employment

Our aim is to help you find better ways of coping, or to plan and make changes in the way you think and behave  to help support and improve your mental and emotional well-being.

The UK Council for Psychotherapy’s ‘Ethical Principles and Code of Professional Conduct’ set out the core principles that underpin our practice. It covers areas such as confidentiality, the therapist-client relationship, equality and diversity and continuing professional development.

Download: UKCP’s Ethical Principles and Code of Professional Conduct