Would You Work Best With a Coach, Consultant, or Counselor?

Would You Work Best with a Coach, Consultant, or Counselor? By Ruth Anderson Coaching is a unique and relatively new profession that is distinct from both traditional consulting services and psychological counseling. Understanding the differences among the three will help you to select the best person for your situation. Consultants Traditional consultants are typically hired to solve a specific, somewhat narrowly defined problem. To do so, they bring with them a predefined set of tools and ideas that have worked well for other people in similar situations. A consultant's work may end with a set of recommendations, or may continue as long as needed to implement those recommendations. A consultant should be able to provide you with up-to-date information on the resources and tools that apply to your specific problem. Counselors Counselors are licensed therapists who are specially trained to help clients resolve emotional issues that have their roots in the past but are affecting the person's ability to function in the present. A licensed therapist is also the only professional who is qualified to diagnose and treat mental-health conditions. If you feel depressed or unable to take actions to improve your present and future, you should contact a counselor or therapist. Neither coaching nor consulting should be used to replace or bypass the services of licensed psychological counselors. Coaches Coaches work with people to develop and carry out a process of positive personal change. Although coaching typically focuses on a problem, project, or transition of immediate concern, a coach will encourage you to think in a whole-life context - i.e. to see the interrelatedness of the parts of your life, and to ask, "How can I re-design my life in ways that will support my goals?" Coaches also consider what is unique about you, and collaborate with you to choose the tools and ideas that fit you as an individual. Although the past is valued for the light it can shed on present-day choices, coaching focuses on taking action now to improve your present and future. Combinations of More Than One Approach If your situation calls for more than one approach, you may be able to find a person who offers both. For example, a number of licensed therapists have completed coach training programs and can offer both counseling and coaching to their clients. Alternatively, you can work with two people -- a coach and a therapist -- at the same time; in this case, however, make sure that both are aware of your choice and that each is comfortable with the role of the other. There are also situations in which you might benefit from both coaching and consulting -- for example, if you are starting a business, looking for a job, or restructuring your financial plans. Some coaches have backgrounds that qualify them to give consulting advice in such situations. Even with these credentials, however, good coach/consultants will clarify the difference between each approach, and will alert you when they are switching from one to the other. Copyright (c) 2004 Ruth Anderson