Many years ago, when I first became interested in helping those in the performing arts navigate their way through this crazy industry, I had no idea in what capacity I wanted to work, what course to take or even what I technically needed to ‘be’ to make Centred Stage happen. Was it a counsellor? Was it a psychologist? Was it a coach? I really had no idea. Eventually, I realised the reason for my confusion was I didn’t truly understand the difference between these three helping professions.
So what is the difference between a counsellor, a psychologist and a coach?
Counselling focuses on assisting clients identify unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that are negatively impacting their lives. Establishing an empathic therapeutic alliance, counsellors work with their clients to develop tools they may implement in their everyday lives to reduce emotional difficulties, build resilience, enhance self-awareness and strengthen relationships with both themselves and others. Additionally, counselling can help people navigate challenging and unexpected life changing events such as loss, and learn how to adapt to these changes in healthy ways. Counselling is also designed to be short-term, and can be sought by the client as regularly as they feel is necessary.
While counsellors prioritise a ‘person-centred’ approach through empathic listening and the therapeutic relationship, psychologists have a focus on evaluating a client’s mental health through diagnostic or psychometric assessments to assist those with more complex mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, personality disorders and PTSD, or help uncover more deep seated issues such as childhood trauma. Because of this, sessions with a psychologist are designed as more of a long-term commitment.
The sudden increase in life coaching in recent years has lead to a great deal of confusion about what coaching actually is. Many people roll their eyes when they hear the word ‘coaching’ - incorrectly conjuring up images of social media influencers singing the praises of daily affirmations, writing to-do lists and creating dream boards. Although these techniques are incredibly helpful for some people, this is not what coaching is. I have coached clients, received coaching and observed many live coaching sessions. Trust me… coaching can be incredibly transformational! Coaching encourages clients to identify long-term personal and professional goals, explore how their values inspire these goals and recognise hurdles that may prevent the client from achieving success. Coaching can delve just as deeply as counselling, with a significant difference being that counselling focuses on how the past influences the present, and coaching focussing on how the present can shape the future. Additionally, counselling sees much time exploring a client’s problems, whereas coaching instead prioritises uncovering potential solutions.
By understanding the difference between counselling, psychology and coaching, I was able to create Centred Stage and provide what I believe will be most helpful for my clients - counselling and coaching - to assist them improve their present and future selves.
Do you think counselling or coaching might be for you? Get in contact today for a free 15 minute chemistry chat to discuss your needs, or book in a session here.