For people seeking help with their lives and careers there are, fortunately, a variety of choices. Coaching, consulting and therapy all provide valuable services. The question is, how do you decided which type of help is best for you? It depends upon what you are seeking to change and where you are starting from. Knowing the difference in the types of service provided is crucial to choosing a good match for you.

Since I’m a coach, I’ll start by comparing coaching with consulting, and then coaching with therapy.

Consultants are hired to advise clients about how to solve problems. Typically, they are hired by businesses looking for solutions that they have not been able to discover themselves and need an expert analysis and action plan in order to move forward. Consultants are focused on results, as they are hired to provide a certain desired outcome that the business is looking for.

Coaches, on the other hand, guide their clients to their own solutions and are focused on people. They are hired to support the client as he or she achieves a certain outcome. Some business coaches are also consultants, so if you are looking for business help, be sure to be clear about what you want.

Therapists work with clients that need professional help to work towards healing, recovery and issue resolution. They are experts in medical and behavioral sciences, trained to treat diagnosable conditions. Therapists are required to keep their personal feelings and thoughts removed from their patients.

Coaches work with clients who want a detached partner to help them evolve and enhance their lives. They start with where the client is and assist them in moving forward from there. Coaches sometimes use personal disclosure as a tool to help and challenge their clients. Coaches absolutely do not work with people who are suffering from diagnosable conditions or addictions.

In choosing the professional most suited to you, think about what you need to best suit your situation. If you want business advice, a consultant may be your best choice. If you want a someone who will help get you in touch with your own inner answers and support you as you move forward to achieve your goals and dreams, a coach would be an excellent choice. If you have had a history of trauma, abuse, addiction or severe emotional extremes, a therapist would be best qualified to help you.

If you are ready to begin working with a coach to help move you into the purposeful life of your dreams, fill out my brief questionnaire to get your complimentary discovery session scheduled!