This is a critical question, particularly because I am an Ohio-licensed professional clinical counselor-supervisor (LPCC-S). As the diagram below indicates, coaching and counseling are overlapping disciplines that have some shared common features and skills but are also distinct in very important ways.
Coaching focuses on human thriving and the optimization of the person. It is a non-pathological approach to people-helping with anchors to the positive psychology literature. Coaching is a forward-looking process. The past is recognized as an important context of a person's life story, but healing or resolving the issues of the past is not the focus or goal. The relationship between a coach and the client is collegial, with a very low or non-existent power differential. Services are purchased by the client or supporting business. A state licensure board does not govern the term coach, but multiple organizations provide certifications and training for coaches. The term coach is an unregulated term, and anyone can claim to be a coach regardless of training or experience.
Counseling or psychotherapy is rooted in the medical model of diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders. The focus of counseling is generally related to resolving, remediating, or healing trauma or the treatment of mental health diagnoses. This service is marked by a distinct and high counselor-client power differential and is governed by the oversight of state licensure boards. Services are often submitted to health insurance companies for payment.
