While some find the process of life coaching to be therapeutic, it’s incredibly important to be clear: coaching is not therapy.  A life coach is there to help you set goals, strategize successful ways to achieve them, and reflect on your actions and thought processes.  A therapist might do some of those same things!  But your life coach is not there to help you address trauma, diagnose or treat emotional disorders, or address issues of mental health.  Your coach is like a personal trainer for your mind, and while exercise can be an important component of healthy physical and mental well-being, it’s not the whole.

Many life coaches are licensed in their practice.  Some coaches are also licensed therapists or mental health professionals (I am not!).  You can trust that a good coach will help your overall well-being, but if you are in crisis or emotional distress, please turn to a trained mental health professional first.