Coaching is a collaborative partnership (an alliance rather than a legal business arrangement) between the Coach and the Client. Through a thought-provoking and creative process, it empowers the Client to unlock and maximise their personal and professional potential. The purpose of coaching is to support the Client in setting and developing personal, professional, or business goals, and in designing and implementing effective strategies to achieve them.

Therapy, which includes professions like Psychology, Counseling, Psychiatry etc, has a primary goal to improve mental health and overall well-being by exploring thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a safe, confidential environment. Therapy often focuses on understanding past experiences, identifying patterns, and developing healthier ways of thinking, coping, and relating to others.

In addition, a therapist, as part of their professional training, may ‘diagnose’ a developmental or neurological difference. A coach does not diagnose, and clients may already have a professional diagnosis when they come to an ADHD coach.

Coaching focuses more on goals and future growth, whereas therapy helps you heal traumas, make sense of past experiences, and feel more balanced in the present.

The table below outlines the key differences between Coaching and Therapy, illustrating how each offers unique benefits and how, together, they can promote comprehensive well-being that honours both past experiences and future aspirations.