Counseling, Coaching, & Consultation:
What's the DIFFERENCE?
Counseling
Counseling and psychotherapy are means of mental health care, requiring thorough processes of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. This work requires adherence to both state and national regulations, such as state board licensure requirements and HIPAA.
Coaching
Coaching is different from counseling and psychotherapy in many ways, not least is that coaching utilizes a strength-based perspective to help clients achieve their own goals for self-care, boundaries, relationship needs, and much more. Coaching is not currently a regulated profession.
Consultation
Consultation work gives clients the expert opinion or insight of the consultant. It is typically very targeted work, organized around a specific task or issue. Consultation work can involve giving advise, whereas counseling and coaching typically seek to help clients find their own ways from within themselves.