What is the Difference Between Life Coaching & Counseling Psychology?

People can become immobilized or unhappy with their lives and are unsure how to alter unhealthy behavior patterns or create new personal or professional goals. They seek guidance from specialists through life counselors or counseling psychologists.

Goals

• There are differences in the goals of life coaching and counseling psychology.

  Life coach Martha Beck says "Life coaches focus on enhancing the lives of clients, often talking about balancing or 'integrating' one's life." Counseling psychology "focuses on helping persons resolve problems or role issues related to work, school, or family matters, according to Guide to Psychology and its Practice.

Licensure

• Counseling psychologists must have college degrees.

  Life coaches do not require any license or certification to practice. They have no training requirements. Counseling psychologists may have a bachelor's or master's degrees in psychology or a Ph.D. in counseling psychology.

Characteristics

• Life coaching has a forward focus to help set new life goals.

  Counseling psychology "is concerned with role functioning, with choices to be made, and with actions to be taken," reports the Guide to Psychology. Life coach Laura Berman Fortgang says life coaching is "action-oriented, solution-oriented, concentrates on forward motion."

Differences

• Life coaches and counseling psychologists work with different populations.

  A major difference between these disciplines is life coaches work with people who don't have a specific mental health diagnosis. Counseling psychologists see people who have an identified mental health issue.

Costs

• All the costs for life coaching are out-of-pocket expenses.

  Health insurance can cover costs of treatment from a counseling psychologist. This varies depending on the health insurance policy coverage. Health insurance will not cover the costs of life coaching.

Considerations

• People unable to function due to mental health issues are not candidates for life coaching.

  Life coaching is "a new option for the worried well--those whose lives are only slightly askew," says USA Today. People experiencing mental health problems that are negatively impacting their relationships, work, school and daily activities can benefit from counseling psychology.