Coaching vs Therapy: Finding Your Next Step

When people hear the word coaching, they often get confused. Some think it’s only for athletes. Others believe it’s the same as therapy. Because of this, there’s still stigma around asking for a coach.

Here’s the truth: coaching is different from therapy. Therapy is professional support for mental health. A therapist is trained to help with past trauma, mental illness, or emotional crises. Coaching, on the other hand, works in the present. It focuses on your current life and the goals you want to move toward.

A big part of coaching is the belief that you already have the answers inside you. A coach doesn’t tell you what to do. Instead, they ask powerful questions, listen deeply, and help you connect with your own solutions. A coach sees you as the expert of your own life.

In my 10+ years of coaching, I’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of people. From that experience  and from my own personal journey,  I’ve learned something important: most of the time, we are the ones holding ourselves back. Fear, doubt, or old beliefs can keep us from taking action.

Sometimes what we need most is a container where we feel safe, seen for who we are, and recognized for our potential. Coaching creates that space. It helps you recognize your value and guides you to take action that reflects it.

Coaching is also about finding your authenticity. So many of us live by the expectations of others — family, work, or society and lose touch with who we really are. Coaching helps you slow down, listen to yourself, and live in a way that feels true to your values. When you act from authenticity, stress eases, clarity grows, and life feels lighter.

Because here’s the thing: change in life requires action. There is no other way. You can read all the books and plan all the steps, but until you act, nothing changes. The challenge is that many times, we hesitate. We wait for the perfect moment. We second-guess ourselves. That’s where coaching comes in to give you the support and clarity to move forward instead of staying stuck.

So how does this connect to stress, clarity, and lasting change? Coaching helps you:

• Sort through mental clutter and see things clearly.

• Release stress by focusing on what you can control.

• Build healthier habits that last.

• Connect with your authentic self and live in alignment with your values.

• Take consistent steps, even small ones, toward the life you want.

Coaching also allows you to see the blind spots, and reminds you of your power and strength. Regardless if you are trying to manage stress, quit smoking, create healthier habits, or build more loving relationships, coaching can support you.

When to Reach Out for Therapy Instead

Coaching is powerful, but it is not the same as therapy. If you are struggling with:

• Ongoing depression or anxiety

• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

• Past trauma that feels unresolved

• Serious emotional pain that affects daily life

…it’s important to reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Therapy gives you the specialized care you need to heal and move forward.

If you are in the U.S. and ever feel like you may harm yourself, please call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You don’t have to go through it alone.

If Coaching Feels Right for You

If what you’re looking for is support with stress relief, balance, creating healthy routines, or reconnecting with your authentic self, coaching may be exactly what you need.

I would love to support you in that journey. Reach out to me, and together we’ll create a plan to help you feel aligned in both body and mind.

Much Love,
Luciana Garcia, NBC-HWC