Similarities
Coaching and counselling both work on a goal. At the beginning of each session we will set the so called “contract”, i.e. what you would like to happen or what you would like to achieve by the end of the session. This will be the guide to follow to understand where you want to go and set the path accordingly to get there. In both cases, the approach is welcoming and non-judgmental. I don’t give advices, I will help you finding your solutions. You will find out more of yourself and of your potential.
Both Coaching and Counselling are in fact based on the belief that each one of us already has the resources within them to achieve their goal. The person has just lost connection with herself/himself. I help my clients getting in touch with their deepest self , helping them to see the situation from different perspectives. Both a Coach and a Counselor put themselves on the same level as the person who asks for support: this is why I never use the word “patient” but “client”.
Being both the approaches very pratical you will be soon able to put in practise self-help.
Differences
Coaching , works on the limiting thoughts, ideas and beliefs that prevent the person from achieving their goals. The coach helps the coachee – the person who turns to the coach – to see all this clearly. Once the thoughts, the deepest beliefs and the actions that follow as a consequence have been identified, we will work on other thoughts that could be useful and that will have an empowering effect on the coachee. This will allow her/him to take actions or small commitments with herself/himself, between one session and another, in the direction of the goal they want to reach. This practical approach will allow the person to see the first results in a short term and encourage them to keep going. The coach accompanies the coachee in this journey, supporting her/him and helping her/him identifying and planning the actions to be taken step by step, facing the challenges and overcoming them using the power within them. A Coach provides feedback that helps the coachee broaden his vision and keeping the focus on the goal to reach. Its approach is future-oriented.
While Coaching focuses on thoughts and actions, Counselling focuses on emotions, on what the person feels. It helps the client getting in touch with its body, who knows all the replies to all the questions. This is our most authentic part, which guides us, we just need to learn to reconnect with it. Through practical exercises, the Counselor stimulates self-listening and awareness. Counseling therefore focuses on the present moment, on what the person is experiencing here and now.