Coaching or Therapy? How to Choose the Support That’s Right for You

You’re stuck—but what kind of help do you actually need? Coaching? Therapy? Or maybe both?

As conversations around mental health, wellbeing and personal and professional growth become more mainstream, an increasing number of people are seeking support.

Knowing where to turn isn’t always simple.

As someone who walks in both worlds—as a transformational coach and psychotherapist—I want to help you understand the differences, so you can make an informed choice that aligns with where you are in your journey.

Therapy and Coaching: What’s the Difference?

Both coaching and therapy hold space for growth, but they serve very different purposes. An important point to note is, while they share an overlapping foundation in psychological principles, they are not interchangeable.

Therapy

Therapy is ideal when emotional pain or psychological distress is interfering with your everyday life. It’s a healing process—exploring deep-seated experiences, beliefs, and patterns that shape how you think, feel, and respond.

Common areas therapy addresses:

• Trauma and complex trauma

• Anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm

• Relationship challenges and family violence

• Past wounds that affect present functioning

Therapists provide a safe space to process the past and work toward healing emotional wounds, often at a slower, more exploratory pace.

Coaching

Coaching is future-focused and action-driven. It’s about building clarity, resilience, and momentum—especially if you’re feeling unfulfilled, uncertain, or blocked from moving forward.

Coaching is ideal when:

• You’re ready for change but aren’t sure how to begin

• You want to explore purpose, presence, or performance

• You’re seeking growth in career, confidence, or personal agency

Coaching may also tap into underlying beliefs—but with the intention of helping you gain clarity and take empowered steps forward.

Sometimes, You Might Need Both

It’s not uncommon for people to engage in therapy and coaching simultaneously. While therapy supports healing from the past, coaching helps you grow and develop to achieve future goals. Used together, they can be powerful allies in your transformation.

So....if you feel 'stuck', ask yourself these questions

• Am I wanting to heal from wounds, or find a new way forward?

• Do I need safety, or a space to be challenged?

• What kind of support would feel most empowering right now?

• Maybe I need both?

There are no wrong answers here. In fact, asking the right questions means you’re already on your way to change.

As a Coach and a Therapist, I’ve seen how powerful the right support can be. That’s why I believe in making the path clear—because when we feel truly seen, safe, and understood, that’s when healing deepens and growth begins to unfold.

If you're curious about which path might suit you, I’d love to help you explore what that could look like.

📩 Let’s start the conversation. 

Contact me