I have referred elsewhere to being certified as a coach and also licensed in California as a psychotherapist and am often asked about the difference between these two approaches.

Clients most suited to coaching are those whose history is relatively resolved and who are concerned with their level of functioning today not supporting where they want to be in the future.  Here are some examples of concerns which are good candidates for coaching:

• managing stress
• wanting to be assessed by others as being a leader
• desire to improve communication skills
• desire to build confidence
• seeking job promotion
• contemplating relocation
• desire to improve relationship skills, especially for the workplace
• "mid-life crisis" offering the opportunity to assess career choice and potential change in direction
  

Coaching may be conducted in person or over the phone, depending on the issues involved.

Clients most suited to a psychotherapy approach (also known as counselling) are those whose history is having significant impact on their present day functioning, the exploration of which will significantly contribute to achieving their goals.  Here are some examples of concerns which are probably best addressed in therapy:

• family of origin concerns (relationship with parents especially if alcoholic or abusive, sibling issues, limiting familial beliefs, etc.)
• mood disorders such as depression and anxiety
• alcoholism or drug addiction
• premarital or marriage counselling
• affair recovery
• divorce preparation or recovery
• parenting issues
• trauma whether childhood in origin or as a result of accident, abuse, war, etc.
• resolution of grief whether through death or abandonment

Psychotherapy tends to be carried out in person but, depending on the personality and issues involved, it may be possible to conduct some therapy over the phone.  This would be something for us to explore.