Developing clarity on the coaching‐counselling conundrum: Implications for counsellors and psychotherapists

Abstract

AbstractCoaching, as a methodology for facilitating intentional positive change, has apparently become a permanent fixture in contemporary Western society. However, it would seem that counsellors and psychotherapists, despite been seen as having expertise in helping people deal with emotional difficulties and life challenges, have been relatively slow in positioning themselves in the coaching market. This has left other, possibly less qualified individuals to address the ubiquitous human need for goal attainment, self‐discovery and personal development. To develop clarity on the coaching‐counselling conundrum we firstly discuss the distinctions between coaching and counselling/psychotherapy, and we emphasise some key differences between the counsellor–client relationship and the coach–coachee relationship. We outline a tripartite metatypology of coaching (skills, performance and developmental coaching) and we use this to further make links between coaching and counselling. To address the question whether coaching is somehow less “valid” than counselling we then present an overview of the current evidence‐base for coaching and conclude with some key points for counsellors making a transition to coaching practice.