Whats the difference?

In coaching, we establish with the client the change/progress they wish to implement for the future and in coaching, we work from the here and now using the coachee’s current strengths and facilitating them to have an empowered future. Coaching does not involve the coach “fixing” the client but rather

- Creating a space for the client to speak and be listened to. We all need to be seen and heard.
- Validating the reality of the individual’s situation.
- Actively listening to the client.
- Asking powerful and challenging questions.
- Clarifying the coach’s understanding with the client.
- Helping the client identify and commit to steps that will facilitate the steps forward they desire.
- Putting those steps into action.

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Mentoring involves someone with expertise passing on that expertise and knowledge to someone with less experience in the area of interest and by its nature is
instructional.

 

Coaching is also very different from therapy/counselling. Their nature tends toward looking backwards and dealing with unresolved issues. Counselling & therapy deal with the client or patient as an individual based on past events, circumstances, realities and beliefs in contrast to coaching where the focus is moving from the here and now to the future.

Coaching as an intervention may also sit alongside other interventions such as therapy and mentoring but the relationship is one of partnership with the client owning the content, and the Coach the process.

Coaching is usually offered over a shorter timeframe than mentoring and counselling as at its core is the belief that the client once confident in their own strengths will
self-manage and regulate over the longer term.