Meet our Life Coach, Jeff St. Clair:

Jeff is a qualified life coach specializing in executive, leadership, and personal development coaching. His expertise in project development, relationship building, community outreach, leadership, and system management has been honed over 25+ years as a leader in the non-profit sector. He is an experienced leader and organizer, having worked with individuals from all walks of life. You can expect an approach customized to your unique needs when working with him. He uses a range of techniques to help clients overcome obstacles and achieve success, including developing an action plan that you can use to guide your work and monitor your progress. Jeff St. Clair is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a personable, welcoming, skilled, and dedicated life coach. Click to learn more about Jeff.

What are the main differences between a life coach and a counselor/therapist?

Counselors/therapists and Life Coaches provide distinct but valuable services despite some similarities in their work.

Services Provided

Life Coaches: Coaches play a vital role in helping individuals by providing motivation, guidance, skills development, and support. They use various techniques and strategies to help people enhance their skills, improve their performance, and overcome obstacles. Coaches focus primarily on positive factors such as strengths, abilities, and interests and help individuals set realistic and achievable goals, create action plans, and monitor their progress. They provide feedback, encouragement, and accountability to keep their clients on track and motivated.

Counselors/Therapists: When a person is struggling with their mental health, seeking professional help from a licensed therapist is recommended to properly assess their symptoms, diagnose underlying conditions, and provide effective care. Therapy offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their emotions and develop coping mechanisms to manage symptoms and promote mental health. With the guidance of a qualified therapist, clients can gain insight into their feelings and behaviors, learn new skills, and make positive changes in their lives. Therapists can offer the type of support a life coach can offer; however, their additional training may not be required for someone who doesn’t need mental healthcare. Additionally, suppose your goals are related to a specific area of life, such as parenting, leadership, career, fitness, etc. In that case, life coaches with expertise in these areas offer valuable experience and insights.

Training and Licensure

Counselors/Therapists: To practice counseling, a mental health license is required and must be maintained, which involves passing licensure exams regulated by each state. Every therapist must have a license or work under supervision while working towards obtaining their licensure. To become licensed as a therapist, an individual must first earn a graduate degree in counseling or a related field, complete a graduate internship, gain post-graduate clinical experience and supervision, pass a licensing exam, receive ongoing continuing education, and remain in good standing with the licensing board.

Life Coaches: Life coaching is a form of personal development not subject to regulatory oversight. This means anyone can call themselves a “Life Coach” regardless of education, training, or experience. However, our life coaches must complete a professional training course designed to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to help clients achieve their goals. Additionally, they are required to pursue certification as a Life Coach, which involves a process that ensures they meet the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.

In Summary

Life Coaches are qualified helpers and offer many services that counselors/therapists provide, with some differences.

If you want to achieve specific goals in your personal or professional life and need practical strategies, expert guidance, and accountability to reach your objectives, then a life coach may be the right fit for you. Life coaches offer tailored techniques and tools to enhance performance in various areas of life. Additionally, for people who find it challenging to stay accountable to their goals or maintain motivation over the long term, a life coach can provide regular check-ins, encouragement, and accountability structures to keep you on track.

It’s important to understand that although a life coach can offer valuable assistance in certain areas, they are not qualified to deal with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, or trauma. In case of mental health concerns, it’s advisable to seek help from a licensed mental health professional, and our counselors are here to help you make that determination if necessary.

Ultimately, choosing between seeing a life coach or a psychotherapist should depend on the individual’s specific needs, goals, and preferences. Sometimes, it can be helpful to combine both approaches, as each professional provides unique expertise and support.