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Coaching vs Counselling — What’s the Difference (and Which Do You Actually Need)?

If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “Do I need a coach or a counsellor?” while simultaneously wondering if you’re broken (spoiler: you’re not), you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions people ask me — right before they confess they’ve already been to therapy, read every self-help book under the sun, and still feel stuck.


So let’s cut through the confusion.


Two women sit in chairs, engaged in conversation in a cozy, warmly lit room with grey walls and a floor lamp. A relaxed, professional atmosphere. This can be either a coach and client or a counsellor and client.


Counselling: Looking Back to Understand


Counselling is about healing. It helps you explore and make sense of your past — old wounds, patterns, trauma, grief, or relationships that shaped who you are today.


A counsellor will hold space for you to talk, process emotions, and find peace with what’s already happened.


It’s powerful, it’s necessary, and for many people, it’s the first step towards feeling safe in their own skin again.



Coaching: Looking Forward to Create


Coaching, on the other hand, is about action.


It’s future-focused — helping you clarify where you are now, where you want to be, and what’s getting in the way.


A good coach (hi👋) will challenge your thinking, hold you accountable, and help you unpick the beliefs that are quietly running the show.


Think of counselling as “understanding why the car broke down,” and coaching as “getting it back on the road and driving somewhere better.”



So Which One Do You Need?


Maybe both. Maybe neither. Maybe a bit of something in between.


Because life isn’t neat, and you don’t come in a one-size-fits-all box.


That’s why some of my clients come to me after they’ve done a bit of both — therapy helped them understand why they feel the way they do… but coaching helps them figure out what to do next.


Sometimes we need a map. Sometimes we need fuel. Sometimes we need someone to sit in the passenger seat and remind us we’re actually doing okay.


If you’re not sure what you need right now, that’s okay.


Book a free 30 minute discovery call and we’ll figure it out together — no labels, no judgement, no fluff. Just a real conversation about what’s next for you.


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