Life Coaching

At Go with the Flow Counselling, we understand that there are times when you might not feel the need for traditional counseling, but are wanting guidance with your life goals. This is where Life Coaching comes in.

• A life coach offers support and direction to help you navigate life's challenges and move forward with confidence.

• A life coach helps you discover your values and works with you to set and achieve your life goals. Life coaches may gently question or challenge any negative beliefs/thoughts you have; this can help you understand what's been holding you back.

• Life coaching can help with gaining clarity, boosting confidence, staying motivated to reach your goals and to develop a deeper understanding of what’s driving you in life.

Some key differences between the process of engaging in “life coaching” vs “counselling” are as follows:

Focus and Purpose -

Life Coaching: Focuses on helping individuals identify and achieve personal or professional goals. Coaches work with clients to improve specific areas of their lives, such as career, relationships, or personal development.

Counselling: Primarily addresses emotional and psychological issues. Counsellors help individuals explore and understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, often dealing with mental health concerns, relationship issues, or personal challenges.

Time Orientation -

Life Coaching: Emphasizes the present and future, helping clients set goals, develop action plans, and make progress toward their desired outcomes.

Counselling: Often involves exploring past experiences and how they may be influencing current emotions and behaviours. The therapeutic process can focus on resolving past issues to promote emotional well-being. 

Scope of Issues -

Life Coaching: Primarily addresses issues related to personal development, goal achievement, career changes, and improving overall life satisfaction.

Counselling: Addresses a broader range of issues, including mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationship difficulties.

Approach and Techniques -

Life Coaching: Often employs goal-setting techniques, action plans, and motivation strategies. Coaches may use a directive and solution-focused approach.

Counselling: Utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques, including talk therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, and other evidence-based modalities. The approach is often more exploratory and reflective.

Client State:

Life Coaching: Clients are generally considered to be in a functional state, seeking improvement and growth.

Counselling: Clients may be dealing with emotional distress or mental health symptoms that impact their daily functioning.