In the base level, Psychotherapy and Counselling focus on the individual’s past to understand the present, and Coaching focuses on the present to set them up for the future. Now this can be interchangeable, but the purpose of Therapy and counselling, may not necessarily be Goal oriented (though of course benchmarks and goals to achieve are significant indicators of progress) it is more focused on how the client shows up presently, an unpack past events that give meaning and understanding as to how the behaviour patterns being displayed were developed today. Therapy and counselling provide an opportunity to create a greater sense of awareness and safe space to learn about oneself, through empathetic and gentle techniques toward self-efficacy. Coaching is a form of support that can be more direct and empowering toward achieving specific goals. Coaching is recognizing where you are at currently and working to provide actionable guides and strategies for you to move toward the direction of where you want to be.
The world of coaching is a new and unregulated system, it all depends on the competency of the coach based on their experiences.
Psychotherapy and Counselling, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, has a regulatory Body CRPO (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario) and CCPA (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association) that have guidelines and list of competencies that all licensed and aspiring licensed Therapists and counsellors abide by.