Coaching and Counselling

Let's first have a look at two different given definitions of coaching and analyze them a little bit. The first definition is introduced by Eric Parsloe: "Coaching is a process that enables learning & development to occur and thus performance to improve." Let's have a closer look at this definition to understand how I help our clients to improve their lives. There are several elements that are interesting. 

1. It's a process.

Coaching takes time - but this is not a given! Our habits, harmful patterns and obstacles seem numerous and stubborn in a way. They require awareness, effort and the right methods so we can overcome them. This happens in a continuous process. Its the same as building a highway. It usually starts with a small path which is frequently used by people. The constant use of the techniques learnt during a coaching session will eventually replace old habits and establish new ones that effectively lead you to your desired goal.

2. It enables learning and development

The process idealy enables learning. Learning means that you gather experience using analysis, concentration and external support such as a coach with the qualifications to help you. The coach plays the supporting role, he offers the right tools for you to go YOUR way. Learning also helps you to idealy establish positive skills, in other words, skills that are a cause for your happiness and personal development. Development could be either a cause for suffering and conflicts, it could be a cause for stagnation or it could lead to greater stages of happiness and a meaningful, fulfilled life.

3. It improves performance

If our experience of something positive grows, it will fuel more positive actions and results. The coach is not there to improve your performance. But he will supply you with thoughts, material and a cheerful presence to achieve whatever you set as your goal. In other words, the coach hands you a special toolkit to build your own house of accomplishment. But it will be always you who actually builds the house.

The other definition of coaching is from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). It says:" Coaching is a process of partnering with clients in a thought provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potentials." This definition is a bit more complete for it mentions  that clents partner with their coaches and that the coaches job is to offer inspiration. Why does a coach offer inspiration? Because his/her clients book the coaching sessions with the expectation to maximise their potentials and achieve happier states of existance. The coach offers experience, special knowledge and tools for his/her client.

I understand the coaching process a bit better now, but what's the difference between coaching and counselling?

While coaching is very future-oriented, counselling deals with past-issues and problems. Some people are overwhelmed by negative patterns and want to know where they come from in order to eliminate them. That does not mean, that we teach you to dwell either in the future or in the past. More then that, counselling enables you to create the fertile ground for achievements in the present moment. Here are two major points for you to consider.

1. Counselling means to purify and transform your past memories such as harmful cognitive patterns, subconscious obstacles and hindrances with very special methods.

2. Coaching means to transform the present moment so it starts causing you to walk the path that leads to your personal fulfillment. 

Even more simplified...

Counselling helps to purify obstacles from your past

Coaching helps you to create causes for your success.

I hope that this page helped you to clear your mind and create understanding.