Do you need a therapist or a coach?

This is a great question. The difference between a therapist and a coach can be difficult to define.

Essentially, therapists are trained to focus on psychiatric concerns (like diagnosable eating disorders) and serious emotional and relational issues. You should work with a therapist if you have an eating disorder, want to process past trauma, and/or focus on mental health concerns. Work with a therapist tends to be long-term in nature.

Coaches, on the other hand, are not trained in psychiatric diagnoses or mental health issues (although I am, due to my background in Psychology). They tend to focus on performance goals within a specific area and work to get you there. A coach would be beneficial for you if you have a specific goal on which to focus (i.e. learning IFS or adopting an IE approach to food). Coaches tend to work in the short-term.

In regard to working with me, the following should help you determine what would be appropriate. If it’s still unclear, no worries! We’ll jump on a free consultation call and figure it out together!

You will benefit from therapy if you:

  • Have a diagnosed eating disorder

  • Are bingeing regularly or engaging in purging or other compensatory behaviors

  • Have a history of trauma that you have not yet explored

  • Recognize that your trauma is significantly impacting your daily life

  • Are experiencing significant depression, anxiety, or emotional distress related to your eating

  • Are thinking of or are engaging in self-injurious behaviors

  • Are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors

If you feel that therapy would be helpful to you, please contact me.

You will benefit from coaching if you:

  • Are not currently experiencing a diagnosable eating disorder OR you have a therapist who is addressing that with you and you’re looking to coaching for additional support

  • Have no significant trauma history or have processed the history that you do have

  • Feel that your trauma history is not significantly impacting your current life

  • Are not experiencing any type of self-injury or suicidal thoughts/behaviors

  • Have specific goals upon you would like to work (i.e. you would like to incorporate IE or get to know specific parts that turn you to or away from food)

If you feel that coaching would be helpful to you, head to my coaching website.