Therapist, Consultant, or Coach? How Do You Choose?

I am often asked what the difference is between working with a therapist, consultant, mentor, and coach. I will answer this question with a brief anecdote. This was first shared with me by a coach I worked under during my certification process in 2019.

Imagine you are standing in a forest. If you are standing next to a therapist or counselor, together, you both find a spot to sit down on, maybe an old tree stump. In that spot, you both talk about all that led to you being in the forest.

If you are standing next to a consultant, again, you both find a spot in which to sit. In that spot, the consultant asks you to share where you want to go. They pull out a map, and you both agree on the place you want to go. They provide you with the best route to take, share about possible obstacles and dangers along the way, and send you on your way.

If you are standing next to a coach, again you both find a spot in which to sit. In that spot, the coach invites you to climb a nearby tree. Once you are both at the top of the tree, they ask you if you want to climb back down, leave the forest altogether - or, if you want to understand how you've constructed the entire journey, the forest, the tree, and whether you want to create something new to move.