Coaching vs Counseling: Practical

There are a few logistical differences between coaching and counseling. These differences are not unique to us, but represent common practices in how each professional service is structured:

Time Frame and Payment Understanding

In counseling, while appointments may be booked on a regularly occurring basis (weekly, biweekly, etc.), and while counseling is most often a "journey" with much continuity from one appointment to the next, each appointment is considered to be a discreet service and is billed separately. The stated fee is for a 45 to 50 minute counseling session. Counseling clients are usually asked to pay as they go. Counseling can be stopped at any time. (Mutual agreement about when to terminate counseling is ideal but not required).

In coaching, the coach is "retained" by the month, with the client paying each month in advance. A month of coaching is an ongoing, cooperative alliance between coach and client that includes three 30 minute coaching sessions, mutually agreed upon assignments, unlimited email and fax contact, and opportunity between sessions for short phone calls when needed to address an unexpected development or to share a victory. Coaching clients are usually asked to make a good faith effort to complete three to six months of coaching. This is in order to have a time frame in which to achieve measurable results and to have a good basis for evaluating the effectiveness of the coaching. However, as with counseling, the coaching client has the prerogative to withdraw at any time. Financial arrangement is governed by the coaching agreement.

Cost and Value

We believe that the "cost to benefit ratio" of both counseling and coaching establishes them as one of the best investments you can make! Of course, we're biased, but either of these services is a significant investment in yourself, with people around you frequently reaping the benefits as well. This type of investment continues to pay big dividends - both tangible and intangible - for the rest of your life.

The monthly investment in counseling vs. coaching is fairly comparable, assuming a similar number of sessions. For more information on specific costs, see Financial Policy for Counseling, Suzanne's Coaching Agreement, and John's Coaching Agreement.

Insurance Coverage

Health insurance may pay some benefits for counseling. If so, there is frequently a deductible to be met before it starts paying. When it does pay, there is often a "coinsurance" amount that must be borne by the client, and/or it may pay only a percentage of the total fee (usually 50% or more). There may be a cap on the amount paid out or on the number of sessions allowed. There must be a diagnosed illness, and varying amounts of personal information must be turned over to the insurance company.

Health insurance does not pay benefits for coaching. This is because there is no diagnosed illness, and the company therefore does not consider improving one's quality of life to be "medically necessary."

Telephone vs. "In-Person" Sessions

Counseling is done face-to-face, unless there is some unusual circumstance such as an emergency, physical illness or extended travel. This has the advantage of visual communication and the personal connection that comes with "presence," but carries the disadvantage of the required travel time. Insurance companies normally do not pay for counseling done over the phone.

Coaching can be done either in person or over the phone. Thus, a person does not have to pick a coach who is geographically close, and can fit coaching sessions more easily into a busy schedule.

w For further information or for help in deciding whether counseling or coaching would best fit your needs, call us at 425-821-3944. (There is no charge for the call.)

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