From time to time someone asks me: "Koučink? Is that like therapy?" Or: "So you're actually a mentor?" The answer is no in both cases. But explaining why takes a few minutes.
This is the article.
What coaching is: and what it isn't
Coaching is a structured conversation focused on the future. Its aim is not to treat, diagnose, or offer advice from an expert position. A coach does not tell you what to do. They ask questions that help you find your own answers.
Sounds simple. But behind that simplicity lies a specific skill: the art of asking questions in such a way that another person begins to see their situation differently.
A good coach will not tell you anything you do not already know. They will help you organise what you know and take responsibility for it.
Three approaches, three roles: clearly outlined
| Koučink | Therapy | Mentoring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialisation | Present and Future | Past and Present | Experience and career |
| The role of a specialist | A coach does not need to be an expert in their client's field. | A therapist is a qualified clinical specialist. | Mentor is an expert in its field. |
| Access | Questions and self-discovery | Diagnostics, repair, processing | Advice and sharing of experience |
| Who needs this | A functional person who wants more or something different | A person with mental health difficulties | Someone who wants to learn from someone more experienced |
| Length | Months, focused sessions | Months to years | Ongoing relationship with no fixed end date |
Coaching versus therapy: The fundamental difference
The most common confusion is between coaching and therapy. Both involve conversation and both concern personal development, but in fundamentally different situations.
Therapy deals with psychological difficulties, trauma, depression, anxiety and other clinical conditions. The therapist is a qualified specialist who works with the client's past, diagnoses and treats.
Koučink Coaching is not therapy and a coach is neither a psychologist nor a psychiatrist. Coaching works with functional individuals who wish to achieve specific changes, in their career, lifestyle, relationships, or performance. It does not deal with clinical diagnoses.
Practical rule: If you feel psychologically fine but want a change: it's for coaching. If you suffer from depression, anxiety or another psychological problem, seek a therapist.
Coaching versus mentoring: advice versus questions
Mentor is an experienced professional in your field who shares know-how, advice and insights from their own practice. Excellent if you need specific guidance, how to start a business, how to negotiate with customers, how to break into a particular sector.
Coach They do not need to be an expert in the client's field. Their value lies not in industry knowledge but in the process: in how they guide the conversation so that the client arrives at their own solutions. A coach does not give answers; they ask questions that enable you to find them yourself.
A mentor will tell you what works for them. A coach will help you discover what will work for you.
What coaching looks like in practice
A typical session lasts 60-90 minutes and takes place in person or online. We begin by identifying what you want to work on. It could be a specific situation, a decision, or a recurring pattern of behaviour that no longer serves you.
During the session, the coach asks questions, listens and occasionally names what they hear. Towards the end, a specific intention or action for the next few weeks is usually identified.
Coaching is not therapy or counselling. It is a space for your own thought process, structured, safe and focused on results.
Frequently Asked Questions
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