Coaching for Therapists

You may have noticed an increasing trend of coaching services becoming more accessible and more niche over the years—and of these niches is coaching for therapists. 

On the one hand, the popularity of coaching services can contribute to the conflation of the  therapy and coaching fields. However, not all coaches are meant to be therapists and not all therapists are meant to be coaches. 

Where the two fields can intersect with incredibly beneficial results for those clinicians in private practice is in business coaching for therapists. 

This article covers the differences between the two fields, plus how clinicians may benefit from coaching for therapists, or how your practice may benefit from hiring a business coach for therapists. 

The differences between coaches and therapists 

There are three critical differences between a therapist and a coach. Read on  to learn about them. 

1. Addressing mental health concerns vs. building skills

The first difference between a therapist and a life coach is that therapists address mental health concerns with medical necessity, whereas coaches address performance and skill set deficits. 

While there is a bit of overlap, especially when it comes to the idea that coaching can be therapeutic, coaches are not operating within the scope of their role if they profess to be working through trauma with their clients. 

The work of a coach is focused on solutions and achieving goals, building a necessary skill set, and addressing mindset limitations surrounding performance—either professionally or personally. 

In comparison, therapists support clients by addressing mental health concerns that are clinically impacting their life through means of somatic and cognitive approaches. Therapists also have the training to address the roots of issues that may be presenting in day-to-day life. 

2. Training and licensing

The second difference between coaches and therapists is in their training and licensing. 

Coaching is still an unregulated field, and I predict it will stay that way. What this means is that there is not a board that coaches have to answer to. What’s more, coaches are not required to complete any specific training to start marketing and offering their services. 

However, that said, most ethical coaches seek out their own training to best serve their clients. 

In contrast, therapists require advanced degrees in a related field such as psychology, counseling, or social work, and have passed rigorous licensing exams before they are eligible to apply for licensure. Their training consists of extensive education specific to counseling techniques, psychological assessments, and diagnoses Their licenses are also monitored by relevant boards. 

Additionally, therapists are required to maintain a certain number of ongoing training hours to ensure they are up to date with the latest research, maintain their clinical efficacy, and keep their ethical standards high. 

3. Ethical standards

Since therapy is regulated and coaching is not, there are vastly different ethical standards for therapists to uphold and, technically, none for coaches. 

Therapists are strictly held to ethical guidelines and are required to maintain client confidentiality. In addition, they are bound by a professional code of conduct that prioritizes the well-being and privacy of their client. 

Coaches, on the other hand, are not bound to a specific code of ethics or code of conduct, which leaves a lot of their ethical practice up to their own personal discretion. 

It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean that coaches are running around practicing unethical behavior. It simply means there isn’t an outside regulatory committee ensuring that. 

While there are clearly defined differences between coaching and therapists, it’s easy to see how the two can be confusing. 

However, the two fields are complementary and each have their place in holistic support. 

How coaching can benefit therapists in private practice

Coaching for therapists can help therapists run their practices smoothly and sustainably, in turn preventing therapist burnout and increasing quality of care to clients. 

Those wondering how to start a private practice or build their existing business may be  looking for support, and there are many coaching for therapists resources available. But the internet is full of disparate and confusing advice, which can make it difficult to find the right coach or sift through all the resources.

Clinicians may also be skeptical of the efficacy of hiring a business coach—especially given the differences (in standardized training and ethics) between therapy and coaching. 

Beyond any internal resistance that may show up for clinicians, there’s also a lack of education on what exactly coaching for therapists looks like, how to find a good business coach for therapists, and how to find the best coaching for therapists, so let’s get into it. 

How to find a business coach for therapists

As you start looking for a coach, it’s important to begin by asking yourself why you are looking to get support. 

Are you hoping to find someone who can be a cheerleader as you are making bigger moves in your business, raising rates, increasing your caseload, or hiring team members and clinicians to expand your practice? 

Do you need help strategizing how to market to a niche demographic or offer specialized clinical services? Or, are you currently feeling stuck and aren’t sure what you need help with, but know it’s time to get business-specific support? 

Getting to the root of what you’re looking for is going to help you avoid the trap of choosing a coach who is the best at sales, rather than someone who is the best at coaching for therapists. 

Take it from someone who has spent more than I’d like to admit on coaches that over-promised and under-delivered: knowing your “why” is critical to discernment. 

Once you’re clear on why you’re looking to hire a coach, you can start looking for one. 

Instagram is one of the most common places to find a business coach for therapists. 

Others may find coaches through their professional and personal networks by asking around for referrals. Many therapists become coaches, so you may find someone within your professional network. 

I also recommend looking outside of your typical therapist networks and checking LinkedIn or general business-focused directories to find a business consultant or coach. 

If you’re looking for a long-term business strategy or are scaling your group practice, the business acumen of a more seasoned consultant, rather than a therapist turned coach, may be better suited for your needs. 

As you’re looking, keep in mind that a good business coach is going to be able to tell you their scope, limitations, and strengths. 

They are also going to engage you in a consent-based sales process versus pushing you to make a decision or pick them. For example, I tell all of my coaching clients that I can teach the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) and the core skills to increase your online visibility. 

However, if you’re looking for an in-depth web analysis and want your content to be ranked on the first page of Google by the end of the year, I’m absolutely not your coach. Instead, I would point you toward the SEO agency I’ve worked with in the past that specializes in working with therapists. 

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all coach because the services and skills offered by coaches and your business needs vary.

What can private practice coaching for therapists do?

There are four ways  coaching for therapists can help support you on your journey. 

It’s important to have an idea of what’s on the menu before walking in and placing your order. 

While different coaches use different terms, generally, their functions can be boiled down into the following categories:

1. Business planning and strategy  

First and foremost, a private practice coach for therapists can assist you in creating a comprehensive business plan that outlines a therapist’s vision, mission, target market, services, and financial goals. 

Of course, this plan will evolve and change over time, but having it all laid out can help you build your business strategically versus just running on a hamster wheel. 

Business coaches for therapists can also assist in strategic planning based on your overall vision and goals. Short-term and long-term goals all have an important place in business because they help us measure our growth and keep us organized throughout the year. 

A solid business coach is also going to support you in developing strategies to meet each goal and create action plans.

2. Client acquisition and retention 

If you’re anywhere in the coaching for therapists world on social media, then you’ve heard the phrase “targeting your ideal clients.” This is what client acquisition is all about. 

A skilled business coach is going to be able to funnel your acquisition process through the lens of who your ideal client is. 

For example, if you’re targeting high-power CEOs, then you may spend more time on SEO as opposed to creating a niche personal therapy brand on social media that appeals to adolescents. The high-powered client you’re targeting is more likely to be searching for providers on Google or based on word of mouth, rather than on Instagram. 

Additionally, a coach can help you focus on client experience, which leads to retention. 

Client retention is the secret sauce to a thriving private practice business. If your clients are satisfied and staying to do their work with you, then you are building a solid therapy business. 

In the clinical world, client retention often depends on establishing strong therapeutic alliances with your clients. For example, if you’re specializing in treating trauma, make sure to stay up-to-date on trauma-informed care and therapeutic modalities to best serve your clients. 

3. Overcoming mindset obstacles and building confidence

Mindset is a crucial part of building resiliency, especially as a business owner. 

If we can tell ourselves a new story and learn from our experiences, we can readily dust ourselves off and persist in the face of challenges or obstacles. 

Mindset coaching focuses on exactly this reframe by helping you depersonalize your hardship or failure so you can more easily get out of your own way. 

This process ultimately allows you to shift goals and strategies based on your experiences—strengthening your problem solving initiative and building a deep sense of confidence in your business practices. 

4. Expansion and growth/vision building

If you’re asking yourself “This is great, what’s next?” then you’re probably ready to expand your business. 

This is a really exciting time because it means that you’re profitable, sustainable, and now ready to level up your business. However, if done prematurely or too quickly, you could put your business at risk. Finding a coach who can help support you in this process is vital to sustainable and scalable growth. 

In conclusion

While all of the areas mentioned above are important for a thriving therapy business, it’s not possible to hire a coach who does all of the above exceptionally well. 

Being aware of your current business needs and finding an ethical and transparent coach who will help guide you through the process is key. 

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