Career Coach

Career coach vs therapist

Updated

A therapist treats mental health: every US state licenses them, and therapy often costs less than coaching and is often covered by insurance. A career coach helps you reach a work goal: coaching is not regulated, so anyone can use the title. If work stress comes with symptoms that have lasted two weeks or more, start with a therapist.

Therapist and career coach compared, from official and professional sources
TherapistCareer coach
FocusHealing pain and conflict, often from the past (ICF wording)Growth toward "specific actionable outcomes" you choose (ICF wording)
LicenseRequired in every state for mental health counselors (BLS)None: "The coaching industry is currently unregulated" (ICF)
TrainingUsually a master's degree, supervised clinical work and a national exam (BLS)Voluntary: ICF's first credential requires 60+ hours of training and 100+ hours of coaching
InsuranceOften covered: plans sold on HealthCare.gov must cover psychotherapy and counselingUsually not covered: coaches are not health professionals
Average priceAbout $139 a session in 2024 (SimplePractice data)$272 an hour on average in North America (ICF, 2023)

See a therapist first if

The National Institute of Mental Health advises seeking professional help for severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted two weeks or more, such as:

  • difficulty sleeping, or changes in appetite or weight;
  • difficulty getting out of bed in the morning because of mood;
  • difficulty concentrating, or losing interest in things you usually enjoy;
  • being unable to complete your usual tasks.

If you are struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: free, confidential, 24 hours a day. In a life-threatening situation, call 911.

A career coach fits better if

  • you have a concrete work goal: a promotion, a raise, a new role, a career change;
  • you want a plan and someone to hold you to it, more than to understand where a feeling comes from;
  • you function day to day, and the question is what to do next at work.

You can have both

Many people see a therapist and work with a coach. ICF's ethics guidance asks coaches to recognize when a client would be better served by another professional, and to refer to counseling or therapy when coaching is not enough. Online, BetterHelp (therapy) and BetterUp (coaching) are an example of each.

Start from your situation

Your question is what to do next at work? Career Coach (that's us) is not a person: it's a 12-week online plan for one goal, 10 minutes a week, with a weekly check-in on what you said you'd do. It starts with what the people around you see in you: you choose who to ask (a coworker, a former coworker, a friend), and they pick your strengths in one minute. Free to start, then costs less a month than one paid hour with a coach.

Get started

Questions

Is a career coach a therapist?

No. A career coach is not a licensed health professional and does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. A therapist is licensed by the state.

Does insurance cover a career coach?

Usually not: a coach is not a health professional, and Medicare's list of mental health providers, for example, includes no coaches. Therapy, by contrast, must be covered by plans sold on HealthCare.gov.

Should I see a therapist or a career coach for burnout?

If burnout comes with symptoms that have lasted two weeks or more, such as trouble sleeping or losing interest, see a health professional first. A coach can help afterwards with workload and boundaries.

Sources