“[W]orking on issues that the client sees as important in ways that make sense to them at any point has a strong positive effect. … [A] strict imposition of the coaching/therapy boundary would interfere with the client and practitioner’s freedom to follow that principle … denying them access to a fuller service that might meet all their needs.”

Popovic & Jinks, Personal Consultancy: A model for integrating counselling and coaching

Whilst Lifespan Coaching is often therapeutic, it differs from counselling or psychotherapy in that these approaches often (though by no means exclusively) focus on helping people to gain a more functional life, working with mental health issues and illness.

Lifespan Coaching works with an awareness of these issues and associated therapeutic models, but focuses more on helping people to explore their potential and achieve a fuller life. However, similarities between the two helping approaches include: their psychological roots; coaching/counselling skills such as listening and questioning; ethical considerations such as contracting and confidentiality; and the importance and centrality of the client/practitioner relationship.

As a result, Lifespan Coaching helpfully creates an environment in which a potential counselling or psychotherapeutic issue can be raised and discussed in terms of the potential need for additional professional support.

Read how my clients have benefitted from Lifespan Coaching and information on my background and fees.