What's the difference between coaching and counseling?
Firstly, they are spelled differently (duh!). Secondly, they are different disciplines. Thirdly, counseling in all 50 states requires (at least) a master's degree and state/national licensing. Whereas, coaching has no standardized education nor certification requirements; however, I do not know of any coaches that are not certified.
Saving the best for last, coaching is very action-oriented and forward-looking. Coaching comes from a client's position of positive living and moves clients to a desired state of better living. Counseling tends to focus on a person in less than optimal mental health state and moves clients to a balanced mental state albeit most likely a desired better living, too. In crudest terms, coaching supports a wellness-growth model and counseling addresses a medical/disease-oriented wellness model.
Coaching takes your dreams and aspirations and helps put them into action. Coaching is helping you refine your dreams into manageable plans then breaking those plans down into actionable steps. Coaching success relies on the client's work. Coaching is having an ally in your camp to help you see things objectively, challenge you and motivate you to achieve your dream. Most coaches bring several skillsets and years of leadership and industry knowledge to help you define the path you take. This is why most coaches will specialize into one or two niches.
Coaching is not geared for dealing with depression and other mental health designated disorders. Coaching is geared to help you identify self-limiting beliefs and assist you in conquering barriers to achieve success. Coaching is directive: mentoring and brainstorming. Counseling is more introspective.
From a coaching session, the expectation is that the client and coach will take responsibility for any actions items, work to complete them on time...usually by the next session. Coach and client are accountable to one another. Counseling hopes the client will use skills discussed in session and apply them in life outside of the counseling session; however, there is no accountability expectation. Counseling clients truly motivated to feel better will use the skills they learn.
Both counseling and coaching have techniques that can be used with clients. Counseling theories number in the several of hundreds so most counselors will specialize in a technique, therapy type or type of client. I have never quantified the number of coaching techniques but I doubt there are hundreds. As a coach, I focus on the needs of the client as they present themselves and use a predictable set of tools but I am not constrained to find and use anything that will help my client find success. Counselors are limited to practicing within the scope of their training and expertise.
One advantage counseling has over coaching is continuuing education. Counseling practitioners are required to do additional education to keep their licenses. Coaching does not have this requirement; however, I don't know any coaches that are not learning more, attending conferences and getting additional training regularly.
What is common between the two disciplines is both coaches and counselors have a strong desire to see their client's be successful and happy. Both are caring professions. We care about out clients!
Full Disclosure: I am both a licensed professional counselor and a certified professional coach. I work in both worlds. These types of clients have spent hours gaining personal insight and have new coping skills to deal with life's challenges. Once a client achieves their counseling goals, it is not ethical to keep them in counseling. My personal opinion is that clients coming out of counseling are perfect clients for coaching provided they were successful in improving their mental health. Coaching offers them the opportunity to take their 'new self' to a new career, life, relationship, etc. As a counselor, I am able to pull from both my counseling theories and techniques and apply them along side my coaching paradigm.