While a mental health coach and therapist both work to help you improve your mental health, there are several important differences.
- Area of focus: Mental health coaches focus on where you are in the present and your goals for the future. Your relationship with your coach is collaborative, and you will work together to identify small steps you can take to achieve your goals, making adjustments along the way to keep you on track. Therapy consists of sessions with a licensed clinician to help you address ongoing psychological symptoms, or patterns of thought, behavior, or emotion that no longer serve you. Therapy allows you to dive deeper into past or present issues to make positive change in your life.
- Credentials: Therapists hold at least a master’s degree in psychology or a related field, and must complete licensing requirements in their state, along with a certain number of supervised clinical treatment hours. Certain types of providers, such as psychologists, hold a PhD or PsyD. Headspace mental health coaches, on the other hand, are required to complete a certification through accredited institutions, like the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) or Master’s-level degree in a psychology related-field. Headspace mental health coaches are also required to complete additional training including two years of relevant experience, and 200+ hours of supervised training through the Headspace Training Institute.
- Diagnoses: Behavioral health coaches cannot diagnose mental illness, although they can recommend that a member seek a diagnosis from a therapist. They can work with you to co-create a personalized plan, but they are not trained to treat mental health disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Medication: Mental health coaches do not prescribe medication. They can recommend a member see a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner if medication may be helpful.