Life coach, therapist or consultant? How to choose

If you want to make progress and keep stalling, the question isn’t “should I get help,” it’s “what kind of help do I need.” People often mix up life coaches, therapists and consultants. They are not the same and you will get very different outcomes from each.

Quick note on terms: I use “mindset coach” for myself. It fits my approach better than “life coach.” The work overlaps. The title is preference.

Quick definitions

Life coach
Future focused. Helps you clarify goals, build habits, make decisions and follow through. You get structure, accountability and practical tools. Not a mental health clinician.

Therapist
Past and present focused. Works with emotional health, patterns, trauma, anxiety, depression and relationships. Trained to assess and treat. Can support goals, but clinical wellbeing comes first.

Consultant
Problem focused. Brings expertise to diagnose, design a plan and solve specific issues in a domain like business, marketing or operations. Often provides frameworks, audits and action plans that are tailored to the business.

Start with your goal

Use these prompts to get clear.

1. What are you currently struggling with?

• Emotional pain, persistent low mood, anxiety, trauma, or relationships at breaking point → start with a therapist.

• Decision fatigue, lack of momentum, weak habits, unclear direction → start with a coach.

• A concrete business or career problem you can name in one sentence → start with a consultant

2. What is the main outcome you want in the next 90 days?

• Emotional stability, fewer symptoms, better coping → start with a therapist.

• Clear plan, consistent action, better follow through → start with a coach

• A defined business or career problem you can say in one sentence → start with a consultant.

3. What kind of support helps you move?

• Space to process and understand yourself → therapist.

• Accountability, structure and honest feedback → coach.

• Expert guidance, strategy and a plan for a specific domain → consultant.

Can you combine them

Yes, but be deliberate. Many people pair therapy with coaching. Therapy supports emotional health. Coaching turns clarity into action. If you are in crisis, do therapy first and add coaching later. You can bring in a consultant for a focused project at any point.

Scripts to start the conversation

Use these to ask for a short intro call or discovery session.

• Life coach or mindset coach:
  “I’m clear on what I want to achieve over the next 90 days and I need structure and accountability. Could we book a short call to see if your approach fits what I need”

• Therapist:
  “I’m dealing with [anxiety, low mood, patterns I can’t shift]. I’m looking for evidence-based support. Do you offer a brief consultation to check fit and approach”

• Consultant:
  “I have a specific problem in [area]. I’d like to share a quick overview and hear how you usually assess and shape a first step. Can we book a short call to see if it is a match”

FAQs

Can a life coach replace therapy
No. A coach is not trained to treat mental health conditions. If you are unsure, start with a therapist and ask whether coaching could sit alongside later.

What if I am between two options
Do your due diligence. Book consultation calls, ask how progress is tracked, and check what a first month would look like. You should feel clear on the outcome, the process and what you will do between sessions before you invest.

Book an initial consultation with me today if you’d like to explore how we can work together → book here