
Coaching is unlike counselling because it does not focus on examining nor diagnosing the past. Instead coaching focuses on effecting change in a client's current and future behaviour. Coaching may also include some discussion about past beliefs that may be blocking you, but it generally focuses on your current views, values, assumptions and expectations in order to maximize what is important to you.
This table gives a summary of the features of each area. Career and Life Planning often merges both disciplines with the goal of moving you forward to realising your personal or professional potential. If during the process your coach feels there is important unfinished emotional business hampering your performance, your coach will refer you to someone who may be more qualified to help you
| Coaching | Counseling |
| Focuses on effecting change in a client's current and future behaviour in order to improve their effectiveness | May involve in-depth explorations of past history and key relationships with parents and other family members |
| Coaching does not seek to resolve any underlying psychological problems. It assumes a person does not require a psycho-social intervention | Counselling exists for people with painful unresolved issues from the past; has a broader focus and greater depth |
| Coaching uses more action focused techniques to eliminate barriers to performance and improve contentment | Goal is to help people understand the root causes of long-standing performance problems/issues at work |