Coaching vs. Therapy: What’s the Difference?

At UCANC, we believe in the power of support, and it helps to know the kind of support you're looking for. While both coaching and therapy aim to help you grow and feel better, they do it in different ways.

Therapy

Therapy focuses on healing the past. A therapist helps you work through emotional pain, trauma, or mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or grief. It’s often about understanding why you feel the way you do, and finding ways to feel better and function more fully.

Think of therapy as cleaning out a wound — it helps you heal so you can move forward.

Coaching

Coaching focuses on building the future. A coach partners with you to create goals, develop a vision, and take action. It's about helping you unlock your potential, shift your mindset, and take empowered steps toward the life you want.

Think of coaching as training for a race — it’s forward-focused, strategic, and growth-oriented.

Here’s a simple way to look at it: