Christian coaching looks forward and encourages you to develop strategies for overcoming obstacles and achieving dreams. It is also different from mentoring. A Christian mentor encourages growth by imparting what God has given him or her. A Christian coach draws what God has given you out where you can use it. A Christian life coach approaches coaching from a biblical worldview. He or she, therefore, acknowledges the following important truths:

• Everyone is made in God’s image and likeness

• God is sovereign

• God is omniscient

• God loves to guide, empower, encourage, and help his children through life

• True fulfillment is only possible when people are living in line with God’s principles and plans

Christian life coaching is based on the understanding that God is the reason behind any success, rather than human ingenuity and providence.

There are a number of people-helping relationships such as discipling, mentoring, consulting, and counseling, but all these are very different from Christian life coaching. The most obvious difference is that Christian life coaching takes an inside-out approach. In other words, coaches endeavor to draw out what God has deposited in their clients. The other people-helping professions take the outside-in approach because they are mainly concerned what is called the “presenting problem”—the surface issue the client feels he or she needs help with—and acquiring the skills and abilities to deal with that issue.

Counseling is different from coaching in that it is a form of therapy and recovery. A counselor deals with an individual’s past and their need for healing whereas a coach deals with the individual’s future and the process of taking that person from being stuck or in a conflict in their life, marriage, or career to unstuck with a solid plan to move forward.

While there are differences between counseling and coaching, it often overlaps. Both coaches and counsellors work to help individuals identify goals, overcome obstacles, and find better ways of functioning and thriving in life.

A coach offers accountability and works with the client to formulate a plan that’s based on that client’s inner revelations, skills, and personality. The client is highly active and involved and it’s not a process that involves the coach dishing out advice and the client trying to apply that advice. It’s a process of discovery.

Many people will say that counseling deals more with dysfunction while coaching deals with helping clients function better and achieve success. Others will also refer to coaching as helping individuals turn potential into reality and that’s also a good definition of coaching. Both counselors and coaches, however, are trained to help clients discover, set, and achieve goals.

Both can be incredibly beneficial, and it may come down to what you believe is the best fit and what resonates with you about a particular coach or counselor and their skillset. You might also really love the growth you’ve seen in an individual or couple and choose to work with a coach based on a testimonial and referral.

If you’re trying to heal from past wounds, emotional distress, or trauma, counseling is likely what you need. If you’re trying to grow or advance in your life, marriage, or career and want to take something specific to the next level, coaching is a great option for you in terms of development and advancement.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.