Coaching vs Counselling: Do You Need a Therapist or Just a Bloke with a Vision Board?

Life is hard. But what if I told you that, for a mere £500 a session, someone could remind you to wake up earlier, drink more water, and "unlock your full potential"? Welcome to the world of lifestyle coaching, where motivational Instagram quotes are considered groundbreaking advice, and "certification" is often just a weekend webinar away.

The problem? Many people confuse coaching vs counselling, as if a bloke with a vision board and a dream is the same as a trained mental health professional. Spoiler: It’s not. Let’s break it all down.

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Section 1: Coaching vs Counselling – What’s the Difference? (And Who Actually Helps You?)

Counselling: Real Help for Real Problems

• Requires actual qualifications (imagine that!).

• Evidence-based therapy backed by psychology and research.

• Helps people dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles.

• Therapists follow strict ethical guidelines, including not telling you to “manifest success” by staring at a crystal.

Lifestyle Coaching: Motivational Ted Talk Disguised as Expertise

• No real regulation—anyone can call themselves a lifestyle coach.

• Often focuses on vague “goal setting” and “positive mindset”, even when you actually need therapy.

• A classic example of “fake it till you make it”, but for an entire industry.

• Coaches are not legally required to keep things confidential, so enjoy having your deep, personal confessions turned into a podcast episode.

So, when should you seek counselling? When you need actual help. When is a life coach useful? If you want to be aggressively encouraged to "believe in yourself" and pay handsomely for the privilege.

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Section 2: What Does a Life Coach Do? (And Couldn’t You Just Google This?)

Ah yes, the million-dollar question—what does a life coach do? The answer: Mostly things you could probably figure out on your own.

Common life coaching services include:

• “Mindset shifting” (Translation: Keep saying you’re successful until your landlord believes you can pay rent.)

• “Accountability” (Translation: Annoyingly checking in to see if you’ve done your to-do list.)

• “Lifestyle optimisation” (Translation: Writing down five things you’re grateful for every morning.)

• “Unlocking your full potential” (Translation: Encouraging you to quit your job with no actual backup plan.)

If lifestyle coaching seems suspiciously like a repackaged version of your mum telling you to get your act together, that’s because it is.

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Section 3: How to Become a Life Coach (No Experience? No Problem!)

If you’re wondering how to become a life coach, the good news is—you already are! All you need is:

1. A motivational Instagram account full of sunrise photos.

2. A LinkedIn post about quitting your 9-to-5 to follow your passion.

3. A website with vague phrases like “I help people become the best version of themselves.”

4. A coaching package that costs more than actual therapy.

And the best part? Do you need a certification to be a life coach? Absolutely not! But if you want to look more credible, you can get an online life coaching qualification for the low price of £19.99 and a few hours of your time.

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Section 4: Life Coach Cost – Is It Worth the Money?

The burning question: How much does a life coach cost?

• Entry-level life coach: £50–£150 per hour (because telling you to “believe in yourself” isn’t free).

• Mid-range lifestyle coaching guru: £200–£500 per session (comes with a free PDF guide on “manifesting abundance”).

• Top-tier self-help scammer: £5,000+ for a 6-month program promising to change your life forever (terms and conditions apply).

For reference, counselling costs an average of £50–£120 per session—with an actual degree behind it.

At this point, you have to ask: Do you need a life coach or just Google Calendar and some discipline?

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Section 5: The Life Coach Scam – When Motivational Speech Becomes a Business Model

Signs you’ve fallen for a life coach scam:

• Their website says they’ll "transform your life," but doesn’t explain how.

• They sell courses on “how to become a life coach” (which basically just creates more competition for them).

• Their idea of “personal development” is sending you voice notes saying “you got this.”

• Their main advice is “quit your job and follow your passion”, even if your passion is collecting spoons.

At its worst, lifestyle coaching is just overpriced motivational speaking. At its best? Well, it’s still motivational speaking, just with better branding.

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Conclusion: Do You Actually Need a Life Coach?

Here’s the final reality check:

• If you need mental health support, see a therapist.

• If you need career guidance, talk to a mentor.

• If you need someone to tell you to drink more water, download a free app.

• If you need daily motivation, just buy a bloody poster that says "You Got This."

At the end of the day, lifestyle coaching is a luxury for those who can afford to pay for common sense advice. And if that’s your thing, great. Just don’t confuse it with real psychological support—and certainly don’t pay thousands for it.

Final Thought: If a lifestyle coach tells you to "invest in yourself," maybe not giving them your money is the smartest investment of all.

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