--- title: "Coaching vs Counselling: Do You Need a Therapist or Just a Bloke with a Vision Board?" description: "Coaching vs Counselling: Do you need real therapy or just lifestyle coaching? Find out if life coaches are worth it or just overpriced pep talks." image: https://yannsomou.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DALL%C2%B7E%202025-02-07%2015_08_08%20-%20A%20refined%20humorous%20digital%20illustration%20contrasting%20a%20professional%20psychologist%20with%20a%20self-proclaimed%20life%20coach_%20On%20th.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://yannsomou.com/blog-lifes-too-short-for-idiocy/coaching-vs-counselling-lifestyle-coaching#main-content) [![Yann Somou written in white in idiot font on black background](https://yannsomou.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YannSomou%20Logo%20circle.jpg?width=300&height=300&name=YannSomou%20Logo%20circle.jpg)Homepage](https://yannsomou.com) - [Home](https://yannsomou.com) - [Books](https://yannsomou.com/127-reasons-why-you-are-an-idiot-the-book) - [Blog](https://yannsomou.com/blog-lifes-too-short-for-idiocy) - [About](https://yannsomou.com/about) - [Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/2gyivGhGg0nFAErAGIis17?si=a875722961ab4e58) [THE IDIOT REPORT](https://34705fc4.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAB68hohKsAIGs1ZLbVCZec7iCncnAnT9NPu7Sp-J2EWAVD4FWajtJ8WeFr2-3KedaqLR1cUK8cE1NwpN1eVsuNvAisIb8JZkMy1OVDNJue-9haGdp5BUPuAxXciM_mpH5SGhrNOu1A3D_rztEoMshoVKTnGD21rJVs-CwcvpFoVpGekdxEfFQiLI63yN4oyQwlgGqD6Kuwdd) - [Home](https://yannsomou.com) - [Books](https://yannsomou.com/127-reasons-why-you-are-an-idiot-the-book) - [Blog](https://yannsomou.com/blog-lifes-too-short-for-idiocy) - [About](https://yannsomou.com/about) - [Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/2gyivGhGg0nFAErAGIis17?si=a875722961ab4e58) [THE IDIOT REPORT](https://34705fc4.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAB68hohKsAIGs1ZLbVCZec7iCncnAnT9NPu7Sp-J2EWAVD4FWajtJ8WeFr2-3KedaqLR1cUK8cE1NwpN1eVsuNvAisIb8JZkMy1OVDNJue-9haGdp5BUPuAxXciM_mpH5SGhrNOu1A3D_rztEoMshoVKTnGD21rJVs-CwcvpFoVpGekdxEfFQiLI63yN4oyQwlgGqD6Kuwdd) ![Humorous illustration contrasting coaching vs counselling. A professional psychologist in a neat office faces a colourful lifestyle coach with a chaotic vision board, highlighting the professionalism of counselling versus the theatrics of coaching.](https://yannsomou.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DALL%C2%B7E%202025-02-07%2015_08_08%20-%20A%20refined%20humorous%20digital%20illustration%20contrasting%20a%20professional%20psychologist%20with%20a%20self-proclaimed%20life%20coach_%20On%20th.jpg?width=1792&height=1024&name=DALL%C2%B7E%202025-02-07%2015_08_08%20-%20A%20refined%20humorous%20digital%20illustration%20contrasting%20a%20professional%20psychologist%20with%20a%20self-proclaimed%20life%20coach_%20On%20th.jpg) # Coaching vs Counselling: Do You Need a Therapist or Just a Bloke with a Vision Board? ![Yann Somou](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg) Yann Somou 7 February 2025 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](https://www.gcu.edu/blog/psychology-counseling/life-coach-vs-therapist-what-are-differences), 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. ### **Section 1: Coaching vs Counselling – What’s the Difference? (And Who Actually Helps You?)** #### **Counselling: Real Help for Real Problems** - Requires [actual qualifications](https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/articles/difference-coaching-counseling) (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](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/06/life-coaching-brooke-castillo-unregulated-industry) – 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. ### **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. ### **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. ### **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**? ### **Section 5: The Life Coach Scam – When Motivational Speech Becomes a Business Model** Signs you’ve fallen for a **[life coach scam](https://www.lumiacoaching.com/blog/is-life-coaching-a-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. ### **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](https://medium.com/thrive-global/three-ugly-truths-about-life-coaching-3cc0dc1603fe)*. 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. --- #### Enjoying the blog? Why not grab a copy of the book that ties it all together, [*127 Reasons Why You Are An Idiot*](https://yannsomou.com/127-reasons-why-you-are-an-idiot-the-book)! Chock full of 127 hilarious, sweary, sarcastic, hard-hitting rants about everyday things that everyday idiots do, with quasi-serious, tongue-in-cheek exercises to help idiots be less idiotic.   [![3D image of the book 127 Reasons Why You Are An Idiot by Yann Somou, shown as both a physical paperback and a digital tablet version. The cover features a black-and-white photo of the author with arms crossed, looking unimpressed. Subtitle reads: 'And How To Be Less... Idiotic.'](https://yannsomou.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Physical%20and%20kindle%20127%20Reasons.png?width=980&height=785&name=Physical%20and%20kindle%20127%20Reasons.png)](https://yannsomou.com/127-reasons-why-you-are-an-idiot-the-book)   ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fyannsomou.com%2Fblog-lifes-too-short-for-idiocy%2Fcoaching-vs-counselling-lifestyle-coaching](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fyannsomou.com%2Fblog-lifes-too-short-for-idiocy%2Fcoaching-vs-counselling-lifestyle-coaching) ## Keep reading ### [![Illustrated scene symbolising the lack of institutional accountability in the UK, with a fractured clock, silhouetted figures evoking the Horizon scandal and Hillsborough, and bleak government buildings fading into mist.](https://yannsomou.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DALL%C2%B7E%202025-12-03%2015.29.18%20-%20Create%20a%20detailed%2c%20atmospheric%20editorial-style%20illustration%20without%20any%20text.%20Show%20a%20fractured%20clock%20in%20the%20foreground%20with%20cracked%20glass%20and%20exposed.webp?width=1792&height=1024&name=DALL%C2%B7E%202025-12-03%2015.29.18%20-%20Create%20a%20detailed%2c%20atmospheric%20editorial-style%20illustration%20without%20any%20text.%20Show%20a%20fractured%20clock%20in%20the%20foreground%20with%20cracked%20glass%20and%20exposed.webp) Horizon, Hillsborough & Britain’s Never-Ending Justice Delays](https://yannsomou.com/blog-lifes-too-short-for-idiocy/institutional-accountability-britain-horizon-scandal-hillsborough-justice-delays) ### [![Satirical scene of chaotic shoppers during Black Friday scams, rushing through a mall filled with excessive packaging and pointless purchases, symbolising fake deals and consumer frenzy.](https://yannsomou.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DALL%C2%B7E%202025-12-03%2012.49.47%20-%20A%20satirical%2c%20exaggerated%20shopping%20scene%20in%20a%20busy%20mall%20during%20a%20sale%20season%2c%20without%20any%20text%20visible.%20Crowds%20of%20frantic%20shoppers%20rush%20in%20multiple%20dir.webp?width=1792&height=1024&name=DALL%C2%B7E%202025-12-03%2012.49.47%20-%20A%20satirical%2c%20exaggerated%20shopping%20scene%20in%20a%20busy%20mall%20during%20a%20sale%20season%2c%20without%20any%20text%20visible.%20Crowds%20of%20frantic%20shoppers%20rush%20in%20multiple%20dir.webp) Black Friday & the Cult of Buying Useless Shit](https://yannsomou.com/blog-lifes-too-short-for-idiocy/black-friday-scams-fake-deals-cult-of-consumption) [![Yann Somou written in white in idiot font on black background](https://yannsomou.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YannSomou%20Logo%20circle.jpg?width=300&height=300&name=YannSomou%20Logo%20circle.jpg "Yann Somou written in white in idiot font on black background")](https://yannsomou.com) [![Banner for Yann Somou’s monthly newsletter The Idiot Report. 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