Coaching, not therapy
Where coaching helps, and where it stops
Coaching and therapy both involve talking. They do different jobs. Here's how to tell which one fits right now.
Need help right now?
- If you're in the US: call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. It's free and open 24 hours a day.
- In an emergency, call 911.
- Outside the US: find a local helpline at findahelpline.com.
What coaching is good for
Coaching assumes you're capable and looks forward. It helps you decide what to do next.
- Making a decision
- Planning a change
- Preparing for a hard conversation
- Building a habit
- Following through on something you said you'd do
When a professional is a better fit
A licensed therapist or doctor is trained to help with things coaching can't.
- Feelings that won't lift for weeks
- Trauma or past events that keep coming back
- Thoughts of harming yourself
- Anything involving medication, a diagnosis, or treatment
- Relationships where you don't feel safe
You can use both. Many people see a therapist and use coaching for day-to-day goals.
Side by side
| Compare | Coaching | Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Looks mostly at | What's next | What happened and how it affects you now |
| Goal | Decide and act | Heal and treat |
| Who provides it | Here, an AI coach | A licensed professional |
| Licensed? | No | Yes |
About Coachyn's coaches
Coachyn coaches are AI. They don't diagnose, treat, or give medical, legal, or financial advice. They aren't licensed or accredited.
If you want to read exactly how a coach is set up, every coach page shows its written instructions. See how the coaches work.