How do you explain what life coaching is? Is coaching just the same as having a conversation with a friend? If it’s different than therapy, how so? We’re breaking down the key distinctions between coaching and therapy and how to explain life coaching to someone who knows that these two modalities have things in common, but need to know the key differences.

Coaching vs Therapy: What’s the Difference? We’re breaking down the common confusions—including what to do when clients get confused—and offering best practices to differentiate between coaching skills and therapy skills when working with coaching clients.

If you’re searching “what to look for in a coach training program,” you’ve probably already realized that not all trainings are created equal—and some are better at marketing than teaching. A solid coach training program does three things well: it teaches skills, it builds judgment, and it supports ethical development. It’s also going to be a program that is ICF Accredited.

Continuing coach education is structured, ICF-accredited learning designed for coaches who already hold a foundational credential and want to deepen their skill from there. It's not a beginner's on-ramp — it's what comes after.

The International Coaching Federation defines it as coach-specific training that must align directly with the ICF Core Competencies, made up of structured learning experiences designed to advance coaching knowledge and skills. In plain terms: this is coursework that keeps your coaching sharp, current, and ethically grounded well past your original certification.