Der feine Unterschied zwischen Coaching, Mentoring und Therapie

In the past ten years, technological progress has revolutionized our lives extremely quickly. The volume, speed and the complexity of what we call "the fourth industrial revolution" are impressive. We experience a tsunami of change that will fundamentally impact our life, our way of working and our cooperation. Such situations add new challenges and can confuse our mental balance.

People need opportunities to develop personally and professionally. They need to find new strengths, work on the weaknesses or simply find a partner that helps them find peace in the storm. There are a variety of instruments and specialists, but which is the right one and how do they differ?

Although the terms "coaching" and "mentoring" are often used synonymously, there are clear differences between the two. These fine differences between coaching, mentoring and therapy are essential. There are certainly points of contact between the approaches, but there are also very clear differences and advantages for each of these procedures. The method must be useful for different situations, goals and needs and selected appropriately.

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as a "s partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional succes" (source).

Coaching is also based on specific tasks. A certain ability to specifically strengthen or help to achieve certain goals. For example, if a person realizes that she likes to avoid conflicts, feels uncomfortable and insecure, she can analyze directly in coaching, which is why she avoids this. At the same time, she learns how to proactively and effectively address and approach conflicts. The coached person thus acquires skills and behaviors through the process of reflection and experimentation (source).

Mentoring, on the other hand, is relationship -oriented. Mentoring focuses on a holistic development of the person. Often the mentor and the mentee are in close contact and frequently exchange ideas. A mentor helps with difficulties, with challenging decisions and gives valuable tips and instructions with his many years of experience in this area. The accompaniment often takes over years and shapes the mentee's career in a positive way.

Therapy, on the other hand, also called psychotherapy or advice, is a process in which you meet with a therapist to analyze and solve problematic behaviors, feelings and problems. The beginning of therapy can be a big step for the person concerned and at the same time the first step to a happier and better life. A therapist supports, listens carefully, gives appropriate and helpful feedback and accompanies the patient's following steps.

All three approaches are helpful in their own way and have a lot to offer on the way to a more successful and happier life. Of course there are many overlaps between coaching and mentoring and therapy and some modern approaches are now also a hybrid from all three.

If you are already in a therapy process, mentoring/coaching will complement the process. In this way, it accelerates the development into better well -being. Sometimes a mentor/coach can give the decisive impulses. His work has a very important intuitive and life experience -based component. A therapist is someone who supports you to heal the past. Mentoring/coaching is an accompaniment against the background of patterns experiences.

Written by Mara Schär

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