Psychology vs. Coaching

Having worked as a School Psychologist for 26 years while also obtaining a certification as a Wellness Coach and a USA Triathlon Coach, I have had extensive education and life experience in the realm of psychology and coaching. I have a unique perspective on these two fields and how they sometimes overlap or don't overlap. I often have students come to me at the end of the school year and ask about becoming a psychologist. I feel obligated to tell them like I see it and to make them fully aware of all their options prior to committing years of their lives, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars,towards a degree. It is a very big committment to undertake as a young person or even an older person for that matter. As part of my review for students I often explain to them the number of years it takes to obtain a Masters or Doctorate in School Psychology. School Psychology is a unique field when compared to other areas of psychology, which is probably a topic for another blog post... I will try to stay on topic here, but I like to digress. Anyway., School Psychology is a demanding academic program which requires getting accepted into a program which usually requires GRE exams but not always. Then you have two years of academic classes and a final year (1200 hours at least) of a practicum or internship where you work (usually for free) with a practicing school psychologist who is usually placed in the public school education system. Upon graduation and if you are somewhat mobile and willing to move you will most likely find a job in a public school for approximately $65,000 a year which usually is a 10 month position which includes a week or two for Christmas Break, a week free for Spring Break, and two months for Summer Break....not too shabby there. However, reaises are rare these days and have been for the past 20 years to be honest. Upward mobility professionally is not good either. Currently, (but this appears to be changing slowly) most states require you to have taught in the classroom for at least 3 years in order to be considered for an administrative position which also requires another masters degree in school leadership. With a masters in school psych you are able to teach at the community college level or be an adjunct professor at a university for either an undergrad or grad program in the field of psychology. School Psychologists are not licensed to provide individual counseling outside the school system unless they have obtained that licensure separately through their state health agency. This is a hidden but significant difference because you are not really able to hang a shingle as a school psychologist for counseling individuals privately. You might be able to subcontract out to other schools but this usually works better as a side hustle, Which leads me to coaching. Wellness Coaching and/or life coaching is really unique in the way that services are provided. A coach is in the clear of infringing on the field of psychology as long as they do not conduct therapy, call themselves a psychologist, and focus on the client's future and avoid discussing their past and how it relates to their future. These areas are held exclusively for licensed psychologists and/or school psychologists working in schools and providing therapy to students. Coaching, on the otherhand, focuses on setting goals for the present and future of a person's life. Coaching focuses on an individual's strengths and improving their weaknesses. Psychologists can also do this if they choose, but I find that within the profession they tend to focus on a person's weaknesses and what is not working rather than what is working. Usually,when a person who is not able function day to day is in need of more intensive psychological services whereas a person who simply needs to look objectively at their situation/life and needs help with a plan to set goals, achieve goals, and be held accountable needs coaching. Coaching is actually Cognitive Behavioral Therapy repackaged but coaching is a unique field in that it allows a person with limited training to help individuals with their life success plan in a very similar way a psychologist does but the client is functioning relatively well as it stands.