Recently we came across some new statistics about executive functioning:
- 82% of people don’t have a time management system (Accuity Training, 2022)
- 25% of people “Just deal with whatever seems most important at the time” (Accuity Training, 2022)
- 1 in 8 people (12.5%) never feel under control at work (Accuity Training, 2022)
Thousands of people are struggling at school, work, and with relationships because of diminished executive functioning skills.
When it comes to seeking support for improving executive functioning, you may find yourself wondering: Should I opt for executive functioning coaching or therapy?
In this blog post, we explore the differences between coaching and therapy, helping you make an informed decision about the approach that best suits your needs.
Click here to jump to the TL;DR summary.
Understanding the differences between executive functioning coaching and therapy
Coaching and therapy serve different roles and purposes. They can often be complementary, and many individuals find they need one or the other or both to make progress on goals.
And while coaching isn’t therapy, it’s innately therapeutic.
As the graphic above shows, coaching and therapy have some similarities. In any high-quality executive functioning coaching or therapy environment, you should expect client-centered services that aim to improve your well-being in a safe and supportive environment.
Executive functioning coaches and licensed mental health professionals should both focus on building on your strengths and setting realistic goals to help you work through current challenges.
However, as the graphic shows there are quite a few differences between executive functioning coaching and therapy. Each of them are reasons you might select to work with a coach vs. therapy.
Why choose executive functioning coaching?
In general terms, coaching focuses on actionable, forward-looking strategies and tangible outcomes. Coaches concentrate on enhancing executive functioning skills using targeted interventions, skill building activities, and positive reinforcement of behavior change.
Coaching leads to gradual improvements in daily life, work, and school performance, and a better understanding of one’s own neurodivergence.
As a standard, executive functioning coaching helps to improve the mental processes and establish positive behaviors around EF skills like organization, time management, task initiation, attentional control, and self-monitoring. Executive functioning coaching helps:
- Identify barriers and current challenges.
- Set goals and expectations of success.
- Teach replacement strategies and behaviors for what’s not working.
- Hold individuals accountable for progress.
- Recognize and celebrate progress.
- Put supports in place when things don’t go as planned.
Some additional reasons individuals select executive functioning coaching are that it doesn’t require insurance referral or approval (most coaching services are private pay), and that coaches can meet remotely or in the community location where an individual might need the most support.
For a full look at coaching, we recommend checking out our full blog post: The Ultimate Guide to Executive Functioning Coaching
Why choose therapy?
Not all executive functioning situations are suitable for coaching, and there are some reasons why selecting therapy is the best choice for an individual.
Therapy often looks to explore emotions, past experiences, and trauma with the goal of providing a space for healing and understanding.
Therapists are trained mental health professionals with the goal of addressing diagnostic concerns. In general, therapists tend to:
- Be regulated by government bodies and licensure standards.
- Evaluate, and treat mental health concerns like relational issues, emotional disorders, behavioral problems, mental illness, and alcohol and substance use.
- Focus on introspective issues like emotions and thought patterns.
- Target sessions on open-ended questions that lead to new insights into behavior.
- Be governed by privacy standards different than that of coaches.
There are no right or wrong reasons to select therapy vs. coaching. Just know that in some situations you may encounter an executive functioning coach who makes a referral for mental health services that are beyond their scope of practice.
When is Executive Functioning Coaching the Best Choice?
To find out if executive functioning coaching may be a good fit for your needs, we recommend starting with an executive functioning skills assessment. By examining how you or your student performs in areas like planning, time management, and impulse control you can learn a lot about what strategies might be the most effective to promote change.
Life Skills Advocate offers a free .pdf downloadable Executive Functioning Assessment to help you pinpoint what EF skills might need a boost and if coaching may be right for you.
When is Therapy the Best Choice?
As outlined above, coaching doesn’t cover every situation and may not be the best fit for everyone. There are certain situations where you or your learner might be better served by another professional. Consider these options:
- Tendency towards physical aggression or unsafe behavior towards oneself or others: Safety is paramount in any coaching relationship. If there’s a risk of harm to oneself or others, a different type of professional support may be needed. Options may include dialing 911 or 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or by contacting your state’s DDA office for more long-term support.
- Need for trauma-based or mental health support, without current help from a qualified mental health professional: While coaching can support personal growth and skill development, it’s not a substitute for professional mental health services. Organizations like NAMI or therapists specializing in trauma who also understand neurodivergence can often provide the necessary support.
- Seeking medication or a magic solution: Real change takes time and effort. If you’re looking for an immediate solution, coaching might not meet your expectations and a medically-based option may be preferred.
- Active overuse of drugs or alcohol without current help from a qualified professional: Substance use issues can complicate the coaching process and may require specialized support. SAMHSA has a national helpline and organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) can provide help.
- Immediate crisis or emergency situation: Coaching is not equipped to handle immediate crises or emergency situations. In such cases, it’s important to seek help from emergency services by dialing 911 or 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
While coaches frequently collaborate with therapists to provide a comprehensive support system, coaching services should not replace professional mental health or medical care. It’s important to remember that coaches do not act as mental health counselors or medical professionals.
TL;DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read Summary)
If you’re considering support to make strides in executive functioning skills, this blog post explains the differences between executive functioning coaching and therapy, helping you make an informed decision.
Coaching focuses on actionable strategies and tangible outcomes, while therapy explores emotions and past experiences for healing. Coaching improves daily life and EF skills, while therapy addresses mental health concerns.
Both can be valuable, but therapy is necessary for issues like aggression, trauma, substance use, or immediate crises.
Remember, coaches aren’t mental health counselors or medical professionals, and collaboration with therapists is common for comprehensive support.
Further Reading
- Accuity Training: Time Management Statistics & Facts 2022
- Amy Sippl: The Ultimate Guide to Executive Functioning Coaching
- Life Skills Advocate: Free Executive Functioning Assessment