Coaching or Therapy: Three Paths, One Professional Code

Psychotherapy is the only profession with its own professional law. Psychotherapy is a form of medical treatment: it serves to diagnose, cure, or alleviate „disorders of a pathological nature“ using scientifically recognized methods, as stipulated by the Psychotherapist Act (PsychThG). The professional title “psychotherapist” is protected by law.

Coaching and Counseling Outside the Field of Medicine

Coaching and counseling fall outside the scope of this medical practice, and the law itself makes this clear: „Activities whose sole purpose is to address or resolve social conflicts or other purposes outside the scope of medicine do not constitute the practice of psychotherapy.“ In contrast, there is no professional regulation or state licensing for the terms “coach,” “consultant,” or “therapist” alone. Anyone may call themselves by these titles; however, only those licensed may treat illnesses, anyone who has permission to do so.

It's the goal that makes the difference

What makes the difference for you is the goal, and this is where coaching and counseling overlap: Coaching usually aims for a professional outcome, while counseling focuses on clarification and understanding without reference to illness, and both rely on self-reflection. Psychotherapy treats a disorder that meets the criteria for a mental illness. The label says little about quality, but a lot about the rules behind it. The person’s qualifications determine the Confidentiality, the label is left out. I myself am a licensed physician and offer Counseling Not Related to Illness ... Where exactly the line between the two lies is explained on the page about The Difference Between Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy.