Coaching or Therapy: Three Paths, One Professional Law

Only psychotherapy has its own professional law. Psychotherapy falls under the practice of healing: it serves to diagnose, cure, or alleviate “clinically significant disorders” using scientifically recognized approaches, as stipulated by the Psychotherapists Act (PsychThG). The professional title “psychotherapist” is protected by law.

Coaching and Counseling Outside the Practice of Healing

Coaching and counseling fall outside this practice of healing, and the law itself opens this door: “Activities that deal only with working through or overcoming social conflicts, or with other purposes outside the practice of healing, are not part of the practice of psychotherapy.” In contrast, there is no professional law and no state licensing for the terms “coach,” “counselor,” or “therapist” alone. Anyone may call themselves by these terms; even so, only those who are licensed to do so may treat illnesses.

The Goal 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 clinically significant disorder. The label says little about quality, but a lot about the rules behind it. The duty of confidentiality depends on the person’s qualifications, not on the label. I myself am licensed and offer counseling unrelated to illness.