Are you a sex coach striving to understand how your practice differs from traditional therapy and counseling?

Or perhaps a client seeking clarity on which approach is right for you? 

Dive into this comprehensive exploration by Dr. Patti Britton, a pioneer in sex coaching, and discover the unique methodologies, goals, and outcomes that set coaching apart. 

You can also watch Dr. Patti explain these concepts via video here.

Defining Coaching

Coaching, especially sex coaching, is fundamentally about helping clients achieve their future goals by focusing on the present. As Dr. Patti Britton eloquently puts it, “Coaching always has a focus on the present and the client’s stated future goals. A goal is always about the future. It’s about ‘where do I want to change my relationship with this person, my relationship with myself, my sexual expression, my identity.’” 

This goal-oriented and action-driven methodology emphasizes what clients can do now to shape their future. It’s designed to elevate clients toward their ultimate goals and fullest potential.

In coaching, the relationship between coach and client is collaborative. Rather than a top-down, hierarchical system, it’s a partnership where the client’s needs and goals drive the process.

Dr. Patti emphasizes, “If you’re not giving them home assignments, you’re failing your clients’ potential progress as a sex coach.” These assignments reinforce progress and ensure clients actively work towards their goals between sessions.

A key aspect of sex coaching is the integration of psychoeducation or one-to-one sexuality education. This involves educating clients about their sexual expression, identity, and relationships in a structured, goal-oriented manner.

Behavioral approaches focus on actionable steps clients can take to achieve their goals, such as practicing new communication skills, exploring different aspects of their sexual expression, or working on their self-identity. As Dr. Patti puts it, “You’re elevating the client toward where they want to go, how they want to be, their ultimate goals.”

Understanding Therapy

Therapy is a distinct practice focused primarily on understanding and resolving emotional traumas and pains from the past. Dr. Patti Britton explains, “Therapy is about delving into the past to facilitate emotional healing.” This process often involves exploring family of origin issues and past traumas to understand their impact on the present.

The relationship between the therapist and the client is usually more of a hierarchical dynamic. The therapist diagnoses and treats the client, often referred to as a patient. Dr. Patti notes, “In a lot of therapy, the therapist is driving the process and driving the agenda. It is not client-centered.” This contrasts sharply with the collaborative nature of coaching.

Therapists employ a variety of methodologies to help clients, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, psychoanalytic therapy, and others. Each approach offers a different pathway to understanding and healing. Dr. Patti highlights, “Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. There are many different methods and methodologies.”

An essential aspect of therapy is its regulation and licensure. Therapists must be licensed to practice, ensuring they meet specific professional standards. Dr. Patti warns, “Particularly those of us who live in California can never say we’re a therapist or there could be  legal ramifications to face.”

Therapy also involves a deep exploration of emotions and trauma events in a person’s life. 

Therapists help clients process and understand their emotional states, often linking them back to past experiences. This emotional core exploration is vital for clients needing deep emotional work. Dr. Patti explains, “In therapy, you would go right into the core of that emotional state.”

Navigating Counseling

Counseling occupies a gray area between coaching and therapy, offering its own unique approach to helping clients. Dr. Patti Britton describes counseling as “a blend that sometimes looks like coaching but is distinct in its focus and methodology.” Unlike therapy, which delves into past traumas, or coaching, which is future-focused, counseling centers on navigating general life challenges and practical problem-solving.

One primary characteristic of counseling is its emphasis on addressing immediate concerns and finding practical solutions. Counselors help clients manage various life challenges, such as relationship issues, career decisions, and personal development.

Dr. Patti points out, “Counseling seems more like dealing with the generalities of life challenges. It’s about helping clients find practical solutions to their everyday problems.” 

Licensure requirements for counselors vary by region. Dr. Patti explains, “In California, it is illegal to call myself a counselor because I am not a licensed professional counselor (LPC).” This regulation ensures that individuals practicing counseling meet professional standards, similar to the requirements for therapists.

While counseling shares some similarities with both coaching and therapy, it remains a distinct profession with its own focus and methodology. Counselors help clients navigate current life challenges and find practical solutions, often providing resources and support similar to social workers.

However, unlike coaching, counseling is generally less focused on future goals and more on immediate concerns. And unlike therapy, it does not typically involve deep emotional exploration or diagnosing and treating psychological issues.

Overlaps and Unique Aspects

While coaching, therapy, and counseling are distinct practices, there are instances where their approaches can overlap, creating a more integrated support system for clients. 

For instance, sex therapy can incorporate techniques from various therapeutic modalities, such as gestalt therapy, to address clients’ sexual issues in a holistic manner.

Dr. Patti mentions, “One of my dear friends integrates gestalt therapy techniques into her sex therapy, although she does not work as a coach.” These integrated methods help bridge the gap between the different practices, providing comprehensive support tailored to individual needs.

Understanding one’s own practice and boundaries is crucial for any practitioner. Dr. Patti emphasizes the importance of knowing the limits of your professional role and maintaining clear boundaries. She advises, “You have to be really clear and clean as the container so that the arrow is never about you for you, but maybe from you toward them.” 

Recognizing these boundaries ensures that each professional stays within their scope of practice while providing the best possible support for their clients.

Choosing the Right Path

Selecting the appropriate form of support—coaching, therapy, or counseling—depends on various factors specific to each individual’s needs and goals. For clients seeking help, it’s crucial to consider what they aim to achieve.

Are they looking to overcome past traumas and heal emotionally, or are they seeking to achieve future goals and make practical changes in their lives?

For professionals, clearly defining their roles is essential to ensure they provide the right kind of support. Understanding whether your practice aligns more with coaching’s action-oriented, present and future-focused approach, therapy’s past-oriented emotional healing, or counseling’s practical problem-solving can help you better serve your clients. 

Become a Certified Sex Coach

For those seeking personalized and transformative future-focused support, finding a certified sex coach trained with Sex Coach U can make a significant difference. 

Sex Coach U provides rigorous training that ensures coaches are well-equipped to help clients achieve their desired outcomes through a structured, goal-oriented approach. Certified sex coaches from Sex Coach U are skilled in integrating psychoeducation and behavioral techniques to foster personal growth and sexual fulfillment.

To find a certified sex coach trained with Sex Coach U, visit our directory and take the first step towards a more fulfilling and empowered life.