Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering how coaching works, how it differs from therapy, or what to expect as a CourageWell client? You’re in the right place.
Coaching, Therapy & Your Next Steps
These questions are especially common for people exploring life, career, or faith-centered coaching for the first time.
What is the difference between therapy and coaching?
Therapy focuses on healing, processing past experiences, treating clinical concerns, and supporting your emotional health. Therapists are licensed clinicians who can diagnose, treat, and work with mental health conditions.
Coaching is future-focused. It helps you clarify your goals, build confidence, change patterns, and create strategies for your next chapter. Coaching does not diagnose, treat, or replace mental health care. Instead, it supports your growth, decision-making, and alignment with your values.
How does coaching relate to HIPAA and confidentiality laws?
Coaching is not a medical or mental health service, so it is not regulated by HIPAA in the same way that therapy or healthcare is. Coaching records are not considered medical records, and coaches do not provide clinical treatment.
That said, at CourageWell, your privacy is still taken seriously. Sessions are treated with care, discretion, and professional boundaries. Your stories and details are not shared without your consent, except in rare situations where there are safety concerns or legal obligations.
If at any point it becomes clear that you would benefit from licensed mental health support, you may be encouraged to work with a therapist in addition to, or instead of, coaching.
What does the coaching–client relationship look like?
Coaching is an open, collaborative partnership. Your coach is not here to “fix” you, but to walk alongside you with structure, questions, and support.
Together, we agree on focus areas and goals that align with your values, capacity, and season of life. If at any point the relationship or direction no longer feels supportive, you always have the freedom to pause, shift, or walk away. Coaching is an open door, not a closed contract on your humanity.
Exploring Life, Career, and Faith-Centered Coaching
These FAQs are for anyone considering coaching to support both their present reality and their future plans.
How do I know if coaching is right for me?
Coaching may be a good fit if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, in transition, or simply ready for change. You don’t have to “have it all together” to start; you just need a willingness to be honest and try something different.
If you’re looking for practical tools, accountability, and space to think through decisions and next steps, coaching can be very powerful.
What can I bring to coaching sessions?
Anything that feels heavy, important, or unresolved for you right now: career questions, life transitions, boundaries, burnout, confidence, purpose, faith, or how you’re managing your day-to-day life.
Coaching makes room for both the “big picture” and the very practical details of how you’re living and leading today.
Do I need a clear goal before I start?
No. Many clients begin with a feeling more than a fully formed goal: “Something has to change,” “I don’t feel like myself anymore,” or “I know there’s more for me than this.”
Part of the early work in coaching is clarifying what you want, what you need, and what would make your life, work, or faith feel more aligned.
What’s the difference between life, career, and faith-centered coaching?
Life coaching supports your overall well-being, habits, relationships, confidence, and daily patterns so that your life feels more grounded and intentional.
Career coaching focuses on work: job transitions, leadership, workplace stress, feeling stuck in your role, or building a path that fits your skills and values.
Faith-centered coaching incorporates your spiritual beliefs into decision-making, purpose, and identity. It’s ideal if you want your growth to align with both your faith and your real life.
How long do clients usually work with a coach?
It varies. Some clients commit to a focused series of sessions (for example, 8–12 sessions around a specific transition), while others choose ongoing coaching for continued clarity and accountability.
During your discovery call, we’ll talk through what makes sense for your season, budget, and goals.
What happens in a typical coaching session?
We’ll begin by checking in on how you’re arriving, what’s shifted since we last met, and what feels most important to focus on today. From there, we explore your thoughts, patterns, and options through guided questions and practical tools.
Sessions usually end with 1–3 realistic action steps, reflections, or practices for you to carry into your daily life.
What if I’m nervous about starting?
That’s completely normal. Many people reach out at a time when life feels tender, stretching, or unclear. Your first step is simply a conversation — not a commitment to be “perfect” or “fixed.”
The discovery call is designed to give you space to ask questions, feel out the fit, and decide if coaching is the right next move for you.
Still have questions? You’re welcome to ask them on a discovery call.