Two Kinds of Help, One Big Question
If you’re a woman feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure about your next step, you may wonder, “Should I talk to a therapist or a life coach?” That’s a smart and important question. Life is full of seasons, some filled with clarity and joy, others filled with pain or confusion, and in those tougher moments, knowing where to turn makes a world of difference.
Therapy and life coaching both make you feel better and reach your goals, but they work in different ways.
At Ahava Counseling & Consulting, we offer faith-based therapy for women, and we believe healing happens when emotional care meets spiritual truth.
By the end of reading this blog, you’ll feel clearer, more confident, and ready to choose the path that helps you heal, grow, or both.
What Is Therapy
Therapy (also called counseling) is a safe space to talk to a trained and licensed professional about what’s going on inside you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, and it’s not about giving advice. So what is it about? To help you understand your own thoughts and feelings so you can live in peace and truth.
Therapy Can Help With:
- Depression, anxiety, or constant sadness
- Grief or loss
- Trauma or painful memories
- Feeling disconnected from God
- Motherhood burnout or identity shifts
- Stress in marriage or family
- Overwhelm from work or caregiving
- Past abuse or emotional neglect
- Emotional eating or body image struggles
- Major life transitions, like divorce or an empty nest
What Happens in Therapy?
In therapy, you speak about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with a licensed professional who listens without judgment. The goal is not to “fix” you but to help you discover what’s causing you to think this and how to heal your emotions.
Therapy often explores your past because many of the patterns, habits, and fears we carry today began in earlier seasons of life and understanding those roots can bring freedom.
You might cry. You might laugh. You might pray, and most importantly, you’ll be seen, heard, and accepted.
Types of Therapy You Might Try:
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Helps change unhealthy thinking patterns.
- Talk Therapy: Gives space to express emotions and thoughts freely.
- Trauma Therapy: Addresses deep emotional wounds and teaches coping skills.
- Faith-Based Therapy: Integrates Scripture and prayer with clinical care.
- EMDR: Uses guided eye movements to reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories.
Patient experience:
Sarah felt lost after her mom passed away, and she couldn’t stop crying and felt numb inside. Through our faith-based Therapy, she processed her grief, expressed emotions she’d buried, and found hope again.
What Is Life Coaching?
A coach helps you take action, not to fix the past but to create the future.
Coaching isn’t about healing wounds. It is to change your view of thinking and strategies so you can live the life God is calling you to, and coaches offer encouragement, structure, and tools as they’re cheerleaders, accountability partners, and strategists.
Life Coaching Can Help With:
- Career changes or launching a business
- Time management and productivity
- Setting and reaching personal or professional goals
- Growing spiritually and living by your values
- Building confidence and clarity
- Creating a life that reflects God’s purpose for you
- Improving communication and leadership skills
- Healthy lifestyle changes (sleep, nutrition, movement)
What Happens in Coaching?
Both you and your coach work together to set specific, measurable goals and create a plan to reach them. You’ll identify your “why,” remove obstacles, and stay motivated.
Unlike therapy, coaching doesn’t dive deep into your childhood or emotional wounds, and it’s about the present and future. You come with a vision or challenge, and your coach helps you make it real.
Sessions often involve:
- Goal setting
- Brainstorming
- Action planning
- Mindset shifts
- Weekly accountability
Types of Coaching You Might See:
- Mindset Coaching: Overcome self-doubt and limiting beliefs.
- Faith-Based Coaching: Align your goals with Biblical truth and spiritual growth.
- Career Coaching: Find meaningful work, switch paths, or launch a business.
- Confidence Coaching: Step into boldness and clarity.
- Health Coaching: Build habits for lasting energy and wellness.
Patient experience:
Jessica had a dream of launching a Christian clothing brand, but fear and confusion held her back, and her coach helped her break the vision into steps, find clarity, and trust God in the process. Six months later, her online shop was thriving, and so was her confidence.
Therapy vs. Coaching: A Simple Table
| What It Helps With | Therapy | Life Coaching |
| Focus | Healing emotional wounds | Creating a better future |
| Best For | Trauma, depression, anxiety | Motivation, direction, growth |
| Who Helps | Licensed mental health professional | Certified coach (varies in training) |
| Talks About Past? | Yes, to understand and heal | No, focused on present/future |
| Faith-Based Option | Yes, at Ahava Counseling & Consulting | Yes, if coach shares your beliefs |
| Covered by Insurance? | Sometimes | Rarely |
| Safe for Trauma? | Yes | No, not the right support |
Which One Do You Need?
Let’s walk through common feelings or situations and match them to the right kind of support.
1. “I feel overwhelmed and cry often.”
Choose therapy. This is more than needing a push—it’s a sign your heart needs healing.
2. “I want to take the next big step in life.”
Choose coaching. You’re ready to act. A coach will help you move with purpose.
3. “I can’t stop replaying painful memories.”
Choose therapy. You need to heal, not just move forward. A therapist offers the tools and space.
4. “I’m doing okay but want to grow in my faith.”
Choose coaching. A Christian coach can walk alongside you in spiritual growth and purpose.
5. “I feel numb and far from God.”
Choose therapy. Ahava Counseling & Consulting specializes in Christ-centered emotional and spiritual healing.
6. “I’m scared I’ll never feel joy again.”
Choose therapy. That’s a heavy burden, and you don’t have to carry it alone.
7. “I have a dream I’ve been putting off.”
Choose coaching. You’re ready, and a coach helps you break through fear and build something meaningful.
Can You Do Both?
The answer is yes, as many women benefit from both therapy and coaching sometimes at the same time, sometimes in different seasons.
For example:
- You might begin with therapy to heal from burnout or grief.
- Then, as your energy returns and hope is restored, you may shift to coaching to pursue new goals or passions.
Think of it like this:
- Therapy helps you feel whole again.
- Coaching enables you to dream again.
You don’t have to choose one forever. You can start where you are, with the kind of support that meets your current needs.
How Ahava Counseling & Consulting Can Help?
At Ahava Counseling & Consulting, we offer faith-based therapy for women who want emotional healing, spiritual renewal, and a safe space to grow. Our licensed faith-based counselors help women process pain, navigate change, and rebuild hope, always rooted in biblical truth and compassion.
Whether you’re walking through anxiety, grief, relationship stress, or just feeling spiritually stuck, we’re here to support you.
Not sure if therapy is the right fit right now? Let’s talk, you don’t have to choose alone
Final Thoughts: Your Next Step Matters
Life is filled with twists and turns. Whether you’re hurting, dreaming, or somewhere in between, there’s help that fits your season and your faith.
If you’re ready to begin therapy or have questions about where to start, reach out to us at Ahava Counseling & Consulting.
Contact Ahava Counseling & Consulting today for a free 15-minute consultation. Let’s talk about what you need and how we can help.