At first glance, coaching and mentoring are philosophically similar, but author Alexis Croswell summed up perfectly what defines a coach vs. what defines a mentor:

✔ Coaches: Trained to help the individual find their own solution rather than offering their own advice or opinions.

✔ Mentors: Are focused on helping an individual find their own solution, but become more direct, with specific direction and accountability when needed.

At the core of each practice is the relationship between two people. The methods might differ between coaching and mentoring, but both are about helping people get where they want to go by leveraging the experience of the coach or mentor.

Therapy (also known as psychotherapy, counseling, or "talk therapy") is similar to mentoring and coaching in some ways. Both use evidence-based techniques and intentional dialog as the primary tools for growth and discovery, but there are also critical differences between these services as well: Mentoring or Coaching focuses primarily on the present and future, while Therapy focuses on the past, present, and future. Mentoring is focused on personal growth, professional development, goal setting, and practical tools and strategies, while therapy is designed to help you work through deeper issues such as anxiety, depressions, or past traumas. In other words, therapists focus on “why” certain behavioral patterns occur, and mentors/coaches work on “how” to work toward a goal.

Mentors/Coaches specialize in mobilizing you into action. They help you identify goals and come up with action plans. They hold you accountable and keep you motivated. If you have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve something you feel ready to achieve, but feel like you need a little help getting there, a mentor/coach might be exactly what you need.

Therapy helps you do a deep dive into your psyche and reconnect the dots of who you are. Mentoring helps you take on external challenges and become the version of yourself you know you have the potential to be.

In my mentoring practice I utilize strategies and methodologies gleaned from my Family Social Science degree from the University of Minnesota: College of Education and Human Development. However I want the following message to be crystal clear: Therapy is a licensed mental health profession, while life coaching or mentoring is not. This means therapists are required to meet exacting standards and be licensed by the state(s) they practice therapy in, while mentor/coaches aren’t required to meet any specific standards at all.

Only therapists are qualified to provide mental health care. And even if you don’t have a mental health condition, they’re the better option when you’re seeking to heal emotional pain or when you want to create a quiet space in your life where you can figure things out. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and seeking peace and clarity, therapy may be a better fit.

However, just like therapists, most mentors/coaches want to do a good job. Just because they’re not regulated by a licensing board doesn’t mean mentor/coaches don’t opt to get education or training or uphold ethical standards in how they practice. In other words, just because mentor/coaches aren't required to meet specific professional standards doesn't mean they don't have any standards or won't be the right choice for you. It just means it's up to you to find out what standards a specific mentor/coach chooses to meet and figure out whether you feel they are qualified to help you.