Some would say that counseling/therapy and coaching are distinctly different ways of getting help. I would say the difference between Counseling and Coaching might be less distinctly different and more of a "continuum" of care: Counseling (or therapy) on one end, Coaching on the other, and a fuzzy place in the middle where they meet:

• Counseling tends to focus more on healing from past wounds, helping with diagnosable mental illnesses, and/or resolving dysfunctional relationship dynamics between spouses or family members.
• Coaching tends to focus more on addressing current challenges and building on strengths to accomplish future goals & vision.

Licensed psychotherapists (Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Counselors, Clinical Social Workers, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists [MDs]) all can do counseling as well as coaching.  However professional coaches are generally not legally authorized to do the counseling side of the helping continuum.  Pain in the Rear View, LLC (where I serve as a Medical Family Therapist) has a team (counselors and coaches) that can help with the whole "continuum".

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the State of Texas and a Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, I offer counseling and coaching services to 1) those who are either struggling with health challenges and want to better manage those challenges, 2) those who personally are struggling with their health challenges (or recent scary health news), and/or 3) family members who are struggling with loved one's health challenges.

I am a two-time cancer survivor (I use the term "thriver") and the spouse of a chronic pain challenged wife (who struggled for over 20 years with her health and recently has gained significant control over her pain).  I have a Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy, am a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, have taught others about Health and Wellness Coaching, and am enrolled in a certificate program for medical behavioral health consulting.

I know pain, cancer scares/management, counseling, and health & wellness coaching.

Medical Family Therapy is an integrated behavioral health specialty where a clinician serves not only the mental health needs of an individual client but works to help clients, their families, and medical providers thrive physically, emotionally, and relationally. 

Medical Family Therapists seek to understand and serve clients' physical, emotional, cultural, and life-meaning perspectives, motivations, and needs.

Behavioral Health Consulting is related, with a focus more on shorter sessions -- assisting with the one next right step to help clients/patients move towards greater functionality.  Behavioral Health Consultants often work along side a primary care medical team.  (As a private practice clinician, I am not currently embedded with a primary care team.)

I am able to provide both Medical Family Therapy (specialty care with a focus on overall healing of mental, emotional, relational, and physical health challenges) or the more next-right-step focused Behavioral Health Consulting/coaching.