Therapist vs Life Coach: Why I Chose to Become a Therapist (Instead of “Just” Staying a Life Coach)

…And how the decision finally gave me peace, purpose, and excitement again

…And how the decision finally gave me peace, purpose, and excitement again

When my niece was born in May of 2024, something shifted in me.

I’ve always loved learning, and for the first time in a long time, I started feeling excited about the idea of going back to school. The problem was—I didn’t know what I wanted to study—just that I wanted to study. That craving for growth, structure, learning, and honestly, the respectability that comes with it planted the first seed… but it would take a few more months (and one big wake-up call) to figure out exactly what I was meant to do.

The Coaching Industry Wasn’t Sitting Right With Me Anymore

After my business partner left and I was flying solo again, I started to feel the ick about the coaching industry.

I was tired of watching people become “certified” coaches with zero training, charging huge amounts of money for regurgitated advice, and selling it all as some kind of life hack. I was tired of the cold DMs and shady sales tactics. I was tired of watching mentors I once looked up to pivot into “how to become a coach” programs, promising a 6-figure lifestyle to anyone with WiFi and a Canva account.

And the more I invested in real training—mindset, mindfulness, applied neuroscience—the more I realized just how unregulated and chaotic the coaching space had become. One day, I saw someone I knew post about becoming a health coach after learning about new health diagnoses and I physically rolled my eyes. That’s when I knew: something had to change.

But change… into what?

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Therapist vs Life Coach: What’s the Real Difference?

All I knew was that I didn’t want to keep doing what I was doing. But I didn’t have a clear next step. I wanted to maintain a flexible, location-independent lifestyle, possibly even move out of the U.S. But when I scoured remote job boards, I was hit with a harsh reality: I wasn’t qualified for most of the jobs, and I definitely wasn’t going to beat out hundreds of applicants with stronger résumés and specialized degrees.

I journaled. I took online aptitude tests. I asked ChatGPT (yes, really). And again and again, two options kept surfacing: therapist or life coach. That question—therapist vs life coach—kept bouncing around in my brain. What were the real differences? And more importantly, which one aligned with the impact I actually wanted to make?

One of those I’d already tried. The other… I had to admit, I hadn’t seriously considered. But once I started researching the therapist vs life coach path with a more discerning eye, I realized I didn’t just want to help people shift their mindset—I wanted to help them heal. At the root.

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Then I Found The Program

Once I opened the door to the idea of becoming a therapist, I did a deep dive. I talked to people in the field, researched licensing requirements, and explored different types of programs. And when I finally found the one that felt aligned?

It was like my whole body exhaled.

When I look back at my entire journey—through business, burnout, and breakthroughs—and saw how every piece had prepared me for this next chapter. I realized that some of the people I aspire to be like (both in my life and yes, even on TV) were therapists. I remembered a client once telling me our time together helped her more than years of therapy. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I could picture myself confidently stepping into that new role. It felt like an upgrade on every level.

I wanted to be a therapist. A real one.

And suddenly, the question of therapist vs life coach didn’t feel confusing anymore. I didn’t just want to empower people—I wanted to walk beside them as they uncovered, processed, and rewrote the stories holding them back. That clarity changed everything.

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So What Will I Be Doing, Exactly?

While I am just getting started on this journey and there will likely be many twists and turns, here’s what I am currently envisioning:

I’ll be doing telehealth therapy, offering sessions that clients can attend from the comfort of their own homes. I’ll be combining the neuroscience-based mindset work I’ve always loved with the deeper healing practices that therapy makes space for. Most of all, I’ll be helping women—just like you—break out of trauma cycles and finally see how freaking amazing they are.

This path feels like a natural extension of everything I’ve already built, but now with stronger foundations, more tools, and the credibility I always craved but could never fully claim in the coaching world.

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I’m Not Throwing My Coaching Experience Away—I’m Expanding It

Becoming a therapist isn’t about rejecting everything I’ve done so far. It’s about building on it. I still deeply believe in the power of mindset work, neuroplasticity, journaling, and self-inquiry. But I now get to support clients on a deeper level, with a framework that holds space for trauma, mental health challenges, and long-term transformation.

And honestly? I think the combination of coaching skills and clinical training makes me uniquely qualified to help people navigate that messy, magical space between surviving and thriving. It’s not just a matter of therapist vs life coach—it’s about knowing when someone needs to be witnessed instead of fixed, supported instead of sold to, and truly heard.

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Final Thoughts: Peace > Pressure

The decision to pivot careers wasn’t easy. For a while, I was swimming in doubt, fear, and total career confusion. But now? That uncertainty is gone. Completely.

I feel excited again. Challenged in the best way. Lit up about the future.

And for the first time in a long time, I’m not trying to figure out who I should be.

I’m just becoming who I already am.

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Want to Feel This Same Sense of Clarity?

If you’re feeling stuck, in transition, or just trying to figure out what lights you up again—I see you. It took me almost exactly 1 year to figure it out. And it was one of the most painful things I have done. Which is why I’ve decided to offer a few coaching spots at a discounted rate of $50 per session while I’m in school to become a therapist. This is a chance to get intentional support as you move forward—without the pressure of high-ticket coaching.

Whether you’re at your own therapist vs life coach crossroads or just craving direction, I’d love to support you in finding your next step.

If you’re interested, reach out and let’s chat to see if it’s a fit. (OR skip that and book your session directly here.)