What Is Coaching, Really?

And is coaching right for me?

If you’re on the internet, you’ve likely heard the word “coaching” get tossed around a lot.

But when not referring to a sports coach, most people don’t really know what coaching is.

Is it fake therapy? Mentorship? Just a consultant giving you all the answers and telling you what to do?

Not quite.

Coaching, when done well, is an accelerant for your evolution.

It’s the space where clarity, strategy, and aligned action collide, and your next level actually becomes inevitable.

Keep reading for the full breakdown so you can decide if now’s the right time to step into coaching!

If you want the TL;DR version, scroll to the bottom of the post for the summary.

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🧠 Coaching Isn’t Just Support: It Rewires Your Brain

Here’s the science behind why coaching works:

Your brain has a built-in filtration system called the Reticular Activating System (RAS).

This system decides what information gets through to your conscious mind and what gets ignored. So when you start focusing on something specific like a goal, a value, or a new identity, your RAS starts filtering the world to match it.

That’s why once you decide you want to lead differently, you suddenly start seeing books, people, ideas, and opportunities that support that growth.

Coaching consistently activates and reinforces this filter. And it goes way beyond focusing on the same positive affirmation over and over again.

By revisiting your intentions and creating aligned strategies week after week, you’re actually rewiring your neural pathways and building new default thoughts, behaviors, and identities.

It’s transformation that’s both deeply personal and neurologically sound.

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🛋 Coaching vs. Therapy: What’s the actual difference?

Therapy often focuses on healing past wounds, processing trauma, and restoring mental wellness. It often explores childhood wounds, relational trauma, and long-standing emotional patterns with the goal of integration and resolution.

Coaching, while not a replacement for therapy, can hold deep emotional exploration especially when it comes to things like identity, leadership blocks, self-worth, and pattern awareness. But it isn’t designed to heal you. It’s designed to move you forward.

Yes, coaches sometimes ask, “Where did this start?” But they aren’t there to stay. Coaches don’t diagnose, they don’t treat, and they don’t help you process trauma.

Instead, coaches identify and challenge your limiting beliefs, help you recognize and interrupt patterns, and guide you to take strategic action that will support your growth.

Coaches do hold space for emotion, because this work can be emotional. But they direct toward clarity, leadership, and next steps.

So think of it this way:

• Therapy holds your past with compassion.

• Coaching activates your future with intention.

They aren’t the same, but they can be deeply complementary.

And if you’re in a season of growth, expansion, or reinvention, coaching might be the exact kind of mirror you need.

Want to learn even more?

Check out this article from the American Psychological Association (APA) to explore whether therapy is right for you.

Check out the International Coaching Federation (ICF). They are a trusted global standard‑setter for professional coaching where you can learn more about coaching and what you can expect from working with a credentialed coach.

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⏳ When is it time to work with a coach?

You don’t need to be broken, burnt out, or in crisis to hire a coach.

In fact, the best time is usually before things feel urgent when you’re eager to be challenged.

Here are a few signs you’re ready for coaching:

• You’ve explored self-help tools or reading but still want more personalized guidance and accountability.

• You’re mentally and emotionally stable but feel stuck or overwhelmed by choices.

• You’re circling the same block over and over (same patterns, same questions, same frustrations).

• You feel like your potential is there, but you can’t fully access or embody it.

• You’ve grown fast and need support holding the new level of visibility or responsibility.

• You’re itching to make bold moves, but second-guessing or imposter syndrome is slowing you down.

• You crave clarity, momentum, and someone to mirror your brilliance back to you.

Coaching gives you structure, insight, and accountability. But more than anything, it helps you own who you are and lead from that place.

Consider therapy if:

• You’re experiencing trauma, mental health conditions, or emotional recovery.

• You need deep healing before moving into future goals.

Consider self-exploration (journaling, books, mentorship) if you’re curious and stable, but not ready to invest yet.

And it’s completely okay to pause growth entirely if you’re in a survival season or need rest. Your next chapter will still be there when you’re ready.

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🙋‍♀️ What Kind of Coaching I Offer (& Whether It’s Right for You)

My coaching isn’t about one-size-fits-all formulas.

It’s for leaders, founders, and professionals who are ready to:

• Lead from their actual values (not old patterns or people-pleasing)

• Build visibility with confidence

• Navigate high-level decisions without self-doubt

• Grow their leadership presence or career in a sustainable, authentic way

What you can expect from working with me:

✨ Strategic clarity: I help you map what you really want and build the plan to get there.

✨ Pattern recognition: I see the unhelpful loops you’re in and show you how to shift them fast.

✨ Emotionally intelligent space: You get to be fully human when working with me. Coaching is bold, but it is also grounded, compassionate, and designed to support your whole self.

✨ Results without hustle: You’ll learn how to align your success without continuing patterns that create burnout.  

I work best with clients who are honest, introspective, ready for change and willing to stop doing things the way they’ve always done them.

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TL;DR: Coaching is for you if…

✅ You’re ready to stop overthinking and start owning your next move.

✅ You want someone in your corner who sees the bigger picture (and the small patterns that hold you back).

✅ You’re willing to lead (not just react).

✅ You’re done doing it the hard way, alone.

If that’s you, we should talk. Head to my home page www.lauracoaches.com to set up your complimentary consultation.

Whether you’re leading a company, scaling a business, or simply ready to step into your next chapter with more clarity and confidence, coaching can help you get there faster, cleaner, and with far more ease.

The next level doesn’t have to be hard or heavy.

It just has to be intentional.