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Vandana BhattVandana Bhatt

Know before you begin

Coaching vs therapy: which one do you need?

Both are valuable. They are just different tools for different moments. Here's how to tell them apart — and which might suit you right now.

Relationship coaching

  • Forward-focused: where do you want to go?
  • Action-oriented, between-session practice
  • Works with present patterns and behaviours
  • ICF-certified, specialised in relationships
  • No medical diagnosis or treatment
  • Often shorter engagement (1–15 sessions)

Psychotherapy / counselling

  • Explores past events and their roots
  • Therapeutic processing, deeper trauma work
  • Licensed clinician, regulated healthcare
  • Medical framework: diagnosis is possible
  • Can prescribe medication (psychiatry)
  • Often longer-term, insurance-reimbursable

What they share

  • Confidential and non-judgmental space
  • Helps with relationships, anxiety, patterns
  • Supports personal growth and self-awareness
  • Works best when you show up honestly

When coaching tends to be the right fit

Coaching works well when you are generally stable and functional — not in crisis — but you keep repeating the same patterns in relationships. You know something needs to change but you can't quite see what. You want support that is practical, not just exploratory.

Vandana's work sits at the intersection of coaching and emotional wellness: ICF-certified coaching tools, inner-child healing, attachment repair, shadow work, and Reiki-informed somatic calming. It is not therapy — but it goes deeper than most coaching because it respects the whole person, not just goals.

When therapy might serve you better

If you are dealing with acute trauma, a mental-health diagnosis (depression, PTSD, OCD, etc.), suicidal thoughts, or substance dependence, please seek a licensed therapist or psychiatrist. These are outside the scope of coaching — not because the work isn't serious, but because a clinical professional is the right person to hold that kind of care.

Therapy and coaching can also run in parallel. Many clients work with both at the same time and find they complement each other well.

Still not sure?

The Clarity Call is a low-pressure first conversation. You can ask Vandana directly whether coaching is the right step for you — and if it isn't, she will say so honestly.

Book a Clarity Call

Or take the free relationship quiz to understand your patterns first.

Book a Clarity Call