Talkshow: Coaching vs. Therapy & Boundaries for ICF Vietnamese Coaches

This Talkshow, designed for ICF Coaches, focuses on clarifying the professional boundaries between coaching and psychological therapy, while also addressing many practical questions commonly encountered in the field. The discussion covers the following key topics:

1. Boundaries Between Coaching and Therapy

Questions related to the differences between the two disciplines include:

• How is coaching different from psychological therapy?

• How does coaching differ from therapeutic modalities?

• Can coaching explore the past or work with beliefs in the same way therapy does?

• To what extent do coaching and therapy overlap in terms of client profiles?

• Is it possible to conduct coaching alongside therapy or when a client is taking medication?

2. The Importance of Timely Referral

The Talkshow highlights the role of referral in professional practice through questions such as:

• When should a coach refer a client to a mental health professional?

• What if a therapist determines that the client does not yet need therapy?

• What is the scope of support a coach can provide before referral becomes necessary?

• How should support be prioritized in cases involving trauma, anxiety, depression, or emotional disorders?

3. Indicators for Referral

Many questions focus on identifying signs that a client may require specialized therapeutic intervention, such as:

• What are the signs of trauma, depression, anxiety, and PTSD?

• How to distinguish between difficult emotions and post‑traumatic symptoms?

• At which stages is coaching appropriate, and when is it not?

4. Client Support Process and Referral Collaboration

The Talkshow also discusses practical steps in the referral process, including:

• What information should be shared with a mental health professional during referral?

• Does sharing such information violate professional ethics?

• How can collaboration between psychiatrists, therapists, and coaches be structured?

• What role does the coach play when a client is working with multiple professionals?

5. Additional Questions

Beyond the main topics, the Talkshow also explores related issues such as:

• How therapeutic tools and assessments are used in practice.

• The concept of “healing” from a therapeutic perspective.

• The legal framework for the coaching profession in Vietnam.

• The extent of long‑term accompaniment provided by therapists compared to coaches.

• And other relevant questions.