The Power of Dual Support: How Having a Life Coach While in Therapy Can Be a Game-Changer

Healing isn't linear. Whether you're working through trauma, navigating major life changes, or just trying to find more alignment, having the right support matters. For many people, therapy is a powerful tool for understanding and healing emotional wounds. But what if you could pair that inner work with something that helps you move forward, make decisions, and take action? That's where having a life coach while you're in therapy can be incredibly constructive. Rather than seeing them as overlapping roles, think of therapy and coaching as two sides of the same coin—one focused on healing the past, the other on building the future. Therapy vs. Life Coaching: What's the Difference? Therapy dives deep into your emotional world, helping you unpack past experiences, understand trauma, and work through mental health challenges. It's reflective, often slow-paced, and guided by clinical frameworks. Life coaching, on the other hand, is forward-focused. It helps you clarify goals, take action, build habits, and grow confidence. A good life coach isn’t there to “fix” you, but to empower you. So why do they work so well together? Creating Two Safe Spaces for Growth One of the most powerful aspects of having both a therapist and a life coach is that it gives you two separate environments to process different parts of your experience. Therapy is the space to feel: to grieve, to unpack trauma, to sit in the hard stuff. Coaching is the space to act: to dream, to strategize, to build a path forward. This dual approach creates a healthy balance. You’re not rushed through your healing, but you also don’t feel stuck in it. When trauma is involved, especially, this balance becomes essential. Trauma can distort your sense of control, identity, and voice. Therapy helps you understand those patterns. Coaching gives you the tools to reclaim your agency in a tangible way. Advocating for Yourself: Why It’s Crucial When you’re in any healing or growth process, self-advocacy is key. And yet, it can feel terrifying—especially if you’ve spent years silencing yourself, people-pleasing, or shrinking to survive. But here’s the truth: not advocating for yourself can be detrimental to your progress. It sends a signal to your nervous system that your needs don’t matter—and that message can stall healing. Whether it's in therapy, coaching, your relationships, or your workplace, speaking up for what you need helps reinforce your worth. 5 Simple Ways to Advocate for Yourself Name your needs, even if it feels messy You don’t need to be eloquent. Just saying, “I don’t know exactly what I need, but something feels off,” is a start. Set small boundaries Boundaries don’t have to be huge. Start with little ones, like taking a break when you're overwhelmed or saying no to a social event. Ask questions In therapy or coaching, ask why something is being done a certain way. It helps you stay engaged and empowered in your process. Speak up when something doesn’t sit right If a technique, suggestion, or comment doesn’t feel good—say so. You are the expert on you. Celebrate your voice Every time you speak up, no matter how small, it’s a win. Give yourself credit for every act of self-advocacy. Final Thoughts Combining therapy and life coaching isn’t just about having more support—it’s about building a fuller support system. One that honors where you’ve been, but also helps you move toward where you want to go. It creates room for both emotional healing and action-based change. And at the center of it all? You. Your voice. Your needs. Your power. Because the truth is, healing isn't just about surviving. It's about reclaiming your life—and that’s something you never have to do alone