Consultants and Coaches and Shrinks – Oh My!
Lack of clarity about the differences between executive/organizational consulting, executive coaching, and executive psychotherapy is confusing and can lead executives to ask for and receive the wrong services only to discover that their expectations are not being met, there is no improvement, or worse, conditions deteriorate. When the coach attempts to deal with a problem that requires the expertise of a mental health professional serious consequences and ethical issues can arise. In the end, the lack of clear differentiation between consulting, coaching and psychotherapy harms the coaching and consulting professions.