Understanding the difference:
therapy, consultation, and coaching
These three professional relationships can look similar from the outside—all involve a skilled practitioner, reflective conversation, and personal or professional growth. But they are structurally distinct, and that distinction matters. Here’s how I think about each one.
PSYCHOTHERAPY
You are the patient. I am your clinician.
Psychotherapy is a licensed clinical service in which your wellbeing is the organizing concern of the relationship. It involves assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions, and carries a specific set of legal and ethical obligations — duty of care, mandated reporting, HIPAA compliance, documentation, and continuity of care. The relationship itself is a therapeutic agent.
INCLUDES
✓ Clinical treatment relationship
✓ Diagnosis & treatment planning
✓ HIPAA protections
✓ Duty of care
✓ Ongoing relational continuity
I am a licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State only. I am not able to offer psychotherapy to anyone located outside of New York.
CONSULTATION
You are a colleague. I am a seasoned practitioner.
Consultation is a professional peer service oriented toward your development as a practitioner. The focus is on your professional capacities and skills in your own clinical or coaching context. Your own parts will naturally arise in the course of the work—that’s expected and often central—but always in service of a professional question, not as the primary goal. There is no treatment relationship, no clinical frame, and none of the legal obligations that structure therapy.
INCLUDES
✓ Professional development focus
✓ Case consultation
✓ Parts work as practitioner
✓ Skill building
DOES NOT INCLUDE
✗ Clinical treatment relationship
✗ Diagnosis or treatment planning
✗ Duty of care
✗ HIPAA protections
Consultation is available to licensed clinicians and trained practitioners regardless of location.
COACHING
You are a whole person with an interior life. I am a skilled guide.
Coaching is for people who want to work deeply with IFS, mindfulness, neurodivergence as identity and framework, or integrative spirituality. It draws on the same modalities and depth of attention as my clinical work — but without a clinical frame. It is not designed to treat mental health conditions, and it does not carry the legal obligations of a licensed therapeutic relationship. It is most effective when you are fundamentally resourced and looking to explore, grow, or integrate something meaningful.
AREAS OF FOCUS
○ IFS & parts work
○ Mindfulness & contemplative practice
○ Neurodivergence framework
○ Integrative spirituality
DOES NOT INCLUDE
✗ Clinical treatment relationship
✗ Diagnosis or treatment planning
✗ Mental health treatment
✗ HIPAA protections
Coaching is available to anyone regardless of location or professional background. If significant mental health concerns arise in the course of our work, I will let you know and can offer referrals to licensed clinicians.
Not sure which fits? That’s a reasonable question and I’m glad to talk it through. If what you’re looking for sounds more like therapy and you’re not located in New York, I’m happy to offer a referral. Reach out: aaron@aaronlauber.com.