--- title: "The Difference Between Therapy and Coaching | Fanshen Thompson, LCSW" description: "How to know which kind of support fits the moment you're in — and why the distinction matters." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": [ "ProfessionalService", "MedicalBusiness", "MedicalClinic" ], "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/#business", "name": "Fanshen Thompson, LCSW", "url": "https://fanshenthompson.com", "logo": "https://fanshenthompson.com/og.jpg", "image": "https://fanshenthompson.com/og.jpg", "email": "fanshen@fanshenthompson.com", "priceRange": "$$$", "medicalSpecialty": "Mental Health", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Berkeley", "addressRegion": "CA", "addressCountry": "US" }, "areaServed": { "@type": "State", "name": "California" }, "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer service", "email": "fanshen@fanshenthompson.com" }, "founder": { "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/#practitioner" }, "employee": { "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/#practitioner" }, "openingHoursSpecification": [ { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": [ "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday" ], "opens": "09:00", "closes": "18:00" } ], "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/fanshen-thompson-lcsw-672425216/", "https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086164215212", "https://pin.it/5enxDfD" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/#practitioner", "name": "Fanshen Thompson", "honorificSuffix": "LCSW", "jobTitle": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker", "url": "https://fanshenthompson.com", "image": "https://fanshenthompson.com/og.jpg", "email": "fanshen@fanshenthompson.com", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Berkeley", "addressRegion": "CA", "addressCountry": "US" }, "worksFor": { "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/#business" }, "hasCredential": [ { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "credentialCategory": "License", "identifier": "LCSW #25004", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "California Board of Behavioral Sciences" } } ], "knowsAbout": [ "Couples Therapy", "Relationship Therapy", "Sex Therapy", "Individual Therapy", "Intimacy", "Communication", "Attachment", "Sexual Shame", "Desire Discrepancy" ], "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/fanshen-thompson-lcsw-672425216/", "https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086164215212", "https://pin.it/5enxDfD" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/#website", "url": "https://fanshenthompson.com", "name": "Fanshen Thompson, LCSW", "publisher": { "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/#business" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://fanshenthompson.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://fanshenthompson.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "The Difference Between Therapy And Coaching", "item": "https://fanshenthompson.com/blog/the-difference-between-therapy-and-coaching" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": [ "BlogPosting", "MedicalWebPage" ], "headline": "The Difference Between Therapy and Coaching", "description": "How to know which kind of support fits the moment you're in — and why the distinction matters.", "datePublished": "2026-03-22", "dateModified": "2026-03-22", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fanshen Thompson", "url": "https://fanshenthompson.com/about", "honorificSuffix": "LCSW", "jobTitle": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker" }, "reviewedBy": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fanshen Thompson", "url": "https://fanshenthompson.com/about", "honorificSuffix": "LCSW" }, "lastReviewed": "2026-03-22", "publisher": { "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/#organization" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://fanshenthompson.com/blog/the-difference-between-therapy-and-coaching" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://fanshenthompson.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Notes", "item": "https://fanshenthompson.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "The Difference Between Therapy and Coaching", "item": "https://fanshenthompson.com/blog/the-difference-between-therapy-and-coaching" } ] } ] --- [![Fanshen Thompson, LCSW](/assets/logo-mark-DCWEUPFA.png)Fanshen Thompson LCSW ](/) [Home](/)[About](/about) Services Specialties [Approach](/approach/gottman-method)[Notes](/blog)[FAQ](/faq)[Resources](/resources) [Book a Free 20-Minute Consultation](/contact) [Back to notes](/blog) Practice # The Difference Between Therapy and Coaching March 22, 2026 · 5 min read Therapy is a licensed clinical practice. It's open-ended, attuned to the past, and works with what's hard to feel. Coaching is structured, present and future-oriented, and built around momentum. Both can be transformative. Neither is better. They serve different needs. If you're in California and want sustained relational work at the pace of your nervous system, therapy is usually the right fit. If you want a focused intensive — and you live anywhere in the world — coaching might be the answer. Begin ## Let's start with a free conversation. A 20-minute consultation so we can see if we're a fit — and so you can get a feel for how I work. [Book a Free 20-Minute Consultation](/contact) ![Fanshen Thompson, LCSW logo](/assets/logo-mark-DCWEUPFA.png) Relationship therapy for people who are ready for real change. 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