Why Loneliness Coaching - Coaching or Therapy?
“Is loneliness something you work through in therapy — or can coaching help too? I’ve been there myself, and here’s why I chose coaching as the path to move forward.”
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S.Natus
8/17/20255 min read
Why Loneliness Coaching - Coaching or Therapy?
Why Loneliness Coaching?
I often get asked this question. People wonder whether coaching can truly help with loneliness, or if therapy is the more suitable path.
What I’ve noticed is that coaching is sometimes misunderstood as a “lightweight” version of therapy — something fluffy or competitive. But the truth is, coaching is not a replacement for therapy. It’s an addition to the world of helping approaches.
Therapy and coaching serve different purposes:
Therapy is based on the mental health model and focuses on treating mental health disorders.
Coaching supports personal growth, helping people move forward in life when they feel stuck.
The distinction isn’t always clear, because loneliness can bring deep sadness and even anxiety. I’ve been there myself, and I know how debilitating it feels. But feeling lonely doesn’t necessarily mean you’re mentally ill.
Sometimes, loneliness becomes so overwhelming that it affects daily functioning — in that case, therapy is the right option. But many people are still able to function in life. They simply don’t know how to break free from the cycle of loneliness or where to start.
Why Coaching Can Help
Talking about loneliness is often difficult. It’s too easily labelled as a personal failure. People may give us well-meaning but shallow advice:
“Just go out more, it will pass.” ,or worse, they shame us: “Just lose some weight. Just be nicer. Just try harder.”
What’s missing is someone who truly listens — without judgment, without turning the conversation back on themselves, and without lecturing. That’s where coaching comes in.
Trained coaches are expert listeners. We understand that solutions are deeply personal: what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. Our role is to ask the right questions so you can find your own way forward — whether that means setting concrete goals or working through internal shifts that help change your outer situation.
Unlike therapy, coaching rarely focuses on the past. If it does, it’s only briefly, with the intention of understanding barriers that hold you back. The main focus is on moving forward.
My Own Journey
I speak from personal experience. There were times in my life when I went through crisis. I didn’t feel broken inside, but I longed for someone to talk to — someone who could help me make sense of what I was feeling. I wasn’t depressed. I knew I had inner strength. But I also knew something invisible was holding me back. I didn’t want a diagnosis. I didn’t feel “sick.” I just felt stuck.
That’s why therapy didn’t feel right for me at the time. What I needed was someone who felt safe to talk to, who deeply listened, to help me explore what was going on beneath the surface, and who supported me in taking active steps forward.
I believe many people feel the same. They don’t want to be labelled, judged, or given quick-fix advice. They want a safe space to reflect, to understand, and to grow. This is why I became a coach and not a therapist. I love seeing people move forward.
Coaching and Therapy: Not Either/Or
Coaching is for those who feel ready for personal growth, and for those who have successfully done therapy and now want to take the next step through 'the next door'. If this is you, you can book a free and no obligatory discovery call.
Why Loneliness Coaching?
I often get asked this question. People wonder whether coaching can truly help with loneliness, or if therapy is the more suitable path.
What I’ve noticed is that coaching is sometimes misunderstood as a “lightweight” version of therapy — something fluffy or competitive. But the truth is, coaching is not a replacement for therapy. It’s an addition to the world of helping approaches.
Therapy and coaching serve different purposes:
Therapy is based on the mental health model and focuses on treating mental health disorders.
Coaching supports personal growth, helping people move forward in life when they feel stuck.
The distinction isn’t always clear, because loneliness can bring deep sadness and even anxiety. I’ve been there myself, and I know how debilitating it feels. But feeling lonely doesn’t necessarily mean you’re mentally ill.
Sometimes, loneliness becomes so overwhelming that it affects daily functioning — in that case, therapy is the right option. But many people are still able to function in life. They simply don’t know how to break free from the cycle of loneliness or where to start.
Why Coaching Can Help
Talking about loneliness is often difficult. It’s too easily labelled as a personal failure. People may give us well-meaning but shallow advice:
“Just go out more, it will pass.” ,or worse, they shame us: “Just lose some weight. Just be nicer. Just try harder.”
What’s missing is someone who truly listens — without judgment, without turning the conversation back on themselves, and without lecturing. That’s where coaching comes in.
Trained coaches are expert listeners. We understand that solutions are deeply personal: what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. Our role is to ask the right questions so you can find your own way forward — whether that means setting concrete goals or working through internal shifts that help change your outer situation.
Unlike therapy, coaching rarely focuses on the past. If it does, it’s only briefly, with the intention of understanding barriers that hold you back. The main focus is on moving forward.
My Own Journey
I speak from personal experience. There were times in my life when I went through crisis. I didn’t feel broken inside, but I longed for someone to talk to — someone who could help me make sense of what I was feeling. I wasn’t depressed. I knew I had inner strength. But I also knew something invisible was holding me back. I didn’t want a diagnosis. I didn’t feel “sick.” I just felt stuck.
That’s why therapy didn’t feel right for me at the time. What I needed was someone who felt safe to talk to, who deeply listened, to help me explore what was going on beneath the surface, and who supported me in taking active steps forward.
I believe many people feel the same. They don’t want to be labelled, judged, or given quick-fix advice. They want a safe space to reflect, to understand, and to grow. This is why I became a coach and not a therapist. I love seeing people move forward.
Coaching and Therapy: Not Either/Or
Coaching is for those who feel ready for personal growth, and for those who have successfully done therapy and now want to take the next step through 'the next door'.
If this is you, you can book a free and no obligatory discovery call.