Coaching, Mentoring, and Counseling: What’s the Difference for Kids and Women?
Sometimes all we need is a little guidance and perspective, someone to challenge us with empathy, compassion, and love. Being heard and seen is an integral part of the human experience, whether you are a child learning how to navigate the world or a woman balancing the many demands of life.
Over the years, I have seen the missing piece in both schools and families: the quality of the relationships people have in their lives. When children and women have mentors and coaches who support them (not just academically, but emotionally and practically) their trajectory can shift. They discover confidence, clarity, and renewed energy for the journey ahead.
But people often ask me: How is coaching different from counseling?
The truth is that both are valuable. They simply serve different purposes:
Coaching and mentoring for kids and women is about growth and guidance. For children, this might mean learning self-confidence, developing executive functioning skills, or navigating friendships and school life. For women, it could mean balancing parenting, career decisions, or rediscovering a sense of self in the middle of life’s transitions. As a coach, I give more direct guidance, advice, and practical tips.
Counseling, on the other hand, focuses on healing emotional wounds, addressing mental health challenges, or working through past pain. For kids, this could look like processing grief, anxiety, or trauma. For women, it may mean working through depression, deep relational wounds, or significant stressors. As a counselor, I may still offer guidance and practical tips, but it will follow your lead and self-discovery.
Both have a place, and knowing the difference helps families choose the right type of support for their season of life.
Coaching in Action
With coaching and mentoring, we might address:
Helping kids manage school stress, build confidence, or strengthen executive functioning skills
Supporting moms in creating healthy routines, self-care practices, and balance at home
Navigating parenting challenges like tantrums, sibling rivalry, or screen-time battles
Strengthening co-parenting or blended family dynamics after divorce or separation
Encouraging women to pursue personal goals, leadership opportunities, or career growth
Building acceptance, respect, and resilience in both school and home environments
Why It Matters
For both kids and women, coaching provides more than strategies; it provides encouragement, perspective, and a safe place to grow. Children learn to believe in their own ability to succeed. Women learn to embrace their strength, rediscover joy, and lead with confidence at home and beyond.
That’s why at Salt & Arrows, I see coaching not as a replacement for counseling, but as a complement to it. Both help us thrive, but coaching can be a powerful step toward unlocking the potential already within us and our children.
