Life coach or therapist? How to choose the right support in Paris, in English

When you search for support in English in Paris, you find everything at once: therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, coaches, healers. And they all say they “help you feel better”. So how do you choose?

I’m a life coach, so you might expect me to say “choose a coach”. I won’t. Sometimes a coach is the right person, sometimes it’s absolutely not. Let me explain the difference as honestly as I can.

The short version

A therapist helps you heal what hurts. A coach helps you move forward to what you want.

Of course, in real life it’s not that clean. Moving forward often brings up old wounds, and healing often opens new doors. But this is a good place to start.

When you need a therapist (or a doctor)

Please go to a therapist, psychologist or doctor if:

• you feel like you can’t function anymore: you can’t get up, eat, sleep, work
• you have thoughts of hurting yourself
• you’re dealing with trauma that keeps coming back and taking over
• you have symptoms that need a diagnosis or medication

In France, psychologists and psychotherapists are protected titles. They have a medical or clinical training that a coach doesn’t have. A psychiatrist is a doctor and can prescribe medication.

And if you’re in crisis right now: call 15 or 112, or 3114, the French suicide prevention line. It’s free, 24/7. Please don’t wait.

When a life coach can be the right choice

A coach can be great when:

• you’re basically ok, but stuck. Same patterns, same wall, again and again
• you have a goal, a dream, a project, and something inside keeps slowing you down
• you’re at a crossroads: a new job, a move, motherhood, a business
• you want someone to think with you, and also keep you accountable

A coach looks mostly forward. Where are you now, honestly (your point A)? Where do you want to be (your point B)? And what’s really in the way?

The grey zone (where most of us live)

Here is the thing nobody tells you. Most women I meet are somewhere in between. Not in crisis. But not fine either. Tired of holding everything together. A sadness they can’t really name.

That’s why I work on both levels, the outside and the inside. We talk about your goals and your next step, and we also work with your beliefs, your fears, your nervous system. And for some women, when they’re open to it, we add Reiki and energy work.

But I also know my limits. I’m a certified life coach and I’m completing my training in psychology, and I’m not a psychologist (yet). If during our work I see that you need a therapist, I’ll tell you. Directly and kindly. And I’ll help you find one. Sometimes the best thing a coach can do is send you to the right person.

Can you do both?

Yes, and many women do. Therapy for the deep healing work, coaching for building the life you want. They don’t compete, they complete each other. Just be honest with both of them about the other one.

How to find English-speaking support in Paris

• For therapists and psychologists: ask your GP, check the professional directories, and ask in expat groups (people share good names there, and warnings too)
• For coaches: read their website, check their reviews, and use the free first call

A small exercise before you choose

Take a piece of paper and answer, without thinking too much:

1. What hurts the most right now?
2. What do I want my life to look like in one year?

If question 1 took all the space on the page, start with a therapist. If question 2 made you feel something, like a little spark, a coach might be a good step. And if both are full, like for most of us, maybe you need both.

There’s no wrong answer here. There’s only the next step that feels right for you.