The Difference between Coaching and Counseling...
...and why Coaching is not usually covered by Insurance.
Coaching and counseling are two distinct forms of support for personal and professional development.
Coaching
Coaching is a future-oriented process that focuses on goal-setting, performance improvement, and the pursuit of future-oriented solutions. Coaches work alongside clients to identify objectives, break them down into manageable steps, and develop actionable plans to achieve them. Coaching does not involve diagnosing or treating mental health conditions.
Counseling
Counseling, on the other hand, is a therapeutic process that promotes mental and emotional well-being, resolves personal challenges, and fosters self-understanding. It often addresses past experiences, unresolved trauma, and current struggles with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Counseling is regulated by state licensing laws, meaning therapists can only work with clients in the states where they are licensed.
Insurance
Insurance coverage for coaching is not common because it does not address mental health diagnoses or emotional disorders. Insurance typically covers services that are evidence-based and rooted in psychological research, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic therapy. Since coaching does not involve these types of treatments, it is not covered by health insurance plans.
My Qualifications and Professional Licenses
Qualifications:
• Years in Practice: 30+ Years
• License: Licensed Psychologist, Minnesota / LP1335
• License: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Minnesota / 06421
• School: Northern Michigan University
• Degree: M.A. in Counseling
• Year Graduated: 1988
Additional Credentials:
• Certificate: Totally Coached
• Certificate Date: 2006
• Certificate: Six Sigma Green Belt
• Certificate Date: 2011
• Certificate: PROSCI Change Management
• Certificate Date: 2019
• Languages: English, Urdu and Hindi
Mental Health Platforms
Insurance
In addition to accepting private pay, I am credentialed with all of these platforms and can see you through them for telehealth visits.
After reading the descriptions, please search for any and all platforms listed on this page to review if your insurance is accepted through any of them. You can search for me by my first and last name to find me quickly. As a reminder, I can only see adult clients who reside in either Minnesota or Florida.
Alma
Alma’s core service is making it easier for individuals and families to access therapy—especially affordable, in‑network care.
- Therapist directory: Alma offers a large, searchable database of licensed therapists, allowing users to filter by specialty (e.g., anxiety, LGBTQIA+, medication management).
- Insurance integration: Alma emphasizes helping clients use their insurance. People who find care through Alma save an average of 77% on therapy costs by accessing in‑network providers.
- Better therapist matching: Its directory provides more detailed therapist profiles than typical insurance portals, helping users find a provider who fits their needs and preferences.
In short, Alma simplifies the process of finding a therapist who accepts your insurance and aligns with your goals.
Headway
Sondermind
Headway’s main goal is to make therapy affordable and easy to access by focusing on in‑network care.
- Find in‑network therapists and psychiatrists — Users enter their insurance information and get matched with providers who accept it.
- Lower costs — Clients often pay as low as $0 per session, with an average savings of 75% compared to paying out of pocket.
- Large provider network — Over 65,000 licensed providers across the U.S. are available on the platform.
- Supports therapy and medication management — Headway includes both therapists and psychiatrists (though medication availability varies by provider).
- Simple booking and billing — Headway processes all insurance claims and payments so clients don’t have to navigate insurance portals.
Headway is especially useful for people who want in‑network care, prefer transparent pricing, or find insurance directories too difficult to navigate.
Sondermind
Grow Therapy
Sondermind
1. Matches clients to therapists or psychiatry providers quickly
SonderMind uses technology to match users with a provider who fits their needs, often within 4 days of requesting care. Clients answer a short intake questionnaire, and the platform recommends clinicians based on specialty, preferences, and availability.
2. Offers therapy and psychiatry
Unlike many platforms that offer only therapy, SonderMind provides:
- Therapy (CBT, DBT, ACT, etc.) with licensed clinicians
- Psychiatry for evaluation and medication management Psychiatry is available in select states, while therapy is available nationwide.
3. Supports virtual or in‑person sessions Clients can choose video sessions or meet in person where available.
4. Accepts many major insurance plans SonderMind is in‑network with most major insurers, including HSA/FSA, EAP, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage. It does not accept Medicaid or Tricare.
5. Provides self‑care and progress‑tracking tools The SonderMind mobile app includes:
- Guided meditations
- Daily reflections
- AI‑powered self‑care tools
- Progress tracking These tools help clients maintain momentum between sessions.
Rula
Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy
Rula focuses on making mental‑health care accessible, affordable, and fast to schedule.
- Matches you with licensed therapists and psychiatric providers based on your preferences, symptoms, and insurance.
- Offers talk therapy and psychiatry, including medication evaluation and management.
- Provides online sessions, typically via live video, with appointments available as soon as the next day.
- Accepts most major insurance plans, with patients paying an average of $15 per session when using insurance.
- Supports individuals, couples, families, and children (ages 5+) depending on provider availability.
- Gives transparent cost estimates before your first appointment by verifying your insurance coverage.
Rula is available nationwide, with psychiatry currently offered in 31 states and expanding.
Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy focuses on affordable, accessible mental‑health care by connecting clients with licensed clinicians who accept their insurance.
- Large provider network: Over 19,000 therapists and prescribers across the U.S. offer services for children, teens, adults, and couples.
- Therapy + psychiatry: Clients can receive talk therapy and medication management in one place.
- Online or in‑person sessions: Most care is virtual, but some providers offer office visits.
- Insurance-friendly: Grow Therapy is in‑network with many major plans, including some Medicaid and Medicare, and sessions average $21 with insurance.
- Transparent pricing: Providers list their exact cash rates (typically $75–$150+ for therapy).
- Fast matching: Clients can find a therapist in minutes after intake and often book appointments within days.
- Personalized search filters: Users can filter by specialty, modality, identity, insurance, and more.
Grow Therapy is designed for people who want insurance‑based care, flexible scheduling, and the ability to choose from a large, diverse provider pool.