How Adventures in Wisdom Handles the Distinction Between Coaching and Counseling / Professional Therapy

Adventures in Wisdom provides mindset skills training and coaching, not counseling or therapy. We do not diagnose, treat, or provide mental health services. Instead, we teach children how to build confidence, resilience, self-esteem, and self-leadership through a story-based coaching curriculum.

We provide numerous resources to help parents and coaches know who can best support their child, including this 1-page checklist about when to add a coach to their an infographic that shows how life coaches and counselors support children’s mental health.

Counseling focuses on healing, processing past experiences, and addressing mental health challenges.

Coaching focuses on skills development, personal growth, and supporting children in creating who they want to be moving forward.

When a child needs therapeutic support, we encourage families to work with a licensed mental health professional. Coaching can be a powerful complement, and many families, school counselors, and therapists choose to add WISDOM Coaching because it teaches skills that help children thrive in everyday life.

Our approach is strengths-focused, future-focused, ethical, and always within the boundaries of professional coaching.

This applies to Adventures in Wisdom®, the WISDOM Coach® Certification, and the WISDOM Coaching® methodology.

What Is Coaching at Adventures in Wisdom?

Coaching at Adventures in Wisdom is known as WISDOM Coaching, It is:

✔ Skills-based

We use the story-based Adventures in Wisdom Life Coaching for Kids Curriculum to teach children 27 mindset skills that help them navigate challenges, build inner strength, and thrive. Children also learn specific skills such as how to manage peer pressure, how to set and achieve their goals, how to respond to making a mistake, how to be respectful and choose self-respect, and much more.

✔ Future-focused

We focus on who children are becoming and the skills that empower them to shape their future.

✔ Development-oriented

Our story-based curriculum is built around how children’s minds work and how to help them think, feel, and act in empowering ways.

✔ Strengths-based

We help kids develop resilience, confidence, positive self-talk, and internal motivation.

✔ Action-oriented

Children use their coaching tools immediately in daily life. Many families report transformations after the very first session.

What Counseling / Therapy Is and What We Do NOT Do

Counseling and therapy are clinical practices delivered by licensed mental health professionals. They typically focus on:

• Healing emotional wounds
• Processing trauma
• Diagnosing mental health conditions
• Treating anxiety, depression, or other disorders
• Exploring past experiences
• Providing clinical interventions

These activities fall outside the scope of coaching.

Adventures in Wisdom Coaches DO NOT:

• Diagnose
• Treat any mental or emotional disorders
• Provide therapy
• Act as counselors or mental health professionals
• Work outside the coaching scope of practice

If a child needs therapy, our ethical responsibility is to guide families to appropriate licensed professionals.

Can Coaching and Counseling Work Together?

Yes — beautifully.

Many families use WISDOM Coaching alongside therapy because coaching provides:

• Practical mindset tools
• Confidence-building activities
• Resilience and problem-solving skills
• Empowering strategies for friendship challenges
• Goal setting and action planning

Many therapists refer families to WISDOM Coaches when:

• Children need confidence-building
• They need help applying skills in daily life
• They benefit from structured mindset tools

This makes coaching a powerful complement to clinical mental health work, but not a replacement.

How Parents Can Know Whether Coaching or Counseling Is Right for Their Child

Coaching Is a Good Fit When a Child:

• Wants more confidence
• Needs help with self-esteem
• Wants to build resilience
• Struggles with fear, peer pressure, or mistakes
• Is facing a big change
• Has a big goal they want to achieve
• Needs tools for daily challenges

Counseling/Therapy Is Needed When a Child:

• Shows signs of depression, anxiety, or trauma
• Has a mental health diagnosis
• Needs clinical intervention or emotional healing
• Has self-harm thoughts or significant distress

If parents are unsure, we always encourage them to speak with a licensed mental health professional.

Testimonials Supporting This Distinction

Educators, parents, and professionals affirm how coaching complements other supports:

“Sharon helped my daughter feel safe within herself… She went from refusing school to wanting to go out to dinner and even going on a week-long holiday without me.”

“The coaching program speaks to today’s generation of kids… When children learn these skills, they achieve their goals and dreams.”
— Teacher/WISDOM Coach

See more testimonials and success stories on our website.

These outcomes highlight the coaching impact, not therapy.

Summary

Adventures in Wisdom provides mindset coaching, not therapy.
We teach life-changing mindset skills using a proven, story-based curriculum, and uphold clear ethical boundaries through ICF-aligned training, a strong Code of Ethics, and a commitment to doing what’s best for children and families.

When coaching falls outside the scope of practice, we guide families to licensed therapists and mental health professionals.

Coaching helps kids grow. Therapy helps kids heal. Both are important and we honor the role of each.