A Podcast About Leadership: Is Coaching Really Different Than Therapy? With Dr. Davida Vogel

For decades, executive coaching and psychotherapy have been treated as distinct disciplines. But, in recent years, the two have been creeping closer together. As they have, it has raised an important question for both coaches and their clients: Are executive coaching and talk therapy really that different?

In this thought-provoking episode of A Podcast About Leadership, Dr. Jonathan Kirschner, a clinical psychologist and our founder and fearless leader, sits down with two of his fellow Doctors of Psychology — SVP of Leadership Solutions Dr. Joy Nissen and Senior Leadership Consultant Dr. Davida Vogel — to explore how the worlds of clinical psychology and coaching increasingly overlap, how they strengthen one another, and why drawing a line between them actually matters.

You can watch the full episode below, or subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere else you listen!

Key Takeaways from the Episode

1. Executive Coaching and Psychotherapy Are Converging

Executive coaching and psychotherapy have never been as far apart as most people think. Dr. Vogel frames coaching and therapy not as competing disciplines but as overlapping circles in a Venn diagram — each drawing from shared principles of human development while serving different purposes.

And, over time those circles have converged more and more. Modern behavioral approaches have made therapy more action-oriented and measurable. At the same time, coaching has become more reflective, holistic, and grounded in human behavior.

Coaches who combine training in psychology or the behavioral sciences with real business experience are uniquely positioned to bridge these worlds, translating human insight into leadership effectiveness.

2. The Difference Lies in Context and Motivation

While therapy tends to focus on helping people regain control and more basic functioning, executive coaching focuses on enhancing the performance of already high-performing individuals.

“Typically, when we work with leaders, it’s a very different population,” said Dr. Nissen. “It’s high-performing individuals who are naturally very motivated, and it’s more about enhancing some of their good qualities and the things that are working well.”

Coaching is focused more on enhancement, not restoration — helping leaders expand their self-awareness, refine their strengths, and amplify their influence across teams and organizations.

3. Boundaries and Clarity Around Confidentiality Are Extremely Important

Unlike psychotherapy, not every part of executive coaching is confidential. Coaches operate within a system where they must balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the organization, serving two clients at once, and that dual responsibility can become a landmine if not managed intentionally

“What’s so nice about our training is that we get very good at what’s called setting the frame. Letting everyone involved know who is privy to what and when, and under what circumstances,” said Dr. Vogel.

Dr. Vogel describes how “setting the frame” ensures that all parties share a common understanding of the work, creating the foundation for a trusting, ethical partnership between coach, coachee, and organization. This clarity

4. The Relationship Between Coach and Coachee is Critical

While trust and connection sit at the heart of both executive coaching and psychotherapy, in coaching the relationship works hand-in-hand with structure and process to create real progress.

“So much of it is also just the people and how do they connect, and can you build trust, and do you connect with the person who you’re trying to work through these complex issues with?” said Dr. Nissen.

The working alliance — the relationship between coach and client — is the foundation of effective coaching. But in the AIIR® Method, it’s that human connection within a structured, evidence-based process that ensures change sticks. For coaches, it’s a reminder that empathy and rigor are not opposites — they’re partners.

5. Awareness Is the Catalyst for Change

Transformational growth begins when what’s below the surface comes into view. Jonathan reflected on those pivotal moments in coaching when a leader sees themselves more clearly — when patterns and motivations that once operated unconsciously become visible and actionable. These are the inflection points where insight turns into accountability. For coaches, it’s a call to help clients surface what drives their behavior.