“Coaching vs. Therapy: What’s the Difference?”
Coaching vs. Therapy: Understanding the difference between coaching and therapy when it comes to parenting.
Coaching vs. Therapy: What’s the Difference, and Which One Do I Need?
In the sacred work of healing and growth—whether you're a parent seeking presence, a woman reclaiming her voice, or a soul simply longing to return to center—you may find yourself standing at a crossroads asking: Do I need a coach, or should I seek a therapist?
This question is not only valid; it’s deeply wise.
Understanding the difference between coaching and therapy isn’t about drawing hard lines. It’s about honoring where you are, what you need, and how you wish to be held. One path is not better than the other—they are simply different vessels on the same river, guiding you home to yourself.
Therapy: Tending to the Past to Heal the Present
Therapy, in its essence, is healing work. It’s a safe space to explore past wounds, trauma, mental health challenges, and the stories that shaped you—especially the ones you didn’t consciously choose.
A therapist is trained to work with psychological diagnoses, emotional regulation, grief, anxiety, depression, and other experiences that might feel too heavy to carry alone. Therapy often looks backward to understand the roots of your pain so that you can move forward more freely. It’s less about fixing and more about feeling—tenderly, bravely, and often messily.
Coaching: Activating the Present to Shape the Future
Coaching, on the other hand, is about empowerment in the now. It’s future-oriented, action-based, and aligned with your soul’s vision of who you are becoming. Coaching is for when you’re ready to make a shift, set boundaries, deepen your parenting presence, rediscover joy, or live with more intention—but don’t necessarily need to dive into unresolved trauma or mental health challenges.
A coach partners with you to move forward—not by bypassing the past, but by choosing to walk with it, consciously and courageously. Coaches ask powerful questions, help you recognize your patterns, and remind you (when you forget) that you already hold the answers.
What About the Overlap?
It’s true—there can be overlap. Both coaching and therapy offer support, connection, and transformation. Both honor your inner wisdom. But here’s a key distinction:
Therapy is for healing.
Coaching is for growth.
One unearths and soothes; the other activates and aligns.
And sometimes, you might need both.
Sometimes coaching heals and therapy grows us.
There’s No Wrong Door
Whatever you choose, know this: reaching out is not weakness. You don’t have to do it all alone.
At Inner Light Parenting, our coaching isn’t about fixing anything. It’s about walking beside you - listening, reflecting, and gently reminding you that your light was never lost as we create harmonious homes. It was just waiting to be seen.
And if what you truly need is therapy, we bless that too. There is no shame in the sacred. There is only courage.
You are already on the path.
Irene Vidrascu - Inner Light Parenting
“What is Neurodivergence and why does it matter?”
Understanding Neurodivergence: Creating Harmony in the Family Through Compassionate Awareness with parents and children.
What Is Neurodivergence?
In every family, there’s a beautiful variety of personalities, communication styles, and ways of seeing the world. Sometimes, that variety includes what’s known as neurodivergence—a term that’s becoming more familiar, yet still carries a lot of misunderstanding. At its core, it simply means that some brains are wired differently. And different isn’t wrong. It’s just… different.
When we begin to understand what neurodivergence is and how it might show up in our families, we can shift from frustration or confusion to curiosity and connection. And that’s where true harmony begins. Neurodivergence refers to variations in how people's brains work. This includes differences in attention, learning, communication, movement, sensory experiences, and emotional regulation. People who are neurodivergent may have ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, sensory processing differences, or other ways of thinking and feeling that diverge from what’s considered “typical.”
Some feel more included by having a diagnosis or labeling things, some prefer not to - and that’s ok. Either way we are invited to recognize that there’s more than one “right” way to experience and respond to the world. For some it is a disability, for others it is a superpower or gift. For some it can be both. In all the different ways we choose to express ourselves it really comes down to how well we embrace understanding and growth so we can lead beautiful, functional and healthy lives.
What Does It Look Like in Everyday Life?
Neurodivergence can show up in many ways, some subtle and others more noticeable:
A child who melts down in loud or chaotic spaces yet loves going to school.
A teenager who needs routine to feel grounded yet is frequently impulsive.
A partner who struggles with executive tasks but excels with creativity.
A family member who avoids gatherings yet has loyal friends through shared interests.
These differences aren’t always signs of a problem. They’re signals of a unique way of processing life.
Why It Matters in Family Dynamics
When we don’t recognize or understand neurodivergence, we might assume someone is being defiant, lazy, or inconsiderate. But when we shift our mindset to ask what do we all need in order to feel safe, seen, and supported?—everything changes.
This shift helps us:
Respond to challenges with empathy instead of punishment.
Communicate more consciously, clearly and effectively.
Create rhythms and routines that support everyone’s nervous system.
Build trust and connection, even across differences.
Is my Toddler Neurodivergent?
When a toddler is neurodivergent—especially one with both autism and ADHD (sometimes called AuDHD)—daily life can feel like a puzzle with pieces that don’t quite fit the way you expected. You might notice your child is deeply sensitive to sound, struggles with transitions, or becomes overwhelmed in busy environments. They may seem constantly in motion one moment, then suddenly retreat into silence or need solitude the next.
This is because toddlers often have big feelings in little bodies and they are still learning how to express themselves. And, when neurodivergent, their communication might not follow typical milestones but they’re always expressing something—whether through behavior, movement, or quiet observation. They might hyperfocus on one activity for hours or bounce between five in five minutes. Structure helps, but so does flexibility.
A Gentle Invitation
If you suspect someone in your family might be neurodivergent—or if you already know they are—take a moment to pause and breathe. You don’t need all the answers right away. What matters most is that you’re willing to see differently, to listen more deeply, and to offer support with patience and love.
Every family has its own rhythm. Neurodivergence doesn’t disrupt that rhythm—it becomes part of the music. When we learn to hear it, appreciate it, and move with it, the whole family finds more harmony.
Simple Ways to Support a Neurodivergent Family Member:
Learn about sensory needs and create calming spaces.
Use visual schedules or routines when helpful.
Offer choices to increase autonomy.
Practice patience—growth takes time.
Celebrate strengths, not just milestones.
When we nurture understanding at home, we raise children who feel safe and connected to those around them, in turn creating a space of peace. And in a world that doesn’t always reflect this, a sense of peace and belonging is one of the greatest gifts we can give.
Irene Vidrascu - Inner Light Parenting
“Welcome! I’m Irene Vidrascu.”
I’m a Consious Parenting Coach with a deep commitment to empathy, connection & growth. As a neurodivergent individual myself and over a decade of experience specializing in toddler development and family dynamics, my personal journey fuels my passion for supporting families through the challenges and joys of parenting.