What’s the difference and which one do you actually need?
At Wingman Mental Health, our mission is to simplify how men approach mental health — because let’s face it, most of the current options out there just don’t feel like they were made for us.
Every week, we talk to guys who are navigating burnout, stress, anxiety, or just feeling stuck — and they all ask the same thing: “Do I need therapy… or would coaching make more sense?”
It’s a fair question. And an important one. So let’s break down the real difference between coaching and therapy in a way that actually makes sense.
What is therapy?
Therapy is typically about healing from the past. It focuses on emotional processing, mental health diagnoses, and clinical symptoms like anxiety disorders, depression, or trauma.
It’s great for for things like:
Working through a clinical diagnosis with a licensed professional
Managing severe or chronic mental health issues
Digging into childhood patterns or deeper emotional wounds
Therapy tends to be longer-form, slower-paced, and centered on processing and understanding.
What is mental health coaching?
Mental health coaching is about action, structure, and accountability. It’s designed to help guys who are doing “fine” or “mostly good” but know they’re falling off in areas like:
Routines and self-discipline
Stress and anxiety management
Fitness, sleep, and daily habits
Mindset, confidence, and follow-through
Unlike therapy, coaching is not diagnosis-driven. It’s forward-looking, built around actionable goals and progress tracking.
Where does Wingman fit in?
Wingman is a new and unique version of mental health coaching that’s been reimagined to fit into busy lives of your average guy. This looks like:
Sending messages to your coach when things come up during your day
Receiving short, personalized video responses at the end of your day to answer your questions, track progress, and keep you moving forward
Scheduling 30-min coaching calls only when it fits your schedule — whether that’s once a week or once a month
Having a private dashboard where you can see your tangible progress on your mental health, well-being, and life goals on a daily basis
So Which One Should You Choose? Coaching or Therapy?
If you're dealing with a clinical diagnosis, past trauma, or deep emotional patterns, therapy may be the right call. If you’re trying to get your life back in order, manage stress better, and build routines that stick, coaching could be a great move for you.
To get started with Wingman coaching, click here.
