The Difference Between Traditional Coaching and Transformative Coaching
And Why It Matters for Real, Lasting Change

When people think of coaching, they often picture goal-setting sessions, action plans, and weekly accountability check-ins. That’s a common form of coaching—and it can be incredibly effective, especially when you have a clear outcome in mind.

But if you’re craving more than just external results—if you want change that runs deeper, that shifts how you see yourself and the world—you may be looking for something different: transformative coaching.

Let’s explore the difference.

Traditional Coaching: Goal-Oriented, Action-Focused

Traditional coaching is typically focused on helping you move from point A to point B. It’s structured around:

• Defining clear goals
• Breaking them down into steps
• Creating strategies and timelines
• Holding you accountable for progress

This kind of coaching can be highly motivating, and results driven. It works well when you’re clear on what you want—like getting a promotion, running a marathon, or starting a business.

But what if you’re not sure what you want? Or if you’ve achieved the goal and still feel unfulfilled?

Transformative Coaching: Identity-Oriented, Awareness-Focused

Transformative coaching takes a different approach. Instead of starting with what you want to do, it begins with who you are. It helps you slow down, turn inward, and explore:

• What you believe about yourself and the world
• What you value, fear, resist, or long for
• How old stories or internal narratives may be holding you back
• What kind of life would feel meaningful and aligned for you

From this place of self-awareness, new goals often emerge—but they’re grounded in deeper truth, not external pressure or outdated expectations.

Transformative coaching is less about “doing more” and more about “being more fully yourself.”

Key Differences:

Why This Difference Matters

Traditional coaching can help you achieve something.
Transformative coaching can help you become someone.

That might sound dramatic—but in reality, many people achieve their goals and still feel like something’s missing. That’s often because the goal wasn’t aligned with who they really are, or because deeper patterns were left unaddressed.

Transformative coaching supports you in discovering what really matters—so that whatever you create or pursue in life is built on a solid foundation of authenticity, self-trust, and clarity.

I was drawn to transformative coaching because it felt deeply aligned with my values—like a reflection of what I’ve quietly known to be true about how real change unfolds. It wasn’t a strategy or a career move; it was something I recognised as true. I’ve always felt that real change doesn’t come from doing more or trying harder. It comes from slowing down, turning inward, and meeting ourselves with honesty and compassion.

Transformative coaching offered a space for that kind of unfolding—for asking deeper questions, for sitting with the unknown, for reconnecting with what matters most. It’s not about fixing or striving—it’s about remembering who we are beneath all the noise.

Choosing this path wasn’t just about how I want to work—it’s about how I want to live. And more than anything, it’s how I want to walk alongside others: with presence, depth, and a deep respect for their inner wisdom.

Final Thoughts

If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure of what’s next… transformative coaching might be exactly what you need. It’s not about giving you the answers. It’s about helping you access your own.

If this resonates, I invite you to book a free chemistry call—a space to explore what’s going on for you and whether transformative coaching is the right path.