250 The Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare Practice
Table 9.1. Comparison of Coaching, Counseling and Mentoring (Mink, Owen & Mink,
1993)
Strategy TimeFrame- Purpose Focus Objectives
Coaching
Short to
inter-
mediate
Job-related
learning
Learning
and/or
development
for current
or future job.
Helping improve
or transform
individual, team, or
agency
performance
through learning.
Counseling
Varies;
typically
short-term
Remedy
motivational
or attitude
problems.
Remedial or
development
al; any area
of person’s
life space
Active listening;
exploring feelings
and ideas; breaking
frames of reference;
and examining
values, goals, and
variables that
creates
unsatisfactory or
satisfactory
personal outcomes.
Mentoring
Mainly long
term
Career,
family role,
and current
performance
that is future
related
Typically
development
al; often
covers all life
structures –
current and
future.
Creating career
opportunities;
encouraging
extensive programs
of development –
degree programs,
certification, and
professional
licensing; and
fostering and
supporting career
decisions.