Coaching, Mentoring, Counselling, Consulting; when to select what

According to ICF, coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The coach is an expert at coaching, not necessarily a subject matter expert of the client’s coaching topic and the coach’s domain is future oriented (what does the client want?) and then coaching the client to get there.

A mentor is a wise and trusted guide and advisor; a sort of "teacher" that shares and passes experience, wisdom, skills and knowledge while bringing the “mentee” up the ranks. Mentoring is then definied as a relationship between two individuals of varying experience, where the more experienced one seeks to enhance the less experienced in personal and professional growth. 

Consulting involves expert knowledge and advice given from professionals to other professionals and/or companies. A consultant is an expert that is called for technical advice and opinion because it is seen as a relied resource that understand the problem and its potential solutions. 

The ICF and EMCC are exceptionally mindful of creating a delineation between coaching and counseling. Credentialing is strictly outlined to avoid a coach performing counseling instead of coaching. While coaching can be therapeutic, it is not therapy and every client should be made aware of this.

Read more here at EMCC site