Consulting, Coaching, and Mentorship: What’s the Difference, and Where My Work Fits
In healthcare and business, the terms consulting, coaching, and mentorship often get mixed together. I hear it all the time : “Are you a business coach?” or “Do you mentor clinic owners?”
Each of these roles serves a different purpose, and understanding the difference helps clinic owners and practitioners choose the kind of support that will actually move them forward.
Consulting: Strategy and Structure
Consulting focuses on solving problems through strategy, structure, and systems.
A consultant identifies what is and isn’t working, uncovers the root causes, and provides clear steps to implement solutions. In healthcare, this might mean refining employment models, improving clinic workflows, or developing compliance systems that protect the business. Consulting is my primary approach and I assess a clinic like I would the human body - I gather subjective and objective info, make a diagnosis and create a “treatment” plan.
Consulting is direct and outcome-driven. You bring in a consultant because you want results.
Examples of when I am consulting:
Redesigning business models to stay compliant under new legislation
Auditing systems in Jane App and improving insurance or billing workflows
Building policies, templates, and procedures that help clinics operate efficiently
Coaching: Reflection and Growth
Coaching helps people find their own answers. Instead of providing solutions, a coach asks the right questions to support clarity, self-reflection and decision making.
It is ideal when challenges are more about mindset, leadership, or direction than systems.
Examples of when I am coaching:
Supporting clinic owners to rebuild after burnout and realign with their values
Helping practitioners develop confidence in leadership or negotiation
Guiding someone through the process of defining what kind of practice they truly want to build
Mentorship: Experience and Perspective
Mentorship is about sharing lived experience. It is one professional saying, “I’ve been there, and here is what I learned.”
Mentorship provides insight, encouragement, and perspective. It helps others see what is possible and avoid the pitfalls of those who have gone before them.
Examples of when I am mentoring:
Talking with new grads about their first contracts or clinic placements
Sharing lessons from building and later restructuring my own clinic
Normalizing the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and professional growth
Where My Work Lands
My work sits at the intersection of all three.
I lead with consulting by focusing on structure, systems, and compliance using assessment and intervention approaches.
I integrate coaching by building business literacy, clarity, and confidence.
And I hold it all with a mentorship mindset, offering perspective and encouragement drawn from my own experience.
I am a consultant primarily with a coach’s mindset and a mentor’s heart.
This blend allows me to meet people where they are and guide them toward building a business that is compliant, sustainable, and aligned with their goals.
Final Thoughts
If you are a clinic owner, manager, or practitioner wondering what kind of support you need, ask yourself:
Do I need answers or solutions? (Consulting)
Do I need clarity or reflection? (Coaching)
Do I need perspective or to hear someones experience through something? (Mentorship)
Most people need a mix of all three at different points in their career.
My work bridges strategy and humanity to help you build a business that not only functions well but also feels grounded and alive. I also love to incorporate nervous system regulation and somatic health resources into my approach if this is something that aligns with my clients.