What is the difference between Coaching and Counselling?
Counselling is a therapy, whilst coaching is not.  Coaching deals with the future, and is action based, whilst counselling usually deals with events in the past.  Both are dependent on non judgemental listening and total confidentiality, so some of the same skills are involved.  A coach will never criticise a client, believing the client can succeed in whatever they want to do.  The relationship is under the control of the client with coaching, whilst this is not true of counselling.  Coaching will generally move someone forwards, in a direction they wish to go, whilst counselling is most often used to enable someone to come to terms with events or issues in their past.  If a coach felt that a client of theirs needed counselling, then they would refer them to this type of therapy, but at the same time let them know they were welcome to resume coaching once they had resolved the issues during counselling.

What is the difference between a coaching relationship and that of a good friend?
Whilst support from a friend can be helpful, they always have an element of self interest, whereas a coach does not and is not emotionally involved, so can listen in a non judgemental way.  In addition, confidentiality may not be relied on with a friend, and they are unlikely to challenge you as they have more at stake in the relationship than a coach does.  The fact that a coach is professionally trained and is paid for their services puts the relationship on a different level.

Is Corporate Coaching the same as Consulting?
Corporate coaching is very different from consulting, though both are often carried out at the premises of the company in question.  Consulting is normally about the identifications of issues within an organisation and providing recommendations - ie coming up with solutions.  Corporate coaching on the other hand, involves the use of insightful questions to ensure the client is aware of all the issues, and is non judgemental, whilst consulting often involves judgement.  A consultant will tell the client what is going wrong and suggest how it could be put right, whilst a corporate coach will allow the company personnel being coached to come up with the solutions to the issues.  Again, a corporate coach will work to the agenda of the company, which in this case is the client.