You should definitely pay a therapist if you think you need one! I encourage it. I even have many clients that have a therapist while they are getting coached.  A therapist and a life coach differ, much like a doctor and a golf coach differ.  (I should know because I am married to a golf coach!) You need a doctor to ensure you have good baseline health to play golf,  or the coach won’t be able to help you. If you have a problem with your shoulder that is needing attention, your golf game will go nowhere until you get the help you need to feel better.  On the other hand, your doctor won’t likely be able to help you with learning new golf techniques, finding the right equipment for you, making a game plan, setting goals, or helping you move forward after a loss or set back.  Coaching has been around for decades within the business/corporate communities and is relatively new to medicine. However, it has been shown to be beneficial in multiple studies now and is definitely an Evidence Based Practice. (CLICK HERE to read a randomized control trial in JAMA May, 2022)