Life Coaching

What is a Life Coach?

A life coach is a professional in private practice who specializes in helping others with behavior change and goal setting. A certified life coach can provide expert guidance to address a wide variety of issues, ranging from relationship challenges and career goals to executive coaching and team performance. Life coaches are trained to help you create positive change in your life and approach recurring issues in new ways. They motivate you, keep you accountable, and help you identify and overcome obstacles that may be preventing you from achieving your goals.

Who Can Benefit from a Life Coach?

A life coach can help anyone achieve personal growth and unlock performance potential. Life coaches are often employed by professional athletes, students, and CEOs to reach their goals. In fact, The ICF reports that 99% of individuals and companies who hire a coach are satisfied, and 96% would repeat the process.

What is The Difference Between a Life Coach and a Therapist?

Both life coaches and therapists can help you cope with life’s challenges, but the primary difference between a life coach and a therapist lies in their education and training requirements. Although requirements vary from state to state, therapists must meet specific educational standards to be eligible for licensure.

Licensed mental health therapists can diagnose and treat mental health disorders. In contrast, life coaches cannot provide mental health treatment, assessment, or diagnose psychiatric disorders. In most cases, the minimum educational requirement to become a therapist is a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. Some states even require post-master’s degree education.

Unlike mental health counseling, life coaching is an unregulated industry. This means that there are no mandatory educational requirements to become a life coach, and anyone can use the title “life coach.” However, this does not mean that life coaches are unqualified to help you reach your goals. 

Both professionals can assist you in making positive changes in your life. So, how do you know which one to choose?

When to See a Therapist:

Mental health therapists are specially trained to diagnose and treat serious issues such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. If you have a mental health diagnosis or suspect that you might, it is best to see a therapist with the proper education and training. Life coaches do not perform psychotherapy, nor can they diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Therefore, they should not be used as a substitute for a trained therapist.

When to See a Life Coach:

A life coach can be a very good alternative to a therapist if you:

• Want to improve your health and fitness levels.
• Are struggling with a major life decision, such as a move or career change.
• Have a lot of stress that you can’t seem to shake.
• Need help overcoming fears that keep you from reaching your potential.
• Are dissatisfied with your personal relationships.
• Need help building confidence or self-esteem.
• Feel stuck in life and want help getting unstuck.
• Need help getting organized.
• Want to improve your follow-through and motivation.
• Want to achieve a better work-life balance.
• Need help prioritizing certain areas of your life or business.
• Want to find your purpose in life.
• Want to practice better self-care and self-love.
• Want to be more successful with key business outcomes.

Methods Typically Used in Life Coaching

Life coaches use a variety of techniques or methods to help you reach your goals. Here are a few of the more common ones:

• Self-assessments and personality questionnaires – Life coaches use a variety of questionnaires and tools to help you identify your goals and skills.
• Homework assignments – Many life coaches assign homework to be completed between sessions. These assignments are designed to support your growth and potential.
• Support and guidance – Your life coach will offer support and guidance as you work towards your goals. They will help you stay on course as you focus on improving your skills and prioritize your time accordingly. 
• Positive affirmations – Positive affirmations can help restructure negative thought patterns, improving self-esteem and confidence. They can also help reduce self-sabotaging thoughts, such as, “I’m never going to get the promotion. I’m just not smart enough.” An example of a positive affirmation might be, “I will give a great presentation today. I am well-prepared and smart.”
• Meditation practices – Meditation is commonly used in life coaching—and therapy as well. Common forms include guided meditation, where you are walked through relaxation exercises, and mindfulness meditation, which focuses on your inner experiences.

NOTE: Therapists also use many of these techniques. Homework assignments and guided meditation are often employed by therapists who practice cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

What to Look For in a Life Coach

Coaching is a partnership between the client and the coach, so it’s important to take the time during the initial meeting to ensure you are a good fit for each other. Life coaches can be an excellent choice for assisting with establishing goals, such as changing careers or losing weight, and offering motivation and support to meet those goals. Since there is no governing body or licensure required to be a life coach in the United States, it is in your best interest to carefully review the credentials and background of any coach you are considering. 

Here are some questions to ask when looking for a life coach:

• What kind of education and training do you have? Look for trained coaches who are certified through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The ICF offers three types of certifications for life coaches. The minimum requirement to become a certified life coach through the ICF is 60 hours of training and 100 hours of coaching practice. 
• Do you have references? A life coach should be able to provide you with references from former clients.

In order to motivate others, a life coach should possess certain skills, such as:

• Great listening and communication skills: These two skills are essential for any life coach.
• A positive attitude: You want someone who is positive and upbeat to inspire you to reach your dreams.
• Non-judgmental: Good life coaches are non-judgmental. They understand that everyone has different needs and goals.
• Motivating: Many people choose to work with a life coach because they have difficulty staying motivated and following through. Choose a life coach who you find motivating.
• Honest and trustworthy: A life coach should have a high level of professional integrity and honesty.

Types of Life Coaching Specializations

• Career Coaching: Focuses on career transitions, job searches, and professional development. Depending on the scope of what you need, you may want to look for a Certified Career Counselor for help with Career Counseling services.
• Health and Wellness Coaching: Emphasizes lifestyle changes, nutrition, and fitness goals.
• Relationship Coaching: Addresses personal relationships, communication skills, and conflict resolution.
• Executive and Leadership Coaching: Tailored for business leaders, focuses on leadership skills, team performance, and organizational development.
• Spiritual Coaching: Helping clients explore their spirituality and align their life with their values and beliefs.

Growth of Online Coaching

With the rise of remote work, online coaching has seen significant growth. A 2021 study indicated that nearly 60% of coaches offer their services virtually, a trend that continues to rise post-pandemic.

Some life coaches prefer to meet with clients in person, while others use Skype or other video-chatting platforms. There is no right or wrong way to conduct life coaching sessions. Choose the coach and method that works best for you.

Find a Life Coach

A life coach can help you get back on track and start living the life you’ve always dreamed of. Explore TherapyTribe to find a Life Coach or Therapist near you.

References

1. HuffPost. (2015). So You Want to Be a Counselor/Therapist? Let Me Tell You the Different Ways. Retrieved June 15th, 2019 from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/post_b_6865002.
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2017). You’re a what? Life coach. Retrieved June 15th, 2019 from https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2017/youre-a-what/life-coach.htm.
3. International Coach Federation. (2019). ICF Credential. Retrieved June 15th, 2019 from https://coachfederation.org/icf-credential.
4. Perspective | Therapist or coach: Understanding the difference and how to pick one. (n.d.). Washington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/05/05/therapist-coach-difference-choose/