What does a life coach do?

A life coach takes on a variety of roles for a client. The most important is to ask questions and determine the deep and meaningful answers to what you want in life. Our goal is to get you to look deeper into your habits and beliefs, it is then you may discover habits that have been holding you back. Another major role of a life coach is to keep you accountable. Many times people have wanted to do something, but just lacked the follow-through in themselves, this would be a great time to reach out to a life coach.

You may understand the direction in which you need to head, but may not be able to start due to the many distractions in life. If you have a dentist appointment you may bruh more or not eat as much candy, this works similarly to a life coach, just having a life coach may influence you to behave differently between meetings! Considering our job is to help people conquer and achieve some of their most wildly unimaginable goals, I have encountered many successful people. Often I can help you to understand that you may be able to reach the sky, that the sky is not the limit. If you have never seen a dog walk on 3 legs, you may not think it is possible. A life coach aims to share a positive outlook through their own experience, and observations.

A life coach isn't there to boss you around or tell you what to do with your life. You are in control, and it is your goal we are looking to facilitate. Our job is not to push any of our ideas onto you, but to simply use our methods to help you attain what it is you have decided on. The goal is to challenge your presumptions as to what you believe you are truly capable of. Encouraging you to do the things you always wanted to do but never thought you could. in times of difficulty, a life coach is often there to offer guidance, advice, support, and the accountability to live by your principles!

What are sessions like?

It is important to get a deep understanding of who a coach will be working with, so before the sessions even start there is a phase where you will get to know each other. At this time a coach will begin to ask you questions to start formulating a plan for you. Some questions may include:

What would you like to change in your life?
Up to this point, what do you feel some of your greatest accomplishments are?
Failure is a large part of success, so what are some of your greatest failures so far?
Do you have things that motivate you, if so what does?
Do you have any fears, if you do, what are they?

It isn't so important that you have all the answers, the idea is to get you in a state of thinking about things. A coach will be able to help you find the answers to any questions you may not have answers to. It is important to try to provide a coach with as much about yourself before the sessions begin. You want them to have a basic understanding of what you want, who you are, and where you want to go.

If you decide to go with life coaching, there can be various types of sessions. With the recent pandemic, a lot more people have opted for virtual relationships. Usually, you will meet for 30 minutes to an hour, regularly. During sessions, you will often speak about what you are looking forward to in the upcoming time, and also what has happened since the last session. When speaking with your coach you will be provided with various tools and resources which you can use to move on to the next step of your plan. Getting you to think differently is a major focal point for a life coach. It isn't that you don't know how to think, but it is our job to look at the same things as you, but not to use judgment or biases. You will be held accountable for sticking to your goals and ideas, and also seeking further understanding of what may be limiting your own beliefs of what you can do. Everyone learns differently, so it is important to know which methods work best for you, that way your guidance can be more personalized to help you.

Who should consider a life coach?

Based on the clients I have worked with in the past, I noticed people who exhibit these signs, may benefit from a life coach:

No drive, or purpose.
Unmotivated towards achieving more, or doing much in general.
Frequently irritated
High levels of stress, or dealing with anxiety
Inability to break bad habits
Lack of a fulfilling social life
Finding it hard to focus
Creativity feels blocked
Stuck in a box
Too many ideas, no follow-through
Can't form meaningful relationships

There are many other signs that you may benefit from a life coach, but these are just a few I felt I have seen most often!

Therapist or life coach?

Although there may be some overlap in the benefits of working with a life coach and participating in psychotherapy with a licensed therapist, these professionals have distinct roles and serve unique purposes.

Unlike life coaches, therapists and other mental health professionals focus on healing, treating mental health conditions, and helping people work through trauma and other issues from their past. While working with a life coach may help you to deal with certain unresolved issues, life coaches cannot treat mood disorders, anxiety disorders, addiction, or any other mental health condition.

Therapists

Can treat mental health conditions
Have a degree and are licensed in a related field
Adhere to ethical codes

Life Coaches

Cannot treat mental health conditions
Do not need any formal qualifications or academic training
Are not required to follow health privacy laws

Therapists have a degree and are licensed, mental health professionals. They must follow an ethical code and adhere to regulations regarding the confidentiality and ongoing education.

Life coaches, on the other hand, are not governed by a board and don't have to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and its privacy rules that help protect your personal health information. To that end, a life coach should never be considered a substitute for a mental health professional.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health problem (such as feelings of hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, sleep disruption, and mood disturbance), it’s crucial to consult a mental health professional as soon as possible.

What does a life coach cost?

I believe the actual dollar amount is relative to each coach and their ability to provide. I want to discuss the costs with myself. If you are set to gain more or lose more from the results of chasing your goals. If you go into coaching with the attitude that you are going to come out the person you wish to be, then you would understand the money you will be positioned to earn after will be very different than when you started. If you dread the idea of maintaining the same quality of life you have for the next 10, 20, 30, or 40 years, would it hurt to try? Understanding what we could lose if we try to better ourselves I think is the real cost to weigh here. Life coaching may be worth it when you have lost weight, found love, moved up in your career, starting your own business, wrote that best-seller, or just limit the noise that surrounds you in every moment.

Ask yourself how much is your happiness, confidence, joy, and just knowing that you are living your best life, how much are that worth to you?