Life coaching has become all the rage. Life coaching receives a great deal of attention in the media, but what is a life coach? Is there more than one kind of life coach, and which kind is best? And how do you choose a life coach that is just right for you?
What is a Life Coach?
There is no licensing system currently in place for personal, or life, coaches. Therefore anyone who wishes to call himself a coach may do so, even if that person has received no formal training in the field. This is an important point to remember and when searching for a life coach; it's vital to learn about the life coach's qualifications and training before paying that individual to offer life guidance and assistance.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the closest thing to a regulatory agency in the field of life coaching. Many coaches choose to become certified by the ICF, although NOT being certified does not mean a potential life coach is unqualified. Many coaches choose not to receive their certification, and many others are still accruing enough hours to qualify.
The ICF defines a coach as "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."
Other Definitions of Life Coaching
The ICF definition of life coaching leaves a lot of room for interpretation. That is because there are many different kinds of coaches with many different kinds of practices.
Some coaches operate on a purely action and goals oriented basis. Others help clients to find themselves through metaphor, visualization and other techniques. Some coaches might use nature as a way to realize their client's inner needs, for example. Again, anyone can call himself a life coach, so there is a broad range of possibilities.
Coaching That Works is a training program for coaches that teaches transformational coaching. According to Coaching the Works, the program is designed to "serve as the catalyst for profound growth by interrupting patterned responses, deepening learning and promoting new discoveries. We use multiple resources to foster spirituality, connection, trust and gratitude."
Executive coaches concentrate on helping individuals to achieve maximum productivity and satisfaction in businesses. An executive coach can help clients improve relations with a boss or an employee, or to improve communication skills.
A spiritual coach can help clients achieve a richer inner life, or to learn how to prioritize deeper values and incorporate those values into daily life.
An ADD coach specializes in helping people with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to strategize ways to navigate life more effectively and to work on increasing organizational and focus skills.
These are only a sampling of the possible specialties that can be found within the world of personal coaching. Coaches can specialize in a particular market, such as real estate, or weight loss, relationships and an array of other areas.
How Does Life Coaching and Therapy Differ?
The differences between personal coaching and therapy are becoming less defined. Many therapists are finding that life coach training is very helpful in their practices, particularly for clients who are ready to begin to make changes in their lives.
Generally speaking, therapy works to examine a client's past and explore how that past has affected him or her. The reasons why they may be experiencing less satisfaction in their lives than they would like to have are explored in depth.
Coaching, on the other hand, spends very little time exploring the past and really focuses on the present and, especially, the future.
While there can be a certain amount of overlap, a good coach is trained to know when a client is so stuck in certain patterns that therapy is necessary. Coaches are not trained to work with persons who are traumatized or who struggle with mental illness.
Depending on the person, coaching and therapy can work very well in tandem.
How to Tell if a Life Coach is the Right One
The first, and most important, thing to find out about any coach is whether or not their particular style jives with your needs. A life coaching client must like their coach, as the client will need to be very honest and open with him or her. It is important that the client feels he/she can trust a life coach..
A good coach will be upfront about his ethics. They will tell you right away that your work together is completely confidential and that the coach is planning to align themselves with the client's value systems, rather than their own. They should also clearly state their policies, such as cancellation notice, for example.
It's also a good idea to ask the coach how long he or she has been in practice. It is appropriate to ask for references from past clients. Also ask the coach where their training took place and whether or not they are certified. Again, since there is no mandatory regulation of coaching credentials this is not "make or break" information – only a way to find out more about the coach.
Hiring a personal coach can be a wonderful gift of self advocacy. A life coach can help an individual establish and reach goals. It's essential to use good judgment when gauging the qualifications of a life coach.
In the end, instinct is really the best guide to use to gauge a life coach's qualifications and their potential to make real change happen.
For more information about the topic of life coaching, read:
Transformational Life Coaching: An Alternative to Traditional Personal Coaching
What is Career Coaching? A New You for the New Year by Using Career Mentoring
Know Yourself for an Easy Life: The Answer to What I Should Do With My Life Lies Within
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