How is life coaching different from counseling/therapy?

Consulting. Life coaching can be considered a form of consulting. However, consulting is often information and expertise based. For example, you might hire a consultant to help your business with a specific problem. In which case, you’d expect your consultant to have knowledge and experience in that particular area. Life coaches, on the other hand, may or may not have a background or experience in your field. A coach is a life specialist, an expert on helping you develop all areas of your business and personal life. Unlike many consultants who propose a solution and leave you to implement it, the life coach stays with you to help you integrate the changes, new skills, and goals to make sure they really happen. This is one reason why coaching is so effective–it is one thing to have the information and quite another to actually make the change!

Therapy. Life coaching is not therapy. Coaches don’t work on past-based issues or traumas. Life coaches are not psychologists or psychotherapists. If you start the process of life coaching, and have not resolved a past issue, then it is very likely you will be referred to work with a therapist to resolve the issue. It is very common for unresolved traumas to stop us from getting what we want in our lives. Life coaches focus on the present and the client’s goals for the future. We help people move forward and set personal and professional goals that will give them the life they really want. Most life coaching clients are healthy, successful people who might be a bit stuck or simply want to make a big change in their lives and want the support of their own personal coach to do so.

Who hires a life coach and why?

Entrepreneurs, executives, business leaders, actors, musicians, creative people, managers, small business owners, start-ups, professionals and home-makers all reach their goals with the help of a life coach. If there is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be, there is room for life coaching. Not only will your life coach help you close the gap, your life coach will help you break through your limited beliefs and challenge you to think bigger.

People hire a life coach because

  • They want more.
  • They want to grow.
  • They want it easier.

What are the benefits of hiring a life coach?

  • You start taking more effective and focused actions immediately
  • You stop putting up with petty annoyances
  • You create momentum so it’s easier to get results
  • You set better goals that are based on what you really want
  • You have more time and energy

Do life coaches work on personal goals or business/professional goals?

Usually both. The life coach is the only professional trained to work with all aspects of your life. This is handy because very often, if something is bothering you at work, it is affecting your personal life as well and vice versa. Some clients prefer to spend more time focusing on their business goals, while others may want to focus on personal goals. How you use your coaching call is up to you!

What would you work on with a life coach?

  • Setting and achieving goals and objectives
  • Planning — business, career and life
  • Blasting through blocks and fears
  • Clearing clutter
  • Financial security and independence
  • Balancing business and personal life
  • Making key decisions and designing strategies for success
  • Communicating powerfully and succinctly
  • Becoming a problem-free zone
  • Building powerful relationships
  • Breaking through the glass ceiling
  • Getting promoted
  • Finding the ideal career/work or business
  • Finding the ideal partner/love/relationship
  • Getting out of a rut
  • Making an important life transition
  • Starting a business
  • Growing a business
  • Living an ideal life
  • Identifying core values and passions
  • Fulfilling personal and emotional needs
  • Getting organized
  • Making more money
  • Having loads more time to enjoy life
  • Playing, having adventures, and a lot more fun!
  • And much, much more…