Do I Need A "Life" Coach?
If you're here and reading through my site, you're at the very least considering hiring a life coach. Following is some great information on what a life coach is and isn't, and if you feel this approach is right for you.
Verywell Mind is a great resource of how a Life Coach can be important. Some of the highlights are included here and are linked to their site for sources related to research and studies mentioned below.
A life coach is a wellness professional who helps people make progress in their lives in order to attain greater fulfillment. Life coaches aid their clients in improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives.
Life coaches can help you clarify your goals, identify the issues and hurdles holding you back, and then work with you to create strategies for overcoming these issues and hurdles. In creating these strategies, life coaches target your unique skills and gifts. By helping you to make the most of your strengths, life coaches provide the support you need to achieve long-lasting change.
Who Should Work With A Life Coach?
Many people seek out life coaches for guidance in navigating a significant life change. In plenty of cases, however, people turn to life coaches simply for help in building a happier, more meaningful life.
There are a number of indications that working with a life coach could be helpful for you. These signs include:
Types of Life Coaches (*note, those in bold are my focus)
Some life coaches take a more general, all-encompassing approach, but there are also many that specialize and focus on helping people in specific areas. Some of the different types of life coaches include:
What is the Difference Between a Therapist and a Life Coach?
Coaching focuses on the present and future, while therapy focuses primarily on the past. In therapy the concern is how unresolved issues are impacting the present. In coaching the question is what can be done today to move the client forward toward their goals and the realization of their vision.
Coaching is intended for those who want to reach a higher level of performance, satisfaction or learning. People who feel they've lost time to addiction are especially eager to do well and enjoy life. They make committed and enthusiastic coaching clients. Therapy is for those who are seeking relief from emotional or psychological pain.
Coaching is often used in partnership with therapy, however, is not to be considered a substitute for therapy.
What Can a Life Coach do for you?
One of the main benefits of working with a life coach is the ability to gain a fresh, informed perspective on problems that you face. In addition to offering new insight into challenges, a life coach can help you to zero in on negative patterns that could be standing in the way of your success.
Many people view working with a life coach as a means of bridging the gap between your current circumstances and the life you’d like to live. The following are some of the positive outcomes that could result from joining forces with a life coach:
Impact of Life Coaches
While people may report subjective benefits after seeing a life coach, there have also been studies that have shown that life coaching can be beneficial in a number of areas:
Potential Drawback
It is important to note:
If you’re thinking of working with a life coach, keep in mind that it’s up to you to decide what you’d like to focus on in your coaching sessions. Each session should leave you feeling empowered and uplifted, so it’s critical to find a coach whose style and philosophy resonate with you.
Verywell Mind is a great resource of how a Life Coach can be important. Some of the highlights are included here and are linked to their site for sources related to research and studies mentioned below.
A life coach is a wellness professional who helps people make progress in their lives in order to attain greater fulfillment. Life coaches aid their clients in improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives.
Life coaches can help you clarify your goals, identify the issues and hurdles holding you back, and then work with you to create strategies for overcoming these issues and hurdles. In creating these strategies, life coaches target your unique skills and gifts. By helping you to make the most of your strengths, life coaches provide the support you need to achieve long-lasting change.
Who Should Work With A Life Coach?
Many people seek out life coaches for guidance in navigating a significant life change. In plenty of cases, however, people turn to life coaches simply for help in building a happier, more meaningful life.
There are a number of indications that working with a life coach could be helpful for you. These signs include:
- Lack of a healthy lifestyle and unsure how to correct course
- High levels of stress and/or anxiety
- Inability to break bad habits
- Lack of fulfillment in your social life
- Persistent feeling of dissatisfaction at work
- Sense of blocked creativity
- Seeking clarity for a more fulfilling life
Types of Life Coaches (*note, those in bold are my focus)
Some life coaches take a more general, all-encompassing approach, but there are also many that specialize and focus on helping people in specific areas. Some of the different types of life coaches include:
- Alcohol addiction and sobriety coaching*
- Business, executive, and leadership coaching
- Career coaching
- Dating and relationship coaching
- Diet and fitness coaching
- Divorce coaching
- Family life coaching
- Financial coaching
- Health and wellness coaching*
- Life skills coaching*
- Mental health coaching
- Spirituality coaching
- Sports coaching
What is the Difference Between a Therapist and a Life Coach?
Coaching focuses on the present and future, while therapy focuses primarily on the past. In therapy the concern is how unresolved issues are impacting the present. In coaching the question is what can be done today to move the client forward toward their goals and the realization of their vision.
Coaching is intended for those who want to reach a higher level of performance, satisfaction or learning. People who feel they've lost time to addiction are especially eager to do well and enjoy life. They make committed and enthusiastic coaching clients. Therapy is for those who are seeking relief from emotional or psychological pain.
Coaching is often used in partnership with therapy, however, is not to be considered a substitute for therapy.
What Can a Life Coach do for you?
One of the main benefits of working with a life coach is the ability to gain a fresh, informed perspective on problems that you face. In addition to offering new insight into challenges, a life coach can help you to zero in on negative patterns that could be standing in the way of your success.
Many people view working with a life coach as a means of bridging the gap between your current circumstances and the life you’d like to live. The following are some of the positive outcomes that could result from joining forces with a life coach:
- Improved health
- In recovery coaching, sobriety and the freedom from addiction
- Better work/life balance
- Elimination of long-held fears and anxieties
- Enhanced creativity
- Greater financial security
- Improved communication skills
- More satisfying work life
- Stronger relationships with friends and family
Impact of Life Coaches
While people may report subjective benefits after seeing a life coach, there have also been studies that have shown that life coaching can be beneficial in a number of areas:
- One study found that both individual and group coaching was helpful in reducing procrastination and improving goal attainment.
- One review of studies found that health and wellness coaching showed promise for improving self-efficacy and self-empowerment.
- A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that coaching-based leadership interventions could be effective for enhancing well-being and improving functioning withing organizations.
- Research also suggests that life coaching can have a range of other positive effects, including improvements in personal insight and improve self-reflection. It may also help improve overall mental health and quality of life.
- Click here for source information on the above studies.
Potential Drawback
It is important to note:
- Don't expect immediate results. Like anything in life, patience and hard work pay off. Your life coach can work with you to create strategic plans for the future, address issues and hurdles, and work toward achieving your goals, but it is important to remember that these things take time. It may be helpful if you set some short-term and long-term goals to work toward.
- Consider if your coach is suited to your needs. Not all life coaches take the same approach to a problem, so what you get out of the process may have a lot to do with the type of relationship you have with your coach. Look for a coach that is suited to working with your personality type and approach to solving problems.
- Don't see a life coach to address serious mental health issues. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety, you should talk to your doctor or therapist to discuss your treatment options. Life coaches can offer advice that can improve your well-being, but that does not mean they can provide mental health treatment.
If you’re thinking of working with a life coach, keep in mind that it’s up to you to decide what you’d like to focus on in your coaching sessions. Each session should leave you feeling empowered and uplifted, so it’s critical to find a coach whose style and philosophy resonate with you.
