Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Does a Life Coach Do?Considering a Life CoachTypesLife Coach vs. TherapistBenefitsEffectivenessTipsPotential Pitfalls

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Does a Life Coach Do?

Considering a Life Coach

Types

Life Coach vs. Therapist

Benefits

Effectiveness

Tips

Potential Pitfalls

Close

A life coach is a type of 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.

Coaching is a relatively young formal field, but it has roots in many older disciplines. It draws on areas such as the human potential movement of the 1960s, leadership training, adult education, personal development, and numerous areas of psychology.

Life coaching formally emerged during the 1980s and grew in popularity throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Some of the earliest life coaches focused on life planning, but the field eventually grew to encompass other life areas, including relationships, finances, careers, health, and overall well-being.

At a GlanceA life coach isn’t a therapist, so they can’t treat mental health conditions. However, they can provide guidance that helps inspire positive changes in your life. They might help you find asense of purpose, develop your creativity, manage your stress, and overcome bad habits that are holding you back from reaching your goals.These coaches can provide general guidance, but they may also focus on specific areas such as dating, work, finances, fitness, and leadership. Keep reading to learn more about why you might benefit from working with a life coach and where you might start your search.

At a Glance

A life coach isn’t a therapist, so they can’t treat mental health conditions. However, they can provide guidance that helps inspire positive changes in your life. They might help you find asense of purpose, develop your creativity, manage your stress, and overcome bad habits that are holding you back from reaching your goals.These coaches can provide general guidance, but they may also focus on specific areas such as dating, work, finances, fitness, and leadership. Keep reading to learn more about why you might benefit from working with a life coach and where you might start your search.

A life coach isn’t a therapist, so they can’t treat mental health conditions. However, they can provide guidance that helps inspire positive changes in your life. They might help you find asense of purpose, develop your creativity, manage your stress, and overcome bad habits that are holding you back from reaching your goals.

These coaches can provide general guidance, but they may also focus on specific areas such as dating, work, finances, fitness, and leadership. Keep reading to learn more about why you might benefit from working with a life coach and where you might start your search.

Life coaches can help you clarify your goals, identify the obstacles holding you back, and then come up with strategies for overcoming each obstacle.

By 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 Consider Working With a Life Coach?

Many people seek life coaches for guidance in navigating a significant life change, such as taking on a new career. In plenty of cases, however, people turn to life coaches simply to help build a happier, more meaningful life.

There are several indications that working with a life coach could be helpful for you. These signs include:

In recent years, life coaches have gained more mainstream recognition. A growing number of creatives, executives, and entrepreneurs are now turning to life coaches to help them attain success in their professional and personal lives.

Types of Life Coaches

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. If you are considering seeing a life coach, consider looking in some of the following specialty areas:

Difference Between a Life Coach and a Therapist

Although there may be some overlap in the benefits of working with a life coach and participating inpsychotherapywith 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.

TherapistsCan treat mental health conditionsHave a degree and are licensed in a related fieldAdhere to ethical codesLife CoachesCannot treat mental health conditionsDo not need any formal qualifications or academic trainingAre not required to follow health privacy laws

TherapistsCan treat mental health conditionsHave a degree and are licensed in a related fieldAdhere to ethical codes

Can treat mental health conditions

Have a degree and are licensed in a related field

Adhere to ethical codes

Life CoachesCannot treat mental health conditionsDo not need any formal qualifications or academic trainingAre not required to follow health privacy laws

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 confidentiality and ongoing education.

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

If you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health condition, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health condition, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

5 Differences Between Coaching and Psychotherapy

What a Life Coach Can 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 lead.

The following are some of the benefits that may result from having a life coach:

Additionally, people frequently work with life coaches to overcome barriers that may interfere with finding a partner or mate. Many people also look to life coaches to help identify their passion and carve out their ideal career path.

Since sessions typically occur regularly over a prolonged period of time, life coaches can ensure that their clients implement what is necessary to experience significant change.

What to Expect From a Life CoachWith many life coaches, you can expect to discuss specific goals you have for the future. A life coach often provides support that is essential for gaining momentum toward your goals. A good coach can recognize when you get stuck, and help you regain motivation.

What to Expect From a Life Coach

With many life coaches, you can expect to discuss specific goals you have for the future. A life coach often provides support that is essential for gaining momentum toward your goals. A good coach can recognize when you get stuck, and help you regain motivation.

Accountability is one of the prime advantages of working with a life coach. As a result of working with a life coach, clients often achieve their goals more quickly and efficiently than they would if working on their own.

How Effective Is a Life Coach?

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:

Research suggests that life coaching can have a range of positive effects, including improvements in personal insight and improved self-reflection. It may also help improve overall mental health and quality of life.

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Tips When Seeing a Life Coach

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.

For help in finding a qualified life coach, try consulting an organization such as theInternational Coach Federation(ICF).

How to Know If a Life Coach Is QualifiedThough there isn’t any official education or training for becoming a life coach, a competent life coach often has a background in psychology, mental health, wellness, or business. There are also accredited life coach training programs from which they may have a certification to practice.

How to Know If a Life Coach Is Qualified

Though there isn’t any official education or training for becoming a life coach, a competent life coach often has a background in psychology, mental health, wellness, or business. There are also accredited life coach training programs from which they may have a certification to practice.

Potential Pitfalls of Working With a Life Coach

Before you see a life coach, there are a few potential pitfalls that you should watch for:

Don’t Expect Immediate Results

Your life coach can help you make plans, address problems, and work toward achieving your goals, but it is important to remember that these things take time. If may be helpful if you set some short-term and long-term goals to work toward.

Choose the Right Kind of Life Coach

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.

Choose the Right Kind of Help

Don’t see a life coach to address serious mental health issues. If you are experiencing symptoms of amental health conditionsuch 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.

Takeaways

If you’ve been struggling to reach your goals or dealing with feelings of discontent, working with a life coach can be a great way to find a sense of purpose and motivation. These professionals aren’t meant to provide therapy or treat mental disorders. Instead, they are there to help you evaluate the things that are holding you back so that you can work toward a happier and more fulfilling life.

Best Life Coach Certification Programs

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lines D, Evans C. The Global Business of Coaching: A Meta-Analytical Perspective. Routledge; 2020.Losch S, Traut-Mattausch E, Mühlberger MD, Jonas E.Comparing the effectiveness of individual coaching, self-coaching, and group training: How leadership makes the difference.Front Psychol. 2016;7:629. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00629Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-.Can life coaching improve health outcomes? A systematic review of intervention studies. 2013.Peláez Zuberbuhler MJ, Salanova M, Martínez IM.Coaching-based leadership intervention program: A controlled trial study.Front Psychol. 2020;10:3066. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03066Grant AM.The impact of life coaching on goal attainment, metacognition, and mental health.Social Behavior and Personality. 2003;31(3):253-264. doi:10.2224/sbp.2003.31.3.253

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lines D, Evans C. The Global Business of Coaching: A Meta-Analytical Perspective. Routledge; 2020.Losch S, Traut-Mattausch E, Mühlberger MD, Jonas E.Comparing the effectiveness of individual coaching, self-coaching, and group training: How leadership makes the difference.Front Psychol. 2016;7:629. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00629Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-.Can life coaching improve health outcomes? A systematic review of intervention studies. 2013.Peláez Zuberbuhler MJ, Salanova M, Martínez IM.Coaching-based leadership intervention program: A controlled trial study.Front Psychol. 2020;10:3066. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03066Grant AM.The impact of life coaching on goal attainment, metacognition, and mental health.Social Behavior and Personality. 2003;31(3):253-264. doi:10.2224/sbp.2003.31.3.253

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Lines D, Evans C. The Global Business of Coaching: A Meta-Analytical Perspective. Routledge; 2020.Losch S, Traut-Mattausch E, Mühlberger MD, Jonas E.Comparing the effectiveness of individual coaching, self-coaching, and group training: How leadership makes the difference.Front Psychol. 2016;7:629. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00629Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-.Can life coaching improve health outcomes? A systematic review of intervention studies. 2013.Peláez Zuberbuhler MJ, Salanova M, Martínez IM.Coaching-based leadership intervention program: A controlled trial study.Front Psychol. 2020;10:3066. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03066Grant AM.The impact of life coaching on goal attainment, metacognition, and mental health.Social Behavior and Personality. 2003;31(3):253-264. doi:10.2224/sbp.2003.31.3.253

Lines D, Evans C. The Global Business of Coaching: A Meta-Analytical Perspective. Routledge; 2020.

Losch S, Traut-Mattausch E, Mühlberger MD, Jonas E.Comparing the effectiveness of individual coaching, self-coaching, and group training: How leadership makes the difference.Front Psychol. 2016;7:629. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00629

Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-.Can life coaching improve health outcomes? A systematic review of intervention studies. 2013.

Peláez Zuberbuhler MJ, Salanova M, Martínez IM.Coaching-based leadership intervention program: A controlled trial study.Front Psychol. 2020;10:3066. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03066

Grant AM.The impact of life coaching on goal attainment, metacognition, and mental health.Social Behavior and Personality. 2003;31(3):253-264. doi:10.2224/sbp.2003.31.3.253

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