Frequently Asked Questions about Life Coaching
- What is Life Coaching
Well known author, Gary Collins, states in his book, Christian Coaching, “At its core, coaching is the art and practice of guiding a person or group from where they are toward the greater competence and fulfillment that they desire” (pg. 16).
This is Life Coaching in a nut shell. I would also like to add that Life Coaching is not counseling, but rather a relationship between a person with greater experience and knowledge who has developed skills to help another person find greater peace and joy in their lives.
- How is Life Coaching different from counseling?
The most important difference between Life Coaching and counseling is that a counselor is trained to diagnose and treat mental illness. In order to bill an insurance company, a counselor needs to come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan that is then approved by the insurance company for payment. Counseling is geared towards finding what is wrong with a person in order to treat the person. The counselor is the person who determines the path in which the client is to take according to specified psychological theories.
A Life Coach never diagnoses or gives treatment to anyone. Life Coaches are trained to listen and to ask questions that will help their clients find direction and clarity through their own challenges. They offer encouragement and support as they share their expertise in order to help their clients discover new possibilities to their challenge(s). It is the client who charts the course of the session while the Life Coach creates the environment to explore and grow through the process.
- How can Life Coaching benefit me?
Life Coaching can be of benefit to anyone who wants to work at fulfilling a dream, making a change, building confidence, increase skills, obtain goals or just live a more fulfilled life. Life Coaching can be the fuel that gets your engine running and then it can help you reach your destination.
- What must I do in order to begin Life Coaching?
First, you must be ready to be coached. This means that you are serious about wanting change in your life and will be disciplined enough to keep your appointments and do the work needed in order to team up with a Life Coach to make the change needed in your life. As Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” It takes hard work and commitment to bring about change. Coaching is a team effort between the Life Coach and the person being coached.
Secondly, you must find a Life Coach who you believe will work well with you. Start by searching the web and look for someone who matches your values and gives you a good feeling as you read their website. Trust is the foundation of the coaching relationship, so make sure you feel comfortable with this person before offering any money to them. Most Life Coaches offer a free coaching session so that both you and the coach are able to get to know each other before making a financial commitment. Ask questions such as, “What is your experience in this area?” and “What training do you have and what are your credentials?” If it is important for you to hire a Christian Life Coach, ask him/her, “Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how does that play out in your personal life?” Check out their training and any other facts that are available to you. This is an important decision that you have to make and you are spending serious money for their services. Make sure you feel comfortable with their answers and the person before committing to a life coaching relationship.
Also beware of anyone stating that they are offering Christian Life Coaching. When I was looking for a school that offered Christian Life Coach training, there were many schools out there that said they were Christian, but when digging further into their philosophy, the training being offered was closer to the “New Age” mentality. It is all about discovering “self” instead of discovering the power and presence of Jesus Christ working through you and in your life. Buyer beware!
- What can I expect from a Life Coach session?
You can expect a high level of professionalism and respect to be shown throughout the process of life coaching. You can expect to have the information you share be kept confidential. You can expect to be listened to and to know you have been heard and understood. You can expect to be coached on setting goals and how to navigate each step to achieve them. You can expect to be held accountable along the life coaching process. You can expect support even when you think you have failed. You can expect encouragement when you think it is not possible to make a change. You can expect objectivity and honesty in the Life Coach’s assessments in order to help you change and grow and attain the fulfilled life you desire.
- How many sessions do you think I will need?
The beauty of life coaching is that the person being coached will be the judge on this one and not the Life Coach. Life issues are as numerous and varied as people are. As a standard judgment for life coaching, most issues that people want to work on usually take up to six sessions, and on some issues it may take just three or four sessions. When the person being coached believes they have obtained the necessary progress with the Life Coach, that spells coaching success and the sessions can terminate. Some people have many issues that they want to work on, so the Life Coach may be needed for a longer period of time. Nevertheless, it is the person being coached who determines the number of sessions for life coaching.
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