Coaching

Coaching can be conducted in an individual capacity or in a group. Unlike therapy, coaching does not typically explore potential pathologies or mental illnesses. A coach typically doesn’t address a patient's childhood or past experiences but usually focuses on present and future goals and attitudes. There are various types of coaching, including but not limited to executive coaching, business coaching, professional coaching, and personal and professional support.

Here are the stages that clients may expect during the process of working with a life coach: 

Initial assessment

The first step on the coaching journey typically begins with an initial meeting to establish rapport and gather information. During the initial session, the client and coach discuss the client's reasons for exploring coaching, their current circumstances, and their goals and challenges. 

The client and coach discuss in-depth what area(s) of the client's life they'd like to work on (relationships, personal development, career, physical health), and the coach may ask for any other relevant information they think would be helpful to know. 

Setting goals

With the information gathered from the initial meeting, the client and coach can outline and set specific, meaningful, achievable, and time-bound goals. The client and coach may work together to clearly define success and desired outcomes of the goals in each stage of the process. For example, in professional coaching, coaching professionals might offer professional development tips, such as goal-setting and problem-solving.

Action planning

Once the goals and desired outcomes are clearly established, the life coach and client typically work together to create a tangible action plan to accomplish them. The coach helps the client in outlining the steps, strategies, and resources needed to reach the desired outcomes. If necessary, the coach may help the client break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks to make the process less overwhelming.

Accountability and support

Throughout the process, the life coach typically provides support for the client and holds them accountable for their progress. Many coaches approach the process as a commitment from all parties and set an expectation early on that clients must keep appointments for sessions as scheduled. 

These sessions are designated for discussions about progress, challenges, and adjustments to the plan as needed. The coach typically offers feedback, guidance, and encouragement to help the client stay focused and on track. 

Skill building and development

Depending on the client's goals, the coach may introduce various tools, techniques, and exercises to help the client develop new skills, change unhelpful behaviors,² and adopt healthier habits. These could include communication skills, time management strategies, and stress reduction techniques.

Problem-solving strategies

When obstacles arise, the coach often helps the client find potential solutions and strategies to overcome these challenges. Life coaches typically encourage their clients to approach setbacks with an open mind, using creativity and different perspectives to find solutions. 

Self-awareness and reflection

Life coaching often strongly emphasizes self-awareness and personal growth to accomplish goals. Part of the process may involve guiding the client through reflective exercises, introspection, and exploration of their values and beliefs with the goal of helping them gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their motivations. 

Celebrating progress

As the client progresses toward their goals, the life coach celebrates their achievements and milestones to boost motivation and reinforce positive behaviors. 

Closure and evaluation 

The coaching relationship may end once the client feels they have achieved success and/or gained the skills and confidence necessary to continue independently. During this time, the coach and client typically reflect on the process, the changes made, and the lessons learned.

What clients should expect from working with a coach depends on the type of coaching they're seeking. For example, a business coach may work with a group to improve focus and productivity in the workplace. In such cases, clients might expect interactive exercises between team members. For individual coaching, one may expect to complete activities for self-reflection and discovery. 

Throughout the process, the client can expect to establish a rapport built on trust so that they can discuss their goals freely and comfortably. This sort of rapport can be vital because it can allow the coach to ask challenging questions and approach difficult subjects relevant to their client’s progress. 

The client may also benefit from understanding that progression typically takes time, so expecting immediate results may be disappointing. Life coaching often requires work from both parties, so clients can expect to engage actively in the process. 

Some individuals find it helpful to come prepared for sessions. This can include anything from completing exercises in between appointments to reading recommended materials. 

Other ways that clients can effectively prepare for coaching may include:

• Carefully vetting potential coaches: People considering coaching might look for a coach who fits their personality and makes them feel comfortable. 
• Entering the process with honesty: It can help for clients to approach their attitude, point of view, challenges, and expectations with candor. 
• Identifying specific goals and areas of focus before the first appointment: Entering the first appointment prepared with as much detail as possible may help begin the journey more smoothly. Some coaches provide questionnaires or self-assessments for the client to complete before the first session to facilitate preparedness. 
• Keeping a journal: Clients who regularly write down their thoughts, feelings, and observations about the process may find sessions to be more productive. Keeping a journal may help the client establish deeper self-awareness and understanding.

While some life coaches work with clients facing a broad spectrum of challenges, others may specialize in helping individuals in specific areas. Because there are so many fields of specialty, coaching can benefit a large variety of individuals.

Some areas of focus for coaches include:

• Business and leadership coaching
• Career coaching
• Financial coaching
• Physical health and wellness coaching
• Life skills coaching
• Spirituality coaching
• Sports coaching

Some coaches work in a mental health and wellness capacity, including:

• Addiction and sobriety coaching
• Divorce coaching
• Dating and intimate relationship coaching
• Family dynamics coaching

For those struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Research on the growth of the life coaching industry suggests the field is growing in popularity as more people turn to coaches for guidance. Partially as a response to the industry's growth, a growing body of research explores the efficacy of life coaching and how individuals may benefit from it within the context of their own experiences. 

For example, a 2020 interventional study administered self-assessment questionnaires to 88 women dental students regarding their state of mental health and well-being. After a five-week coaching program, participants reported a significant reduction in anxiety, stress, and depression.

Another study published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology revealed that interacting with a workplace coach positively impacted organizational and individual outcomes. The findings also determined that the program was effective whether it involved e-coaching, in-person coaching, or a mixture of both.

When finding a life coach, it may help for individuals to consider their practical needs as well as their personal needs. The following are some questions a person might ask when searching for a coach:

• How much time do they have to spend on coaching? 
• How much can they afford to spend on a life coach? 
• What areas of specialization might be helpful?

To address these questions, life coaches may conduct sessions in an office or via video or internet chat. To make their services more affordable, some coaches may set their fees according to a sliding scale or offer packages with different service tiers so that clients can choose the most suitable option for their budget.

For more information on coaching, including resources for finding a life coach, you can visit the website of the International Coaching Federation.