Overview

Coaching applies psychological theories and therapeutic approaches to help clients achieve improvement goals. There are several categories of coaches, including personal life coaches, executive or career coaches, performance coaches, and health coaches. A coach's technique and role in their clients’ journeys are typically constructed around their unique needs and circumstances of each individual.

Coaching methodology is usually specific and goal-oriented, concentrating on the individual's strengths and abilities. A coach often works with the client to pinpoint obstacles to their success and areas they'd like to improve. A coach typically help the client visualize a successful outcome and then construct a plan to achieve it. 

While coaching may have some elements in common with therapy, coaching is not the same. Psychological treatment is more regulated, and therapists1 are expected to have specific academic and professional credentials in order to practice. Some coaches, however, have a license to practice and may work with clients in both capacities.

Although research indicates that coaching may be highly effective for some, it might not be the best option for everyone. This is partially because the practice is somewhat unregulated, and it's recommended that people vet potential coaches carefully to ensure they find the best fit for the unique needs.

How it works

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.

Life coaching

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

Initial assessment with the coach

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 coach

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. 

Accountability and support from the coach

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 coaching sessions as scheduled. 

These coaching 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. 

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 coaching 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. 

Coaching relationship 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 coaching process, the changes made, and the lessons learned.

What to expect

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.  

Coaching preparation

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: When being coached, 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.

Who it benefits

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.

Goals for coaching

A life coach can often assist individuals in uncovering unhelpful or unwanted patterns of thoughts and behaviors and learning new problem-solving skills.

Goals often vary between individuals, as does their vision of success. To address this, coaches may pinpoint specific areas of focus when setting goals, such as:

  • Communication skills to build stronger relationships
  • Time management strategies for better work-life balance
  • Budgeting and planning methods for better financial security
  • Confidence to succeed at work
  • Self-esteem to navigate dating and relationships
  • Self-examination to overcome fears and insecurities
  • Self-reflection for greater creativity

Research

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 life coaching 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 coaching program was effective whether it involved e-coaching, in-person coaching, or a mixture of both.

Finding a coach

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 coaching fees according to a sliding scale or offer packages with different service tiers so that clients can choose the most suitable coaching 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.

Associated terms

Updated on September 12, 2024.
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