What is a Life Coach?
“Strength comes from struggle. When you learn to see your struggles as opportunities to become stronger, better, wiser, then your thinking shifts from ‘I can’t do this’ to ‘I must do this’.” – Toni Sorensen
Understanding Coaching
- What makes you happy or drives you?
- What are your dreams & ambitions?
- What do you want to achieve in your life?
- What are your struggles & concerns in life?
These are just a few of the reflective questions to discuss with a life coach.
“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not on the branch, but on its own wings. Always believe in yourself.” – Charlie Wardle.
We are all capable of far more than we know, but trusting in yourself isn’t always a natural instinct. Learning to believe in your own abilities will give you the confidence to overcome many challenges.
A Life Coach will help you discover your strengths, struggles, and work through troubles that may be hindering you from reaching and obtaining your goals and inspirations in life.
Grow Your Visions, Inspirations, & Be The Best Version Of Yourself
Life is what you make it. With each decision you make, you have a choice. You choose your destiny. Don't let anyone tell you any differently.
-Alexandre Michael
What is Life Coaching?
And what do they do?
Coaching for Individuals
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ADD / ADHD Coaching
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Career Coaching
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Christian / Religious Coaching
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Family Coaching
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Health and Fitness Coaching
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Life Coaching
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Money and Finance Coaching
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Relationship Coaching
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Retirement Coaching
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Spirituality Coaching
Coaching for Businesses and Organizations
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Business Coaching/Consulting
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Entrepreneurship Coaching/Consulting
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Executive Coaching/Consulting
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Leadership Coaching/Consulting
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Performance Coaching/Consulting
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Team Coaching/Consulting
We are all capable of far more than we know, but trusting in yourself isn’t always a natural instinct. Learning to believe in your own abilities will give you the confidence to overcome many challenges.
A Life Coach will help you discover your strengths, struggles, and work through troubles that may be hindering you from reaching and obtaining your goals and inspirations in life.
“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not on the branch, but on its own wings. Always believe in yourself.” – Charlie Wardle.
Although most people are familiar with the term "life coaching," the field of coaching encompasses several unique specializations. In addition to general life coaching, there are dozens of other coaching categories that capture the most common personal and professional goals. The following list contains some of the most common kinds of coaching:
Coaching
Vs Therapy
What are the differences?
Coaching vs. therapy:
Do you need a coach, a therapist, or both?
“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.”
Carl Jung, psychiatrist
We’re all on a journey. However, the journey to self-actualization isn’t linear, nor can it be easily categorized.
We are all on a path of learning and self-discovery, where we explore our direction, relationships with family and those around us, our careers, interests, hobbies, beliefs, and faith in the world around us. We each bring a unique perspective, background, and experience to our own journey of personal growth and development.
At different times and stages, we require different types of support. Oftentimes, this depends on what is happening in our lives and what we’re trying to accomplish. Sometimes we’re bettering, sometimes we’re surviving, sometimes we’re struggling.
You may be seeking support for yourself, trying to support a team member, or an entire organization. However, when it comes to finding the proper support, it helps to understand what support entails. For many, it starts with this question. What’s the difference between coaching and therapy?
Coaching versus therapy may appear to be a binary distinction. It can feel like a forked road, a choice that leads you down a singular path.
However, when we examine the differences between coaching and therapy, there are several gray areas. It’s not as clear-cut as it seems. In fact, paths can cross. Paths can intersect and work in tandem with one another. And sometimes, you can hop off one path and follow the other. Oftentimes, these paths lead to the same destination: a better you.
Coaching vs. therapy
Therapists are trained mental health professionals with the goal of treating mental illness.
We know that mental health is a spectrum. Some people exist in more severe areas, while others are experiencing moderate or mild symptoms of mental health issues. Regardless of where you are on the scale, if you’re living with a mental illness, enlist the support of a therapist.
A trained therapist will be able to help devise a personalized mental health care plan for you, refer you to a psychiatrist if the patient is in need, or request medication, and so on.
What can make this more confusing is that both psychologists and licensed mental health counselors, also known as life coaches, may provide therapy or be referred to as therapists.
Therapists require more education and credentialing
Because psychotherapy requires medical professionals to diagnose and treat mental health problems, there are additional licensing requirements. This is another key difference between a coach and a therapist. Psychotherapists generally have to pass licensing boards, some of which are specific to the state in which they practice.
Therapists and psychotherapists typically hold higher levels of professional education, such as a master’s degree or a doctorate. Some are licensed clinical social workers, like my therapist. While each training program differs based on specialization, therapists require higher credentials.
Most coaches are trained, licensed professionals
There are many types of coaches. Don’t worry: professional coaches don’t go without professional training. But there are different credential requirements (and governing bodies) when it comes to the world of coaching.
Coaches are professionally trained and certified by various colleges and will hold certifications in their training and studies from accredited schools. Most will have business licenses that cover their practices as well.
But coaching is not a substitute for therapy. Coaching can certainly feel like a therapeutic relationship. After all, you're working one-on-one to solve your problems. But if you’re living with a mental health condition, also seek out the support of a therapist. Many coaches will maintain a local resource list to provide and help their clients find assistance and support for surrounding therapists and/or psychiatrists.
More Coming Soon
I will be adding more information soon on different types of Coaches and how they can help patients. Be sure to check back!