Recently, over dinner, a close friend of mine made the suggestion that I should become a Life Coach. I wasn’t sure what to make of this. Was this a compliment or my friend’s polite way of saying that I try to help everyone? I had never thought about the difference between sitting with good friends discussing your life goals vs. doing it professionally.I had so many questions. How do you decide to be a life coach? How do you decide if you need one? What’s the difference between a life coach and a therapist? How does a life coach market their service? I found myself looking for the answers. The ad below is a typical one for a life coach (source: www.mylifecoach.com)
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Are you ready to be happy and fulfilled?
Life Coaching is for people that are truly ready to create a successful life for themselves. A life coach is skilled in helping you to make radical improvements in your life. If things are pretty good, but you want them to be great...Coaching is for you!
A Life Coach is not a therapist...more than a consultant... and not just a friend: Your Life Coach is your personal expert to help you realize your full potential!
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I am a behavioral therapist by training. The main difference between a therapist and Life Coach is pretty simple. A therapist helps you work on your past and a Life Coach helps you work towards your future.
Do we wish we all had time to write down our passions, career goals and plans and know each step needed to get there? Yes, but we usually don’t have this luxury. In fact, people usually cite busy schedules and lack of time as reasons preventing them from getting to their real goals.
Who typically seeks out life coaches? Many are business people, entrepreneurs and people looking to transition in life. Life Coaching can be a guide to help push you through to the next destination in life. Would you go to a Life Coach?
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I am a behavioral therapist by training. The main difference between a therapist and Life Coach is pretty simple. A therapist helps you work on your past and a Life Coach helps you work towards your future.
Do we wish we all had time to write down our passions, career goals and plans and know each step needed to get there? Yes, but we usually don’t have this luxury. In fact, people usually cite busy schedules and lack of time as reasons preventing them from getting to their real goals.
Who typically seeks out life coaches? Many are business people, entrepreneurs and people looking to transition in life. Life Coaching can be a guide to help push you through to the next destination in life. Would you go to a Life Coach?
25 comments:
This is great!! go for it.... and if I was in a bad place, which I have been in before, I would see one.... but a friendly one... xxooo
I wonder what qualifies someone to be a life coach. It seems a little more invasive than a regular therapist, I don't think I could handle running every decision by someone else!
i would love to be a life coach but probably need one more than i could be one!
but i would see one and im only a student at the moment.
Give it a go, everyone needs someone to give direction and people find psychologists and stuff to heavy to deal with..
Dollface: hmmm great advice and I am pretty sure I could pull off the friendly one.
Children of the Nineties: I totally agree. Food for a thought on a Wednesday?
Al: We all need help Al, especially if it can make our lives better. Thanx for your comment.
You would be a fabulous life coach L ~ you are so encouraging and eloquent! I would surely visit one if I could afford it!
xoxox,
CC
Hmmm sounds a little New Agey for me, but the question begs to be asked do Life Coaches get paid upfront, or after you achieve your success?
Another question how is the market for Life Coaches right now. I am thinking with the money belts tightening this might be one of the first luxuries to go. The upside is there is probably little overhead and starting up, so the investment risk is minimal. Plus if you have a good circle of influence with the kinds of people who would hire life coaches you might have a jump on the game. nothing beats Word of Mouth advertising!
~K: Have you ever known anyone that has gone to a Life Coach?
life coach would seem to be a big city job as around here, no one seems to have the time or money for one. I hope it works out for you though.
I probably need a life coach but I'm very bad when it comes to follow advices :( (btw love the 2 pics!)
Char: It sounds a little too big city for me as well. xoxo
Carlotta: Love your blog and congrats on your award from Everything Fab!
I say go for it! I would want a life coach. I need someone to push me and motivate me to do more things everyday. Cause sometimes the low self esteem takes over.
I've thought about it but they seem like a money, and I am on a budget and have not a huge income. I think if we really put our minds to it, read a few books, and get advice from people who matter the most, then that should suffice. I think it would be fun to help people figure out their goals, but you definitely need to be a highly energized person, for sure!
I have about 3 friends who have gone to life coaches. And you're right, they were trying to decide if they should change careers or start new businesses. At one time I thought about it. It seems like a good gig along with a therapy practice.
Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm digging yours too!
I think a Life Coach can be very helpful but might be considered a luxury and not affordable for the people who truly need the help! However, I keep hearing that now is the time to start a new business...hmmm. Decisions, decisions.
Good luck!
My Dad is a Life Coach - I have so seen so many people's lives turn around for the better just with a little prompting and guidance!
I can totally see you as a life coach!!! a life coach should be able to clean the forest of all the noise and show the person a clear path to obtain their goal..and you have an ability to see beyond the now....!! plus you could star something on the side until it picks up...!!
I wouldn't because I am that odd woman that is happy and content with her life. But I bet you could help a lot of people.
I think you should go for it! I hear a lot of people go to life coaches and it really helps them out.
One of my good friends just became a life coach. I laughed when I heard this...I thought he was kidding. However he loves it, so I say go for it! Here's his site. www.QuarterlifeCrisisCoach.com
-Kacey
Kacey (3 bay B Chicks): This is great and I hope he does well. I just thought the idea of being a Life Coach was pretty amazing.
Thanks for visiting our blog! We love yours! I think a Life Coach career would be very exciting!
I would probably go to a life coach if I hadn't discoved blogging and been working constantly to get out gowns and collections twice a year. I'm thinking of sending my husband to a coach. He's transitioning and not ready to throw in the towel on working for a living. I've known life coaches and they are like therapists in a way because they work with you on a goal. I think you should at least check into it. The info you provided here is reallly interesting
Great post, now days many people wish to become a Life Coach :)
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