Do You Need a Life Coach?

You see them on television. You hear them on the radio. Their "how-to" and self-help books crowd the shelves of your local bookseller. Some of you may already pay to attend seminars to hear them speak in person. Who are they? …Life coaches.

Some life coaches work in a narrow field of expertise, while others profess to be able to help clients in any number of areas. Many people today are choosing to use the knowledge of an experienced life coach to help them with specific personal concerns. The question to ask yourself is, "Do I really need one?"

What a Life Coach Does

Life coaching began decades ago from the practice of executive coaching. Businesses commonly used executive coaches in various group-training sessions for their managers to enhance productivity, sales, and company morale. Like executive coaching, life coaching techniques combine the disciplines of cognitive science, mentoring, career counseling, philosophy, sociology, psychology, spirituality, and motivational therapy. They may also employ tools such as behavior modification, values assessment, goal setting, and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to assist their clients.

Early in its practice, professional analysts, fearing competition and the loss of revenue, complained that life coaching was like psychotherapy without restrictions, oversight, or regulation and declared it a fad that was destined to soon disappear. In Colorado, the State Legislature held a hearing on these concerns and ruled that unlike therapy, life coaching doesn´t diagnose nor medicate mental dysfunctions, but instead focused on effecting positive change in the client´s current and future behavior. According to a survey of coaching clients, "sounding board and motivator" were the traits most sought after in a coach. Clients wanted their coach "to really listen, provide honest feedback, and give helpful advice to assist in making positive changes."

Currently, there are four internationally recognized accreditation bodies. They are the International Coaching Council (ICC), the International Coach Federation (ICF), the International Association of Coaching (IAC), and the European Coaching Institute (ECI).

Multiple certificates and coaching credential designations are now available within the industry.

Who Needs a Life Coach?

With all of the responsibilities, activities, and projects that most people juggle, it´s easy to see why it can sometimes be hard to see the big picture and easy to feel overwhelmed or lacking in direction. Rhonda Britten, founder of the Fearless Living Institute, has been a life coach for over twelve years and was one of the featured counselors on the reality series, "Starting Over". Britten says that a client can be an adult of any age, but is typically around 35 to 55. She goes on to say, "…In simplistic terms, a therapist is [there] to heal the wounds of the past, and a life coach supports you in moving your life forward. My rule of thumb [is]: if a client tries to convince me of someone else´s wrongdoing more than three times, I know they are not ready to move forward, and I suggest therapy might be a more appropriate option." She adds, "If you are frustrated with an aspect of your life, not sure how to stop making the same choices you keep making, or just want to have more happiness, peace of mind and passion—life coaching can do that for you."

Life coaches can also assist in areas like dating and relationships, careers, and personal growth. "In a perfect world, everyone could figure this out for him or herself, but we live in such a complicated time… that most of us need all the help we can get," says life coach Libby Gill. The process begins with figuring out where you are and where you want to go. The life coach shows you how to get there.

Elizabeth Scott, who is a life coach and stress management expert for About.com says, "Often, people need someone to help them take the dreams of what they want to do next with their lives—and (help them to) do the work to make them a reality." Psychologist Dr. David Shern, President and CEO of the nonprofit Mental Health America tells us, "Learning skills to handle stress, adversities, and other life challenges—regardless of the source—is a positive step for any person." He also emphasizes the need to do your own research, and reminds people that life coaches may not be the best solution for those with serious mental illnesses. The services of a life coach are usually not covered by health insurance.

How to Find Your Coach

As with any professional, do some homework and shop around. Since you´re going to be working closely with this individual, as well as sharing a great deal of your personal information, it´s important that you feel at ease and are comfortable with your coach´s personality and communication style. Rhonda Britten gives excellent advice: "The best way to find out which coach is best for you is to ask for a sample session and then use that time to get coached on a real problem, not to ask questions about coaching. Trust yourself. If the coach isn´t supporting you right off the bat, say ´thank you´ and move on." Britten states that a 60-minute session can cost from $40 to more than $500. (She charges $400 for a 50-minute session.) This is only a generalization, however, since rates can widely vary.

You can search a database of coaches credentialed by the International Coach Federation at its Web site: www.coachfederation.org. The International Association of Coaching has a similar tool listing its certified members at www.certifiedcoach.org. Two other resources to try are found at: www.findyourcoach.com, and www.lifecoach.com. Most life coaches require a three-month commitment to start, and you´re likely to speak with them once a week, by phone or in person. You should approach using a life coach as an investment in your future success. When you´re ready to overhaul your life, and determined to do the work necessary, a life coach could be what you´re looking for.