The most common question I get every week is “Do I need a Life Coach or a Counselor? What exactly does a life coach do? Isn’t it the same as counseling?” Well, not exactly. There are some differences to consider. Anyone can argue that if you hire a professional to help you improve your life whether it be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual, it will feel therapeutic. Which is awesome! However, when looking specifically at coaching, you are looking for someone to help you create a clear vision for the future and hold you accountable to making it happen! Read below and if you have any questions, shoot me and email. My clients who do both coaching and counseling (or other therapeutic practices) simultaneously seem to love the combination of both!
Q: Why do I need a coach?
A: There are three types of professionals you can hire to navigate change. You can hire a counselor for your mental health and healing. You can hire a consultant who specializes in a specific area of expertise you can learn from and grow. You can hire a life coach who will take a 360 view of your life to identify where you are stuck and show you how to find a deep level of fulfillment. If you hire a coach, you are in a good emotional state and are looking to go beyond where you’re at with the guidance of someone trained to draw out your deepest truth and most honest answers.
Q: How is coaching different than counseling?
A: Counseling is focused on your mental health using diagnostic tools to help you heal. Coaching is good for mental health but the focus is to move you forward from a good place into a better place. Both counseling and coaching are emotional because you are a complex human …. SURPRISE! Counselors receive degrees and are licensed by states. Certified Coaches usually have degrees of all sorts, but go through their own certification (usually International Coaching Federation or Co-Active Coaching). I went through Lark’s Song which combines the strengths of both ICF and CTI. Counseling will focus on the past and present to move you into a healthy place. Coaching will focus on the present and future using your past only to identify patterns that aren’t useful for your current strategy to move forward. Counseling will more than likely be covered by insurance, coaching is not. Counseling can have an indefinite scope of work, coaching usually has a start and end date with varying level of engagement styles.
Q: How do I find the right coach?
A: I tell folks that it’s like finding the right hair stylist! You want to “click” with them. You should like their “style”! It should feel like a natural connection for both of you as a mutually beneficial relationship with great momentum. Most coaches offer a 15-30 minute discovery call to see whether or not you’re a fit and you should be asking the same thing.
Q: What questions do I ask a coach before hiring them?
A: First, ask yourself, “Where do I feel stuck in life? Why do I want someone to work with me?” Then ask even more specific questions like, “Is it specifically for health? Career? Relationships?” Write down what you want to move forward on. I work best with people who have complex situations that they are trying to simplify. Usually there are multiple fronts they are moving forward on and want to create a cohesive plan that includes rooting out sabotaging believes and behaviors.
Here are questions you can ask a coach:
What inspired you to become a coach?
How long will we work together?
What can I expect in each session?
What is the financial commitment?
Is there a specific program you’re taking me through?
What type of success do your clients see as a result of coaching?
Do you have any referrals?
Still curious? Let’s CONNECT!