"Professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their
personal and professional lives. Coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their
lives. Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. The
coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has."
The International Coach Federation
"Coaching is a powerful alliance designed to forward and enhance the lifelong process of human learning,
effectiveness and fulfillment."
The Coaches Training Institute
personal and professional lives. Coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their
lives. Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. The
coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has."
The International Coach Federation
"Coaching is a powerful alliance designed to forward and enhance the lifelong process of human learning,
effectiveness and fulfillment."
The Coaches Training Institute
* A Life Coach is both your partner and guide as you embark on your personal journey of self-discovery and
transformational change in any area of life.
* A Life Coach helps you gain clarity about what will truly fulfill you and empowers you to become more skilled at
achieving those inspiring goals that call you forth into life.
* A Life Coach is like a mirror, reflecting back to you how you are "showing up" in life so you can see clearly the
full spectrum of your own life.
* A Life Coach challenges you to step out of your comfort zone and step into your power of possibility. You will
soon recognize your innate abilities and will rise above your self doubt and "perceived potential" to find a life path
that truly matches the magnificent being that you are!
* A Life Coach provides accountability for the client, with both compassion and rigor. Together we explore any
obstacles that get in your way and look for the learning from each step of the journey.
* Coaching is a powerful collaborative relationship, built on a foundation of trust, honesty, openness, and respect.
* Coaching is guided by the "client's agenda" and each coaching relationship is designed to address that client's
specific needs.
* Coaching is not Counseling or Therapy. Coaching does not approach a client as "broken" and therefore does
not try to diagnose, treat, or "fix you".
(See below for more information on the differences between Coaching and Counseling)
* Coaching is a "positive paradigm" that relates to a client as being creative, resourceful, and whole.
* Coaching is for people who are well and are interested in taking a deeper, self reflective look at their lives and the
choices they are making.
* Coaching is for people who are willing to take responsibility for their lives on all levels.
* Instead of living life reacting from the past, Coaching challenges clients to live and be present in the here and
now - taking steps with clarity of the present moment into a future that is compelling and inspiring.
* Coaching is a safe place to explore new perspectives and new possibilities, and to move beyond self-limiting
thoughts, language, and beliefs.
transformational change in any area of life.
* A Life Coach helps you gain clarity about what will truly fulfill you and empowers you to become more skilled at
achieving those inspiring goals that call you forth into life.
* A Life Coach is like a mirror, reflecting back to you how you are "showing up" in life so you can see clearly the
full spectrum of your own life.
* A Life Coach challenges you to step out of your comfort zone and step into your power of possibility. You will
soon recognize your innate abilities and will rise above your self doubt and "perceived potential" to find a life path
that truly matches the magnificent being that you are!
* A Life Coach provides accountability for the client, with both compassion and rigor. Together we explore any
obstacles that get in your way and look for the learning from each step of the journey.
* Coaching is a powerful collaborative relationship, built on a foundation of trust, honesty, openness, and respect.
* Coaching is guided by the "client's agenda" and each coaching relationship is designed to address that client's
specific needs.
* Coaching is not Counseling or Therapy. Coaching does not approach a client as "broken" and therefore does
not try to diagnose, treat, or "fix you".
(See below for more information on the differences between Coaching and Counseling)
* Coaching is a "positive paradigm" that relates to a client as being creative, resourceful, and whole.
* Coaching is for people who are well and are interested in taking a deeper, self reflective look at their lives and the
choices they are making.
* Coaching is for people who are willing to take responsibility for their lives on all levels.
* Instead of living life reacting from the past, Coaching challenges clients to live and be present in the here and
now - taking steps with clarity of the present moment into a future that is compelling and inspiring.
* Coaching is a safe place to explore new perspectives and new possibilities, and to move beyond self-limiting
thoughts, language, and beliefs.
It should be acknowledged that there are some similarities and overlap between the structure of Coaching and
Therapy. For example, both disciplines use some of the same tools, yet the desired outcome is often very different.
We feel it is important to continue to distinguish the ways in which Coaching is different from Therapy and
provide some insight below.
Therapy. For example, both disciplines use some of the same tools, yet the desired outcome is often very different.
We feel it is important to continue to distinguish the ways in which Coaching is different from Therapy and
provide some insight below.
| Coaching Views client as creative, resourceful, and whole. Trained to work with functioning clients. Creates a "Co-Active" relationship. Coach and client are a team - peer based relationship. Alliance designed by coach and client together Solution oriented. Explore actions and behaviors that manifest high self-esteem. View and coach negative self-beliefs as Saboteurs (temporary obstacles). Coach and client ask: "What's next / What now?" Accountability and "homework" between sessions held as important. Contact between sessions for accountability and "wins" is expected. Use coaching skills. |
| Therapy More apt to view client from a medical model - diagnose and treat. Trained to work with major mental illness. Therapists is the "expert". Hierarchical difference between therapist and client Treatment plan largely designed by therapist. Problem oriented. Explore genesis of behaviors that create low self-esteem Analyze and treat origins and historical roots of negative self-beliefs. Therapists and client ask: "Why and where from?" Accountability less commonly expected. Contact between sessions is usually for crisis and difficulties only. Use therapy techniques. |
| (This comparison was adapted from materials created by The Center for Right Relationship.) |
| "Life Coaching is not meant to teach you something you don't know, it simply helps you realize that you already have everything you need!" |
| Copyright © 2008 Possibility Unlimited / Antonio Aversano All rights reserved. |
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