What is Life Coaching?
"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
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
* 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.
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.
Coaching and Therapy Differences
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.
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.
| 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 © 2007 Possibility Unlimited / Anthony Aversano All rights reserved. |
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