Life Coach 101

Dear Reader,

Do you have a dream job? I never really had one and still feel bewildered at the thought that a job (sorry, “career”) could be as fulfilling as a dream. Regardless, every once in a while, I fall down the rabbit hole of career exploration and seriously consider pursuing a whole new life path (for a period of 2 – 72 hours that is). Most recently, I was wondering what it would be like to be a life coach.

What is a life coach anyway?

Life coaches are a type of counselor who provides clients with the tools to broaden their perspectives and guide them to their goals, empower clients to realize their own dreams, and support client growth on their path to success. In short, a life coach can help you grow and flourish… like a fecund apple tree….  

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not consider a single “life coach” profession. Instead, the bureau lumps together counselors, personal care givers, and service workers into this category. Additionally, some therapists and psychologists draw on their psychoanalyst skills to perform work as life coaches. According to the International Coach Federation, the life coach market is growing and the average income for life coaches ranges from $27,100 to $73,100.

Why do people hire life coaches?

Many websites claim that you can hire a life coach for any reason. Most commonly, clients come to life coaches with the following troubles:

• Destructive habits
• An unstable relationship/ marriage
• A big life transition
• Lack of motivation to participate in work/ hobbies
• Poor time management/ prioritization
• Unconfident to make a big decision (starting a new career, etc.)

What happens when I meet with a life coach?

Life coaches, of course, come in all different shapes and sizes, but, typically, clients work with a life coach for a period of at least a few months during sessions that last 45 – 90 minutes.

When you meet with a life coach, you will discuss your life (duh) and the areas which you wish to improve. Maybe what you want is not clear to you. A life coach can help you uncover the pieces that build your happiness and success. A life coach can then help you set goals and figure out the necessary steps to help you get to where you want to be. Meeting with a life coach regularly can help you reevaluate your goals along the way and hold you accountable to meet your objectives.

How does one become a life coach?

There is virtually no one regulating the life coach market (so moonlighters, have at it!). Some successful business professionals can become life coaches if they have an audience willing to come to them. Mental health counselors with years of training and decades of practice can too become life coaches.

Organizations, such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF) have their own certification for coaches. And, Tony Robbins (author, motivational speaker) offers the “Tony Robbins Results Coach” program which puts candidates through more than 250 hours of face-to-face and virtual training.

Life coaching sounds like a great job if you are interested in helping people, have good interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as life experience, general knowledge, and training.

Perhaps, I will seriously consider this in 15 – 20 years as a second career, you know, to spice things up 🙂

Love,

Raven