4 key questions about life coaching

You’ve no doubt heard the term ‘Life Coaching’ being bandied about, but do you really understand what it is, and how it can help you? Let’s take a closer look at Life Coaching and the 4 key questions you should be asking.

1 – What is a Life Coach?

In a nutshell, a Life Coach is someone who can help you build confidence, overcome blocks to success and help you achieve your personal and/or professional goals and improve the quality of your life. This can include being more successful at work, becoming happier and more fulfilled at home, exploring your ‘self’ and achieving ambitions.

Just as a sports coach can help an athlete to develop into the strongest, fastest or most tactical competitor in his chosen field, a Life Coach can do the same for people from all walks of life to help them be the best they can be.

The Life Coach will do this with the help of specialist techniques that are based on psychological principles and personal intuition, giving you the tools to face tricky situations, overcome emotional barriers and see the world with new eyes.

Rather than simply giving advice, a Life Coach will adhere to the fundamental principles of life coaching:

• Subjectivity – No one’s view is right or wrong, but some perspectives can restrict the person to be who they want to be.
• Empowerment – With the help of Life Coaching, the individual can learn to open his mind and adjust his own perspective.
• Guidance – Rather than giving instruction, a Life Coach provides the tools and support for personal development.

2 – What is the difference between Life Coaching and Counselling?

Essentially, counselling therapies involve some form of investigation into the roots and causes of potential or actual mental issues or health problems, in order to define a way forward.

Life Coaching, on the other hand, tends to look forward, not back. Its approach chiefly focuses on the future to encourage personal improvement and development.

Life Coaches are not usually qualified to diagnose, advise or deal with any health related problems. If a health issues arises, you may be asked to see your GP.

3 – What issues can Life Coaching help with?

A Life Coach can use effective techniques to help you in all aspects of life, including your performance, your business life or personal life. Whatever you may be struggling with, working with a Life Coach can help you get there. Issues include

• Self confidence building
• Career development
• Developing your own business
• Stress management
• Public speaking
• Work/life balance
• Improving relationships

4 – What happens during a Life Coaching session?

Life Coaching sessions are typically for a set duration, usually 45-60 minutes, and may be given face to face, over the phone, email or via Skype. During the session, you will be working with the Life Coach to talk about the areas in your life that you are unhappy with or that you would like to change.

Life Coaching should be a partnership between you and your coach. It is up to him/her to gently encourage you to explore and challenge your previously held perceptions, so that you can move forward with your life.

While a Life Coach should offer support and feedback to help you stay focused on your goals and move forward towards positive changes in your life, you will never be forced to make any decisions that you don’t feel happy with.

It should go without saying that all sessions, and the relationship between you and your Life Coach, is based on confidentiality, so that you have a safe space within which to explore your new direction.

At KlearMinds, we take an integrated approach towards Life Coaching in order to help you achieve positive changes that can be sustained for life. By combining Life Coaching with additional therapies, we can offer you the best possible guidance towards a happier you.