What is a Life Coach?

A life coach is a wellness professional who has been trained to help you make progress in your life, reach your full potential, and attain greater fulfillment. Your life coach will help you identify your goals, assess your values, hold you accountable, and provide support along the way.

While a life coach is not a therapist, they will still use techniques that are based on psychological principles to empower you and help you confidently face the challenges that may be in your way. They will not tell you what to do, but rather help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and ask the right questions to really get to the heart of your desires.

Your life coach can help you work through a range of personal and professional issues, personal goals, and life transitions. Typically, you will start off by identifying and clarifying what you want from your sessions. This is a partnership between you and your coach as you need to be willing to take their advice and suggestions on board to make a change in your life.

Who Needs a Life Coach?

Life Coaching is not designed for one specific type of person, but rather any person willing to make a change in order to attain greater fulfillment. If you are questioning whether or not having a Life Coach would benefit you, the changes are it will. You are already open to the idea of progress if you are asking yourself this question.

You do not have to be at any stage of your life, in any career, or have any particular relationship status, to benefit from a Life Coach. Your Life Coach will have the skills to deal with a large variety of people. There may just be Coaches who specialise in certain areas, so you may find one Life Coach more beneficial than another. For example, some Coaches specialise in Business whilst others specialise in Relationships. This is why introductory sessions are so great. I offer a FREE introductory session to all clients, so we can both get to know each other and figure out if this is a good partnership.

Get in touch and book your free introductory session here.

What are the Differences Between Life Coaching and Therapy?

Therapy, or Psychotherapy, is a psychological treatment for mental and emotional problems, carried out by a qualified healthcare professional. This is typically a long-term process that focuses on past traumas, problematic beliefs, troubling behaviours, or specific mental disorders.

Life Coaching is carried out by a Coach, who is not a medical professional. They aim to support clients and encourage them to fulfill their potential. They will help a client identify obstacles and clarify their life goals. Typically, they will create an action plan with a desired outcome. While they can discuss difficult issues, and potentially mental illness, they cannot diagnose or treat in a way that a qualified Therapist can.

If you are experiencing mental health symptoms, it is important that you speak to your GP or Therapist should you already have one. If you are in crisis and need to talk to someone right now, there are trained people ready to listen on many helplines.

· Samaritans – if you need to talk to someone about something that is causing you upset, or you’re not sure who else to turn to, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 (free from any phone). They are open 24/7.

· National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK – if you are having any thoughts of suicide, they offer a listening service, and you can call them on 0800 689 5652. Open 24/7.

· Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – if you are struggling and need to speak to somebody, you can call CALM on 0800 58 58 58 from 5pm to midnight every day.

· SANE – if you are struggling with your mental health or having mental health problems, SANEline can be called on 0300 304 700 from 4.30pm to 10.30pm.

· The Mix – for those of you under 25 who need someone to speak to, you can call The Mix on 0808 808 4994 from 2pm to 11pm between Sunday and Friday.

· Switchboard – if you identify as LGBT+ you can call Switchboard on 0300 330 0630 between 10am and 10pm every day. All phone operators identify as LGBT+.

· Mind – if you are experiencing mental health difficulties, you can call 0300 123 3393 from 9am to 6pm between Monday and Friday (except bank holidays).

· PAPYRUS UK – if you are under 35 and experiencing thoughts of suicide, or concerned about someone who is, you can call 0800 068 4141 between 9am and midnight every day.

· If you are in an emergency, please call 999 or go to your local A&E department.

Is a Business Coach Different from a Life Coach?

While a Life Coach can deal with a huge range of topics, some will home in on a particular subject. A Business Coach will be someone with expertise in the business world who chooses to coach those wanting to progress in business.

I personally focus on Personal Development and Well-Being. If you would like help with either, get in touch and book your free introductory session here.

How Many Life Coaching Sessions Do I Need?

Whether you choose to go with the Personal Development Programme or the Well-Being Programme, I personally recommend that you go for 6 sessions. At the end of your 6 sessions, you should feel empowered and equipped to confidently face the challenges that are in your way. Together we will set an action plan with a desired outcome that we will work towards.

Some clients choose to do these sessions weekly whilst others choose bi-weekly. Your coaching should of course fit easily into your life and around your other commitments, so we can work out a schedule that best suits you.

Of course, this does not suit everyone, and that is why I offer my 3 Session Taster Programme or Pay As You Go Sessions. These sessions can be used by anyone who would be happier to pay per session, or by those of you who feel you would benefit from a top-up session. Top-up sessions are great for those of you who have taken part in a programme and feel that after some time, another session would be beneficial.

If you would like to start your Life Coaching journey, you can get in touch and book your free introductory session here.