Consider a Life Coach

You’re looking for a new career but are confused by the options. You want to start a small business but don’t know where to begin. Something’s missing in your life, but you just can’t put your finger on it. Engaging the help of a life coach might be the answer.

Life coaching is not to be confused with traditional counselling. “The focus of a therapist is to deal with crisis situations or past trauma,” says life coach Julia James. “The distinction with coaching is that it is a more forward movement or action-oriented practice.”

“There’s a broad cross-section of people who use life coaches,” says Steve Mitten, a master certified coach. “They recognize that what they’ve been doing hasn’t worked for them. We have all had the experience of hitting our head on a ceiling somewhere. When that’s the case, it’s usually a knock on the door from the universe saying, ‘Hey, maybe you need another set of eyes.’”

James agrees. “Most of the people who contact me have been struggling for a while on their own, trying to either get clarity on what they want to achieve or to move forward with their goals and accomplish them. They see themselves procrastinating and feel overwhelmed with all the things they have on the go.”

When to consider a life coach

A life coach can help you set goals in the following areas.

Personal planning

• Life planning
• Health and fitness
• Relationships (singles, couples, and families)
• School/educational planning for children, teens, and adults
• Spirituality
• Organization

Career planning

• Career transitions
• Exploring new career options
• Decision-making

Small business planning for:

• Entrepreneurs
• Company owners and managers
• Those wishing to start a business

How to choose a life coach

Having a good rapport with a life coach is key to your success. Here’s how to find a life coach and what to look for:

• Ask friends and family for a referral.
• Conduct an Internet search.
• Interview several coaches to find the best fit.
• Ask whether the introductory session is free of charge.
• Check the coach’s training; a reputable life coach will have graduated from an International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited school (coachfederation.org).
• Check that the coach has one or more of the following credentials:
  • Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
  • Master Certified Coach (MCC)

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