Interested in hiring a life coach? Here’s an overview of life coaching services, and what you can expect when you work with a coach. If you’re ready to hire a coach and don’t know where to find one, take a look at our life coach directory page.
Types of Coaching Services
The coaching industry is extremely broad. On the one end, you have holistic coaches and intuitive coaches who would focus more on your general spiritual or emotional wellbeing. On the other end, you might have a highly performance-based and results-oriented business or executive coach. There’s a huge range of coaching specialties or niches, and even within the same area, no two coaches are the same.
Depending on your situation, you may want a life coach to help you with:
- Relationships and marriage
- Money mindset coaching
- Losing weight
- Spirituality coaching
- Health and wellness coaching
- Career coaching
- Positive habits
- Stress management coaching
- Results coaching
- High-performance coaching
- Business coaching
- Executive coaching
- Starting a business
- Running a business
Life Coaching vs. Therapy
How do you know if you should hire a life coach or a therapist? This is a question with no simple answer.
Both therapy and life coaching services deal with the mental aspects of your life, but there are some key differences. Which you choose is up to your individual preferences and current situation.
The Tony Robbins team has a great explanation on this topic. The Life Coach School podcast also has an episode on this topic. And here are two opposing opinions on the subject, from Michael Bader, D.M.H and Jason Connell.
What to Expect from Life Coaching
Your life coaching experience can vary a great deal depending on the coach you hire, or the program or life coaching package you sign up for. Let’s go over a few basic approaches to life coaching.
Individual Coaching
The most basic form of coaching involves working with a coach 1-on-1. Depending on your coach, you might meet weekly or monthly, and usually for around 1 hour. The nature of these coaching sessions and the coaching services involved will depend heavily on your coach and his or her methods. Some coaches will have a very structured format, where you are expected to have come prepared with completed materials. Other coaches will have a very free-flowing, conversational format.
Your coach’s approach is something to think about before agreeing to start working with a new coach. It’s helpful to set intentions for yourself, and determine beforehand what you hope to gain from coaching. This will help you to choose the right coach for your situation.
Group Coaching
Many coaches offer group coaching, instead of or in addition to individual coaching. In group coaching, you can expect to be on a call with several clients and the coach at once. One benefit of group coaching can be that you are able to learn from other’s experiences as you observe them be coached. You can also get insight from the other clients in your group.
Self-directed Coaching
Many coaches and organizations also offer self-directed coaching programs. Programs like Self Coaching Scholars from the Life Coach School, or Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass DIY Coaching Program. These kinds of programs vary widely, but usually you are given course materials to work through at your own pace and direction.
We hope the information here has helped you get a better understanding of life coaching services.
If you’re ready to find a life coach, check out our page on how to find a life coach.