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Originally Posted On: https://lifepurposeinstitute.com/what-is-a-life-coach/

While the idea of coaching is something we all recognize, putting the word ‘life’ in front of ‘coach’ might be a term many are less familiar with. But with more and more people seeking guidance and support throughout their lives, life coaching has exploded in popularity over the last decade. If you’re reading this, you might be considering training to become a life coach. If that’s the case, then it’s worth getting a real understanding of what a Life Coach is. Here, we explore it in more detail.

The definition of a Life Coach

The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

In other words, consider a Life Coach to be a friend, an advisor, and a listener, all rolled into one. They’re somebody – a trained professional – who helps a client reach their true potential. Together, you’ll determine a client’s goals and aspirations before you, as the Life Coach, creates a plan which will help the client reach them.

Ultimately, life coaching is a path that inspires personal growth and facilitates developing the client’s highest potential. And so, a life coach is somebody a person would hire to help them be the best version of themselves, personally and/or professionally – and in best-case scenarios, both. 

What happens during a life coaching session?

It’s important to remember that no two life coach sessions will be the same. In fact, each session or journey with a life coach is determined by their clients’ individual goals, needs, and requirements. 

Clients will meet with their coach to focus on one or more areas of their life that they want to change, enhance, or improve. These areas could be losing weight, making a career change, improving their marriage, or having a better work-life balance.

Although life coaching sessions will vary depending on the client and the coach, they generally tend to follow the same journey. During the life coaching sessions, the coach will establish the clients’ goals and what they would like to achieve. Essential to coaching is asking powerful questions and inquiries to help the client explore their own thinking and be able to generate creative solutions and possibilities. The coach will ask questions to help the client figure out their own answers by identifying what might be blocking them from where they want to be and holding them accountable to follow through with their plan.

The coach then uses their professional knowledge and expertise to create a plan to help their client reach their goals. This is completely customized to match the goals discussed with the client.

It’s important to remember that a life coach can only encourage clients to follow their plan – they can’t force them. The success and effectiveness of life coaching sessions will be hugely dependent on the client’s attitude to following the plan created for them.

Are you ready to become a Life Coach?

If you enjoy helping others, offering advice, and above all, want to make a difference to other peoples’ lives, then becoming a Life Coach could be the perfect next step for you. At Life Purpose Institute, we offer life coaching courses and certification programs allowing you the opportunity to gain a life coach certification. Find out more and schedule your free consultation.