I have been a life coach long enough to expect those blank stares at parties or networking events. A person looks at me with a perplexed expression, “Sure. Whatever that is.”
Some of the questions I have heard along the way…
Isn’t a coach just like a therapist but without the training?
Isn’t life coaching for people who don’t what to do next?
Isn’t life coaching just helping people set goals?
5 Myths debunked about life coaching:
1. It’s just advice.
Let’ s get this one straight! Skilled life coaches do not give advice. Think about it…Do you really want another parent, friends, or colleague’s advice???
Probably not…
Coaching is process based upon the principle that each of us has the answers within ourselves. The main role of a coach is to empower the client. Someone is telling you what to do, is anything but empowering. Telling someone what to do, is anything but empowering.
QUICK TIP: if you have a coach telling you what to do without asking for advice, look elsewhere.
2. Life coaching is for people who don’t know what they want.
Couldn’t be further from the truth. Coaching is a dynamic practice involving the coach meeting the client wherever they are in that moment.
Coaching is about helping clients define their vision. Whether, a client of mine knows exactly what they want, or has no clue about what to do next… MY role as a coach is to help clients build awareness and clarity, so we then, are able to define what it is they really want, what it will look like, and how they are going to get there.
3. Therapy and Life Coaching are basically the same thing.
Coaching couldn’t be more different than therapy.
I have and continue to see both a therapist and a coach. A therapist, or psychologist, is trained to focus on the client’s past, in order to promote healing, allowing the client to then operate at a functioning level. Coaching is about getting a client to their most optimal level in life.
Coaches may revisit the past, however, this is to facilitate awareness so the client is able to move forward in creating the life they want. I believe it’s imperative for my clients to understand what thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors, are contributing to their present circumstances, and further dig into what’s holding them back. Only when we have an understanding of how we got somewhere, can we really move forward to where we want to be.
4. Just anyone can be a coach.
This is a trickier one… The answer is yes, and no.
Anyone is able to claim the title of “life coach” as it was, until recently, an unregulated profession. However, thanks to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the industry has worked hard to legitimize the profession, and certify a breed of more highly-trained and qualified coaches, who adhere to a specific code of ethics and professional standards.
ICF is a globally recognized organization which spans 126 countries, and involves over 15,000 certified coaches. ICF credentials are awarded only to certified professional coaches.
QUICK TIP: When life coach shopping… I would make sure that your potential coach is recognized with an ICF certification.
5. Life coaches must be experts in what they do.
SO false.
A life coach is an expert in the process of coaching. Coaches are not like consultants who are paid to pass along their advice and opinions. A talented coach uses skill-based training techniques, therapy tools, adaptations of positive psychology, and more to assist a client in creating a mindset shift. Coaches are there to facilitate a process to help a client: identify blocks, both internal and external, overcome obstacles, and find opportunities to maximize success.
Quick Tip: hope you now have a little more clarity after reading this blog! Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions!