How to Get the Most Out of Your Life Coach

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you have bedsores from lying on a therapist's couch week after week blaming your mother? While a licensed medical professional may be necessary for more serious issues, working with a life coach offers other options. If you're ready to take action and lead a better life, here are some tips on how to get the most out of what can be a life-changing experience.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Know what you're signing up for. Life coaching is not therapy. While you will learn to identify the root of your issues in your sessions, coaching focuses more on improving your life from where you are today, as opposed to getting stuck in the muck and the mire of your past. Programs are tailored to your needs and can usually be completed in shorter timeframes than therapy (e.g., six months).

2. Do your research. Solicit advice from friends and family members or surf the web to find coaches in your area. Many life coaches give free seminars in your city, and there's no better way to "audition" a new coach than to watch her in action.

3. Keep an open mind. Whether you want to focus on nutrition, relationships, your career, being happy, or a myriad of other issues, your coach may offer you inspirational books and CDs, "homework" exercises, and other tools that may seem unorthodox to you.

4. Do the work. Just as a dog trainer can't be expected to change a dog's behavior unless the owner implements his methods on a daily basis, your coach can't be expected to change your life if you don't take action. The payoff is enormous: a healthier, happier you!

[JulieMelillo]

on 12/7/2008 Thanks for writing this article. I agree and think of life coaching and therapy are really the opposite sides of the same coin. I think of a coach being like a personal trainer -- who takes a healthy person and gets them into amazing shape, versus a doctor, who would heal a wound. It would be counterproductive to lift weights if you had a bleeding wound right? That's how I see coaching and therapy. More clarification on this issues is always great, thanks for writing this!

[MikeMidtown]

on 10/28/2007 Life Coaches are great for motivating individuals who are having a hard time getting going with something. Life Coaches are NOT the best option for someone who is experiencing recurring problems. This symptom usually suggests a more deeply rooted problem which is best addressed in therapy. In fact, a good Life Coach would recognize this and help you get motivated to get into therapy.

There are NO simple answers to deeply rooted problems. Thus, it requires the help of a licensed professional.