Life coaching is a process that helps people identify and achieve their personal and professional goals. Life coaches work with clients on an individual basis or in group settings, and they use a variety of tools and processes to help their clients achieve success.

Seeking personal development is the first step in the coaching process. Being open to self discovery and working with a dedicated coach can surely help you reach your full potential.

Most life coaches are not licensed therapists, but some may have experience in counseling or other helping or healing professions. Life coaching is not therapy, but it can be a helpful complement to therapy for some people.

Coaching skills vary with every coach. There are many educational programs and certifications life coaches can use for their training, all with a wide variety of philosophies and niches. Most life coaches have a deep understanding of how to use powerful questions, active listening, growth mindset and self empowerment techniques in their life coaching sessions with clients.

Coaching Tools For Overall Wellbeing

Asking powerful questions

Depending on the coach’s style, it may be your coach asks you more questions instead of giving you straight up advice. Some coaches may use silence effectively as a way to make you think about your answers more deeply.

A successful coach often asks powerful questions to help their clients see things from different perspectives, discover their own answers and ultimately make better decisions. Great coaches are able to ask the right question at the right moment to help move their clients forward.

The art of active listening

Active listening has been identified as an integral component of coaching practices, and is an invaluable tool in working with clients. Active listening means being able to fully understand the message the client has been presenting. Often experienced coaches are able to learn to understand the client’s strengths and limiting beliefs. Questions can be used to mine the client for more information or to help them clarify their thoughts.

Self empowerment practices

Empowerment is a process that helps people gain control over their lives and feel confident about themselves. It is about helping people to develop the skills and knowledge they need to make decisions that take them toward their goals.

Empowerment methods used in coaching can help clients to overcome fears, build self confidence, break negative patterns and become more self-sufficient. These tools can be used to help clients set goals, identify their values and develop action plans.

Growth mindset work

A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and learning from mistakes. It is the opposite of a fixed mindset, which is the belief that intelligence and abilities are fixed traits that cannot be changed.

Coaches who work with a growth mindset help their clients to see failures as opportunities to learn and grow. They encourage their clients to set challenging goals and persist in the face of setbacks. Growth mindset work can help people to develop a more positive outlook, overcome challenges more easily and lead healthier lives.

Visualizations

Visualizations are a powerful tool that can be used to help people achieve their goals. When used correctly, visualizations can help people to see themselves achieving their goals, which can motivate them to take action and make the necessary changes in their lives. We often use visualizations for character work and personal transformation in our Tarot for Transformation and Writing classes.

Goal setting

Goal setting is a process that helps people to identify what they want to achieve and create a plan for how to achieve it. It is a powerful tool that can help people to focus their energy and efforts on what is most important to them.

When used in coaching, goal setting can help clients to clarify their goals, develop action plans and overcome obstacles. Goal setting can also help people to stay motivated and on track.

Value-based coaching skills

When it comes to setting goals and making decisions with a coach, values play a very important role. Our values are the things that are most important to us in life and they guide our actions and decision-making.

Many people find it helpful to identify their values as part of the goal-setting process. By understanding your values, you can make sure that your goals are in line with what is most important to you.

Once you have identified your values, you can use them to help you make decisions about your goals.

For example, if one of your values is family, you may want to set a goal that will help you spend more time with your family even if you feel like you are always busy with work. Prioritizing value-based living can bring deep meaning and satisfaction to your life.

At SoulSeeker, we use value work in all of our coaching practices, workshops and events. We believe it is one of the cornerstones to living a life that feels more balanced and purposeful.

Life coaching at SoulSeeker

At SoulSeeker, the client leads the coaching session. Sessions are 100% confidential and compassionate.

Many of the methods we use are derived from Acceptance Commitment Therapy or ACT, pronounced like the word, not the acronym. ACT is mindfulness-based behavioral therapy that has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health issues. It is important to note although it is called Acceptance Commitment Therapy, ACT is approved for use both in psychotherapeutic and coaching environments.

The aim of ACT is to help people live in the present moment and make choices that are in line with their values.

ACT helps people to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings and understand that they do not have to be controlled by them. It also teaches people how to accept themselves and others, set goals and take action towards those goals.

ACT is based on the idea that it is not our thoughts and feelings that cause us distress, but rather our relationship to them. The goal of ACT is to help people develop a more accepting, compassionate relationship with their thoughts. It is a mindfulness-based approach that helps people to accept the things they cannot change and commit to taking action in areas of their life that are important to them.

ACT has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders and chronic pain. At SoulSeeker, we do not treat these types of issues and use ACT instead to optimize your life rather than process trauma or work with clinical mental health conditions. Even in a coaching environment, however, you can experience increased wellness overall.

Your coach might refer you to a licensed psychotherapist should they feel you would benefit working with one during your time coaching with us. In tandem, coaching and therapy can be a powerful combo.

ACT is a heavily researched and scientifically proven methodology.

There are over 300 published scientific studies on the efficacy of ACT.

Some of the proven ways ACT has been found to be helpful include:

-Reducing anxiety and depression

-Improving relationships

-Increasing job satisfaction and productivity

-Helping people to make healthier lifestyle choices

-Decreasing rumination and worry

-Reducing stress

-Improving sleep

If you are interested in learning more about ACT and how it can be used in coaching, please contact us.

We would be happy to chat with you about this powerful tool.

What are the benefits of life coaching?

There are many benefits to working with a life coach. Some of the most common benefits include:

• Improved self-awareness
• Greater clarity about your goals and values
• Increased motivation and confidence
• Improved time management and productivity
• Greater satisfaction with your personal and professional life

If you want to do a deep dive, check out these cool coaching stats from Luisa Zhou!

Life coaching versus therapy

Though the two professions share some similarities. Like a licensed therapist, a life coach helps clients explore their thoughts, feelings and emotions. But while therapists focus on treating mental illness, a professional life coach focuses on helping clients achieve personal and professional goals.

There are many different types of life coaching, but all life coaches share one common goal: to help their clients live better lives.

If you’re thinking about working with a life coach, here are a few things you should know.

1. Life coaches are not licensed therapists.

2. Life coaching is not therapy.

3. Life coaches do not diagnose or treat mental illness.

4. Life coaching is a process that helps people identify and achieve their personal and professional goals.

5. Life coaches work with clients on an individual basis or in group settings, and they use a variety of tools and techniques to help their clients achieve success.

6. Most life coaches are not licensed therapists, but some may have experience in counseling or other helping professions.

7. Life coaching is not therapy, but it can be a helpful complement to therapy for some people.

If you’re thinking about working with a life coach, be sure to find one who is a good fit for you and your needs. And remember, life coaching is not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment. If you are experiencing mental health problems, please seek mental health treatment from a licensed professional.

While therapy focuses on treating mental illness, life coaching focuses on helping people live better lives. Life coaches do not diagnose or treat mental illness. Instead, they help their clients identify their goals and values and develop action plans to achieve success.

If you are considering working with a life coach, be sure to find one who is a good fit for you and your needs. And remember, life coaching is not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment. If you are experiencing mental health problems, please seek professional help.

When to seek a therapist instead of a life coach.

Coaching is focused on personal growth and professional development, while therapy is designed to help you work through deeper issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma.

Coaching focuses primarily on the present and future, while therapy focuses on the past, present and future.

Therapy can be said to be about recovery, while coaching is more about discovery.

When people seek to optimize life in the present, achieve goals and explore their passions, coaching can be a perfect fit.

Wondering if you should see a therapist or a life coach? Here are some questions to ask yourself.

Do you have a mental health diagnosis?

If you have been diagnosed with a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, you should seek professional help from a therapist. Coaching is not an appropriate treatment for mental illness.

Do you need help managing your day-to-day life?

If you are struggling to manage your day-to-day life, a therapist can help you develop coping skills and strategies. A life coach can help you develop a plan to achieve your goals, but they will not be able to provide the same type of support as a therapist. For example, if you are processing deep levels of trauma or are feeling depressed, have an eating disorder or are suffering from anxiety that keeping you from living the life you want to live, it would be best to seek therapy prior to hiring a coach.

Do you need help making major change?

If you are considering making major life changes, such as changing careers or moving to a new city, a life coach can help you develop a plan and take action. A therapist can also help you through major change if you are experiencing symptoms impacting your overall well being.

Do you need someone to talk to?

If you just need someone to talk to or process a traumatic event, in our opinion, a therapist would be a better option than a life coach. There are alternative healing methods that can work well to support your health, but best to check with a licensed pro beforehand.

Coaching can improve overall wellness, confidence and life satisfaction, but it is not a substitute for processing trauma or working with clinical mental health conditions. 

It’s more like a sports coach would work with an athlete.  Coaches encourage, listen, inspire and hold athletes accountable, but they don’t fix their leg if they get an injury.

What to consider when hiring someone as your life coach?

When you’re considering working with a life coach, it’s important to find someone who is a good fit for you and your needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re looking for a life coach:

1. Make sure the life coach has participated in coach training and/or is certified.

2. Ask about their philosophies and their approach to getting you the results you want.

3. Ask the life coach about their experience helping people achieve their goals.

4. Make sure the life coach has a solid understanding of your goals and values.

5. Be sure the life coach is someone you feel comfortable talking to.

6. Get a written contract from the life coach that outlines their services, fees and confidentiality agreement.

When is it time to hire a life coach?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Some people hire life coaches when they’re at a crossroads in their lives and need help figuring out what to do next. Others work with life coaches on an ongoing basis to help them achieve their personal goals and up-level their professional lives.

If you’re thinking about working with a life coach, take some time to reflect on your goals and values. A life coach can help you clarify your goals, make decisions, get you unstuck, develop action plans, and hold you accountable for achieving success. But only you can decide if now is the right time to hire a life coach. A great life coach will even help you make that decision on a consultation call. Even if the answer is no.

What are the different kinds of coaching?

While general life coaching can encapsulate all of the below, there are many different types of coaching which can be very broad or extremely specific. Think a coach who can coach you on just about anything vs. “coaching for women over 50 who want to write songs”. Seriously. If you can think it, there is a coaching niche out there for it. If you are looking for more mentorship mixed with coaching, you might want to try someone who works in a particular niche. Oftentimes those coaches will offer specific guidance based on the needs of their specific offering.

You will need to research coaches based on your needs and be sure to take them up on free consultation calls so you see if you connect with them and get a better sense of how they can help you.

Here are a few of the most popular general areas:

Creativity Coaching: Creativity coaches focus more specifically on your creative work. They help you develop your artistic and humanistic talents. Creativity Coaches have helped thousands of artists, writers, inventors, entrepreneurs, and other creative souls to accomplish their dreams.

Career coaching: Career coaches help their clients navigate the job market, develop their careers, and find work-life balance.

Executive coaching: Executive coaches help their clients develop leadership skills, manage teams effectively, and achieve success in their careers.

Relationship coaching: Relationship coaches help their clients improve their relationships and communication skills.

Life transitions coaching: Life transitions coaches help their clients navigate major life changes, such as divorce, retirement, or empty nest syndrome.

Wellness coaching: Wellness coaches help their clients improve their physical and emotional health.

Spiritual coaching: Spiritual coaches help their clients develop a deeper understanding of their spirituality and find meaning in their lives.

Business coaching: Business coaches help their clients start and grow businesses, develop marketing strategies, and achieve success

Holistic Coaching: Holistic coaches take the whole person into consideration when coaching. Mind, body and spirit elements are addressed as each part is considered to affect the whole.

What are the benefits of life coaching?

There are many benefits of coaching. Here are a few of the most popular:

1. Improved clarity about your goals and values.

2. A deeper understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.

3. Improved communication and relationship skills.

4. An action plan for achieving your goals.

5. Greater accountability for achieving your goals.

6. Increased confidence and self-esteem.

7. improved physical health and emotional well-being.

8. A greater sense of meaning and purpose in your life.”

In conclusion..

Working with a life coach can be an incredibly beneficial experience. If you’re considering working with a life coach, be sure to do your research to find someone who is a good fit for you and your needs. There are many different types of coaching, so you’re sure to find a coach that specializes in the areas you’re looking to improve. A great coach can provide you with clarity about your goals, help you develop action plans, and hold you accountable for achieving success. If you’re ready to make some positive changes in your life, a life coach may be just what you need.