Student Resources Careers What Is a Life Coach? By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Facebook Twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 10, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Akeem Marsh, MD Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD LinkedIn Twitter Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Laura Porter Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Considering a Life Coach Types Life Coach vs. Therapist Benefits Impact Tips Potential Pitfalls History A life coach is a type of wellness professional who helps people make progress in their lives in order to attain greater fulfillment. Life coaches aid their clients in improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. What Does a Life Coach Do? Life coaches can help you clarify your goals, identify the obstacles holding you back, and then come up with strategies for overcoming each obstacle. By creating these strategies, life coaches target your unique skills and gifts. By helping you to make the most of your strengths, life coaches provide the support you need to achieve long-lasting change. Who Should Consider Working With a Life Coach? Many people seek out life coaches for guidance in navigating a significant life change, such as taking on a new career. In plenty of cases, however, people turn to life coaches simply for help in building a happier, more meaningful life. There are a number of indications that working with a life coach could be helpful for you. These signs include: Frequent irritability High levels of stress and/or anxiety Inability to break bad habits Lack of fulfillment in your social life Persistent feeling of dissatisfaction at work Sense of blocked creativity In recent years, life coaches have acquired a considerable presence in the mainstream. Indeed, a growing number of creatives, executives, and entrepreneurs are now teaming up with life coaches to attain success in their professional and personal lives. Types of Life Coaches Some life coaches take a more general, all-encompassing approach, but there are also many that specialize and focus on helping people in specific areas. Some of the different types of life coaches include: Addiction and sobriety coachingBusiness, executive, and leadership coachingCareer coachingDating and relationship coachingDiet and fitness coachingDivorce coachingFamily life coachingFinancial coachingHealth and wellness coachingLife skills coachingMental health coachingSpirituality coachingSports coaching Difference Between a Life Coach and a Therapist Although there may be some overlap in the benefits of working with a life coach and participating in psychotherapy with a licensed therapist, these professionals have distinct roles and serve unique purposes. Unlike life coaches, therapists and other mental health professionals focus on healing, treating mental health conditions, and helping people work through trauma and other issues from their past. While working with a life coach may help you to deal with certain unresolved issues, life coaches cannot treat mood disorders, anxiety disorders, addiction, or any other mental health condition. Therapists Can treat mental health conditions Have a degree and are licensed in a related field Adhere to ethical codes Life Coaches Cannot treat mental health conditions Do not need any formal qualifications or academic training Are not required to follow health privacy laws Therapists have a degree and are licensed mental health professionals. They must follow an ethical code and adhere to regulations regarding confidentiality and ongoing education. Life coaches, on the other hand, are not governed by a board and don't have to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and its privacy rules that help protect your personal health information. To that end, a life coach should never be considered as a substitute for a mental health professional. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health problem (such as feelings of hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, sleep disruption, and mood disturbance), it’s crucial to consult a mental health professional as soon as possible. If you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health condition, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. 5 Differences Between Coaching and Psychotherapy What a Life Coach Can Do for You One of the main benefits of working with a life coach is the ability to gain a fresh, informed perspective on problems that you face. In addition to offering new insight into challenges, a life coach can help you to zero in on negative patterns that could be standing in the way of your success. Many people view working with a life coach as a means of bridging the gap between your current circumstances and the life you’d like to lead. The following are some of the benefits that may result from having a life coach: Better work/life balance Elimination of long-held fears and anxieties Enhanced creativity Greater financial security Improved communication skills More satisfying work life Stronger relationships with friends and family Additionally, people frequently pair up with life coaches in order to work through barriers that may interfere with finding a partner/mate. Many people also look to life coaches for help in identifying their passion and carving out their ideal career path. Since sessions typically take place on a regular basis over a prolonged period of time, life coaches can ensure that their clients are implementing what is necessary to experience significant change. What to Expect From a Life Coach With many life coaches, you can expect to discuss specific goals you have for the future. A life coach often provides support that is essential for gaining momentum toward your goals. A good coach can recognize when you get stuck, and help you regain motivation. Accountability is one of the prime advantages of working with a life coach. As a result of working with a life coach, clients often achieve their goals more quickly and efficiently than they would if working on their own. Impact of Life Coaches While people may report subjective benefits after seeing a life coach, there have also been studies that have shown that life coaching can be beneficial in a number of areas: One study found that both individual and group coaching was helpful in reducing procrastination and improving goal attainment.One review of studies found that health and wellness coaching showed promise for improving self-efficacy and self-empowerment.A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that coaching-based leadership interventions could be effective for enhancing well-being and improving functioning withing organizations. Research suggests that life coaching can have a range of positive effects, including improvements in personal insight and improve self-reflection. It may also help improve overall mental health and quality of life. Press Play for Advice On Dealing With Procrastination Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares ways to stop procrastinating. Click below to listen now. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music Tips Life coaching sessions can take many different forms. For example, some life coaches meet with their clients in person, while others conduct their sessions over the phone or by Skype. If you’re thinking of working with a life coach, keep in mind that it’s up to you to decide what you’d like to focus on in your coaching sessions. Each session should leave you feeling empowered and uplifted, so it’s critical to find a coach whose style and philosophy resonate with you. For help in finding a qualified life coach, try consulting an organization such as the International Coach Federation (ICF). How to Know If a Life Coach Is Qualified Though there isn't any official education or training for becoming a life coach, a competent life coach often has a background in psychology, mental health, wellness, or business. There are also accredited life coach training programs from which they may have a certification to practice. Potential Pitfalls of Working With a Life Coach Before you see a life coach, there are a few potential pitfalls that you should watch for: Don't expect immediate results. Your life coach can help you make plans, address problems, and work toward achieving your goals, but it is important to remember that these things take time. If may be helpful if you set some short-term and long-term goals to work toward. Consider if your coach is suited to your needs. Not all life coaches take the same approach to a problem, so what you get out of the process may have a lot to do with the type of relationship you have with your coach. Look for a coach that is suited to working with your personality type and approach to solving problems. Don't see a life coach to address serious mental health issues. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety, you should talk to your doctor or therapist to discuss your treatment options. Life coaches can offer advice that can improve your well-being, but that does not mean they can provide mental health treatment. History of Life Coaching As a formal field, coaching is relatively young, but it has roots in many older disciplines. It draws on areas that include the human potential movement of the 1960s, leadership training, adult education, personal development, and numerous areas of psychology. Life coaching formally emerged during the 1980s and grew in popularity throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Some of the earliest life coaches focused on life planning, but the field eventually grew to encompass other life areas including relationships, finances, careers, health, and overall well-being. Best Life Coach Certification Programs 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Losch S, Traut-Mattausch E, Mühlberger MD, Jonas E. Comparing the effectiveness of individual coaching, self-coaching, and group training: How leadership makes the difference. Front Psychol. 2016;7:629. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00629 Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-. Can life coaching improve health outcomes? A systematic review of intervention studies. 2013. Peláez Zuberbuhler MJ, Salanova M, Martínez IM. Coaching-based leadership intervention program: A controlled trial study. Front Psychol. 2020;10:3066. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03066 Grant AM. The impact of life coaching on goal attainment, metacognition, and mental health. Social Behavior and Personality. 2003;31(3):253-264. doi:10.2224/sbp.2003.31.3.253 Lines D, Evans C. The Global Business of Coaching: A Meta-Analytical Perspective. Routledge; 2020. Additional Reading Ammentorp J, Uhrenfeldt L, Angel F, Ehrensvärd M, Carlsen EB, Kofoed PE. Can life coaching improve health outcomes? A systematic review of intervention studies. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013 Oct 22;13:428. Hawksley B. Work-related stress, work/life balance, and personal life coaching. Br J Community Nurs. 2007 Jan;12(1):34-6. By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit