"Do you ever find yourself thinking about the future ~ about dreams you'd love to bring to reality? Do you then dismiss your dreams as fantasies that will never be real? A life coach works with you to bridge that gap between your dreams and your life. Coaching is a positive process and is always about moving you towards the destination you wanted to travel to anyway.
Some coaches specialise, others work with all types of dreams and goals. For example, my specialism is authenticity coaching ~ I work on bringing inner happiness, positive relationships and true success into people's lives and businesses. Other coaches have their own niche ~ I was recently told about a flirt coach!
A coach takes an objective view of your life (in a way that family and friends may not) and motivates you to take steps that lead to success. The coaching relationship is confidential. Your coach will encourage and challenge you to expand your boundaries. Check that your coach is qualified (or working towards becoming so) and that they subscribe to a code of ethics.
Some goals require you to step out of your comfort zone in order to bring them to reality, which by definition is an uncomfortable place to be! Your coach will be there with you, supporting and encouraging.
Life coaching may be conducted face-to-face or over the telephone. Sessions last up to an hour and may be held weekly or fortnightly ~ this is agreed when hiring your coach.
Your coach will seek commitment from you. For example, you need to find a way of managing your time more effectively. Your coach will question you to discover what needs to change and one action you agree is to update your 'to-do' list.
Your coach asks "when next week will you update your list?" You respond "I could do that first thing tomorrow morning." This commitment is noted. At the start of the next session that commitment will be returned to and progress noted, and any issues arising discussed.
Life coaches usually come to the profession after gaining substantial life experience. Some run their practices full-time; others combine coaching with other activities. I became fascinated with the life coaching process after a career as a tutor and lecturer, and now run my Authenticity Coaching practice full-time in Aberystwyth with some telephone clients much further afield!
Many coaches offer a free initial session. When today will you move towards turning your dreams into reality?"
Article written by Ian Sharp
your comments
Lisa Chinn
hi, i am really intrested in becoming a lifecoach. could you advise me on the best couse to take. Its a mind field trying to search for a course that wont rip me off and is reputable.I live in sheffield. regrds lisa.
Wed Jul 30 15:23:55 2008
Lisa Kayser
I am a teacher looking to make a move into another career that enables me to put the skills into practice in another field. A lot of the coaching training appeals, and I think the concept is great, however, many people already in the field quote they are 'helping vulnerable and disadvantaged ' in the community, or work with teenagers etc. I am unsure how the most disadvantaged in our society have the money to pay for a therapy such as this. What concerns about going into coaching, is that surely one is confined to working with middle class people with money and time to spend on someone helping them make! decisions about which part of their anatomy to scratch and when and how frequently. I would appreciate some candid insights into how it works and also where the hell people find money to live when working with such 'disadvantaged' people in our society - for example - how do get someone to pay you for working with disaffected teenagers with no qualifications or job prospects as some life coaches claim to be 'priviledged' enough to do.
Sun Mar 30 18:55:30 2008
Will from Cambridge
I have recently become very interested in pursuing Life Coaching as a career path.It's ironic that for some time now i have been disillusioned over my future in terms of work - and that the very area of work that appeals to me is the one that would have helped me with my own direction!i graduated in psychology last summer, i am 22. i know there is a good 'counsellor' in me and life coaching appeals for many reasons.But i dont know where to start with all this - and is it realistic for someone in their early 20s to be taken seriously as an advice giver?i would be very interested and appreciative of anyone who might have any advice for me at all.
Sun Mar 9 21:06:06 2008
Ian Carter, Chesterfield
I'm currently training to be a life coach -- and for me it's certainly not about taking advantage of vulnerable people. It's all about empowerment -- whether the client is already successful or not.
Wed Sep 12 10:47:40 2007
Gwen, Lancaster
I've just been looking for some training in life coaching. There are a lot of courses out there (and some fairly costly ones), how can I be sure that I am getting creditable training? Even the ones that seem to be 'recognised' are recognised by different organisations!
Fri Aug 3 08:41:41 2007
Aktar Hussain, London
As a London life coach and the manager of a team of coaches, people often ask me how coaching works? A life coach works to help identify dreams, set goals, and turns them into reality. So what can you expect from life coaching? Some people describe it as a gentle transformation, a journey of realisation; others describe it as being catapulted to a whole new level! Ultimately your experience of life coaching will be unique to you and will also be dependent on your life coaches experience and skill level, so you choose your coach wisely. Life coaching in recent years has become a booming industry and in the UK today there are thousands of people who call themselves ‘life coaches’. However, at this moment in time there isn’t one single professional body that governs and regulates the whole industry. The truth is that anyone can call themselves a life coach. Most coaches advertise on the web. Feel free to ask your coach about their qualifications and what governing bodies they belong to. Ultimately, you will have to rely on your own judgment and satisfy yourself of a coach’s credentials and choose someone you feel comfortable opening up to.
Wed Aug 1 10:00:03 2007
Tracy Dempsey, Soul Ambition, Belfast
Ian's right - most life coaches offer a free initial consultation to let you discover if life coaching is right for you...
Wed May 2 10:23:09 2007
Catherine Williamson, South Manchester
Hi. I am a qualified speech therapist specialising in stammering and I am also a qualified Life Coach. It is an amazing experince to see how people can change their lives when they change their thoughts. My aim is to empower people to reach their maximum potential and to always see that there are choices available.
Sat Apr 7 16:27:20 2007
Nigel Griffiths from Newport
I run an organisational development and coaching practice. The kind of roles I fulfil use skills that have developed during nearly twenty years experience of working with people from all kinds of backgrounds and abilities and a great deal of personal development.
In my view coaching must be one of the most rewarding careers there is, what greater pleasure could there be than helping people move from dreaming to action?
In my way of looking at it there have been many people calling themselves coaches, but have often lacked a clear understanding about what the role means, the skills required and the expectations clients could realistically achieve. The definition I use is:
"Coaching is inspiring an individual or team to produce a desired result through personalised teaching, expanding awareness and designing environments."
There are lots of concepts that require unpacking here and I would gladly enter into a dialogue with anyone who wants to explore it further.
Fri Mar 9 10:27:36 2007
Sally Roberts
please tell me where i can train to be an adhd coach.
Fri Mar 2 10:21:01 2007
Kevin Eccleston from Salford
Hi, I am on the verge of being diagnosed with adhd ,do you know anyone in the manchester area who may be able to help if i require a coach.
I'm already in touch with the add centre in little hulton manchester.
Tue Jan 23 16:15:19 2007
Jan Assheton, RGN RSCN. Dip.Ther
As a specialist ADHD Coach I find the challenges of AD/HD are similar to those identified with coaching clients in general - but there are more sophisticated and complicated layers, often the basics are not in place - sleep patterns, good diet and regular exercise need to be addressed before many of my ADHD clients can progress in a sustainable way either with or without medication support.
Mon Oct 2 10:58:38 2006
Christine McLanachan, Greater Manchester
I am a ADHD / Life Coaching working with individuals, families and professionals who are dealing with A.D.H.D on daily bases. I work with people so that they can overcome the difficulties that ADHD can bring to their daily life. I love the work I do as it allows me to see the changes people make in their lives. I am truly blessed to work with such wonderful people.
Thu Aug 3 10:11:03 2006
Ellen , Essex
I discovered the benefits of coaching about 6 years ago when I went through what we call 'burn out'. This was the turning point for me. Trying to be perfect for everyone, the super mum, wife and professional woman. I sought personal coaching, with great success and took qualifications to become a professional life coach myself. I now coach people evenings and weekends and organise talks.
Sun Jul 23 20:11:24 2006
Jayne Briggs from Sheffield, South Yorkshire
I am a personal life coach and stress management trainer. I have helped people, from all walks of life, to improve their health and fitness, overcome stress and anxiety and increase confidence and self esteem. I also teach relaxtion therapy. Life Coaching gave me a new lease of life -I feel privileged to be able to do the same for others.
Wed May 31 13:08:16 2006
Dominic Bonner
Life coaching helped changed my life so I decided to get some training and help others. I now provide coaching to all age groups but specilise in working with teenagers.
Sun Mar 12 20:34:25 2006
Emma Ranson Bellamy Exeter, Devon,
Coaching is a great way to move forward and is an enjoyable and empowering way to develop both professionally and personally.
Mon Mar 6 21:14:09 2006
Jim Burridge from Aylesbury
I have been running my own Business Development company for the past year, and within our programmes we incorporate personal coaching for the owners and their key staff. Today's small business not only needs good systems and processes to help it grow, but the people that run those companies also need to know there is another way, and coaching helps them to find it. I get a fantastic feeling of achievment when my clients begin to develop and prosper, and the more business owners that take this path, the better industry in the UK will be positioned to prosper.
Fri Mar 3 12:33:28 2006
Paul Ineson, Christchurch, New Zealand
Training as a Life Coach pushed me out of my comfort zone and after 10 years I left my corporate job to build my coaching business. This was perhaps the toughest challenge of my career and I had to used many skills and talents untapped before. I now coach other coaches and self-employed to transition from "employee" status to entreprenieural success and making their business flourish.
Wed Dec 21 23:36:21 2005
Ian Sharp, Aberystwyth
Great to see others offer and have experienced the power of life coaching. Chris - follow the link to my website and take it from there. If I'm not the coach for you I'll happily help you find a colleague to coach you. Phillipa ~ long lost relation? Maybe not but hello anyway and I agree; some changes we see in people (always changes they wanted to make anyway) are amazing.
Thu Sep 8 13:58:18 2005
Philippa Sharp, Manchester.
I am a qualified personal life coach. I work mainly on the telephone, so clients can be in any area of the UK. Life coaching is confidential and one to one. It is amazing to see the changes in people when they start to take control of their lives.
Thu Aug 25 10:24:17 2005
Chris Montague, Bournemouth
Where can I find a life coach?
Thu Aug 18 22:26:28 2005
Dawn Funnell Mitcham Surrey
Studying Life coaching changed my life. I now feel happier. My career has changed from being a jobbing actor to earning three times as much a year in personal development. I now feel as if I am doing something useful! And am a much more contented person because of it.
Thu May 19 10:56:55 2005
Catherine, Belfast NI
I am a life & business coach from Belfast NI. and have spent 8 years designing and delivering a wide range of programmes for children, youth and community groups, empowering people of all ages to realise their own potential, and create their own solotions in life. I specialise as a 'trauma' coach, enabling the many hurt, and de-valued people in our community to begin to see themselves and their lives as both unique and gifted, as opposed to wasted and worthless. I love, my work and am passionate about people.
Mon May 16 21:35:51 2005
Have you ever thought about consulting a life-coach? If so why not get in touch and we'll add your comments to the site!
There's more to keeping healthy than physical fitness. In this article life-coach Ian Sharp writes about the positive process of bridging the gap between your dreams and reality.
