Working With a Professional Life Coach
To better clarify what coaching is, let's refer to a description from the International Coaching Federation (the ICF is a global, nonprofit organization that serves as the main accrediting and credentialing body for both training programs and coaches):
"Professional coaching is an ongoing relationship, which focuses on the client taking action towards the realization of their vision, goal, or desires. Coaching uses a process of inquiry and personal discovery to build the client's level of awareness and responsibility, and provide structure, support, and feedback. The coaching process helps clients both define and achieve professional and personal goals faster and with more ease than would be possible otherwise." The ICF - Circa 2000
So what exactly does this mean for you?
This means after all of the trial and error you've already gone through... After all the self-improvement books, articles, and podcasts you've consumed and failed to implement... You've finally found someone who can help you generate actionable change in your life! A person who won't give you boring, generic advice, but who will help you determine appropriate next steps based on your life, your current circumstances, and your personal values. A person who can guide you back to a motivated, balanced, and energized headspace. A person who can help you show up as the most powerful and authentic version of yourself consistently, meaning your goals will finally be within reach.
To quote my client Breanna, "you've found a human GPS for your brain!"
Each of us leads a very unique life; there's no perfect one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to solving our problems. That's why I support all of my clients by using the Fulfillment Coaching Model™. Coaching will allow you to develop plans that feel organic versus forceful; you'll begin gliding towards your goals instead of stubbornly pushing towards them. I will help you navigate your toughest days by introducing you to a brand-new, magical side of yourself that you never knew existed. Together we will create accountability structures to keep you on track, consistently reflect on our approach, make appropriate adjustments, and celebrate every single victory along the way.
How Are Coaching & Therapy Different?
Considering the tremendous impact counselors and therapists have had on own my healing journey, I think this is a very important question to clearly address.
One of the best responses I’ve read to this question can be found in an article titled “Life Coach vs. Therapist: What’s The Difference?” By Devorah Setinberg and Wendy O’Connor. It’s a very short read and I highly suggest checking it out (click here to do so)!
At a high level, here are Wendy and Devorah’s 6 main callouts:
1. Therapy focuses specifically on mental health; life coaching focuses on setting and achieving goals.
2. Therapy helps you learn to heal; coaching empowers you to achieve your goals.
3. Therapy is rooted in the past and present; coaching focuses on the future.
4. The format of therapy sessions depends on the modality; coaching sessions follow clear structures.
5. Therapy has no set “end date” while coaching is often considered short-term.
6. When assessing fit for a therapist, prioritize your comfort level and their expertise; for life coaches, seek inspiration, a philosophy that resonates with you, and check their credentials.
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To build off of these callouts, you may be a good fit for coaching if:
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Your mental health doesn't *significantly* interfere with your productivity and day-to-day life (as in, you're doing a decent job maintaining your responsibilities, you're able to get out of bed, etc.)
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You're not dealing with clinical levels of anxiety or depression, disordered eating, active trauma, and other more severe mental health concerns.
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You need that extra push to get unstuck
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You need help with some of the "typical hard stuff" coming up in life (confidence, career transitions, breakups, communicating with others, getting fired, feeling hurt, disappointed, or like you're not enough, struggling to stay motivated, etc.)
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You need clarity and want to know which goals, paths, decisions, etc., are worth confidently pursuing.
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You want to feel joyful, balanced, and empowered instead of feeling "blah" every day, or
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You're ready to take ownership over your life instead of letting life happen to you!​
** Please note there are other forms of professional support outside of coaching and therapy. If you still need clarity, the International Coaching Federation has provided further information on how coaching differs from other practices - Check out the ICF's extremely descriptive PDF by clicking here!
Pride in Professionalism
Life coaching is a fairly new and unregulated industry. This means it’s important for consumers to do their research and make informed decisions. Before investing in professional support, ask your potential coach about their experience, what training they've received, and how they became certified. Never be afraid to ask questions - since you are the client, coaching is supposed to be all about you and your needs!
There is a massive number of training and certification programs for "life coaches" these days, and each program varies drastically in quality and depth. This means it's crucial to feel confident that your coach has received appropriate training. When selecting life coaches to work with, I personally only hire coaches that have graduated from an ICF-accredited training program.
The International Coaching Federation, or ICF, is the leading global organization dedicated to advancing the industry's highest professional and ethical standards. Due to the ICF's high standards, many universities and major corporations that employ coaches work exclusively with ICF-certified coaches.
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Today, I take great pride in being registered as an Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). My ICF Certification has allowed me to partner with dozens of corporate organizations around the globe and teach other coaches what it looks like to uphold ethics and standards within a coaching session properly.
"Working with Chloe for the last several years has been eye-opening. She allowed me to gain great insights that have changed my life for the better. I feel much more accomplished and have achieved more in the last year than I would have imagined. She’s simply put: brilliant."
- Joeri C., West Palm Beach, FL, USA