When I tell people that I am a Life Coach, I am often met with the question, “What is that?” So for those of you who are curious, I decided to write this blog.
Let’s start at the very beginning, and ask the question, ”Where did coaching begin?” Although life coaching is a fairly new industry, the foundation has been around for centuries. Societies as far back as the early Greeks were in pursuit of personal development or growth and exploring the meaning of life. We can see this in Socrate’s famous quote “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
With the rise of society and ability of humans to have our basic needs fulfilled easily, there has been an increase in attention paid to higher needs, such as self-actualization, fulfillment and spiritual connection. If you look at Abraham Maslowe’s Hierarchy of needs, self-actualization is at the top of our needs, and is something that can only be met once we tend to the needs below it. This is where I begin with clients, ensuring their basic needs are met (physiological and safety), before we move onto psychological needs (belonging) and then moving up to self-fulfillment needs (achieving one's full potential).
Equally important is to clarify what a life coach is NOT. A life coach is not a counsellor. Although there are some parallels and cross over between the professions (hence why I offer both services), I would never advise someone to get a life coach instead of counselling, or to quit seeing their counsellor once they start coaching. There are different reasons for seeking professional support, and I would encourage everyone to do their research to make sure they are getting exactly what they are looking for.
One of the big differences in coaching, as opposed to counselling, is that it focuses on the future, rather than the past. Although there is space for reflection, a coach supports you in looking at the present moment and what you want to create for the future. Coaching does not dig as deep into emotions and traumas, which is something the right counsellor can support with. Although a coach may support in shedding some insight into patterns that we are recreating from the past, they will support you in being more focused on future goals and what you want to create.
Coaching is not giving advice. A coach understands and respects that each client is the expert on their life. Unlike a mentor, they believe that every person has the answers within, and provide the space for exploration. They asks powerful questions so that the client can discover the answers for themselves, and create new insights.
Through the process, you can expect to:
1) Experience self discovery and reflection
2) Discover, clarify and align with what you want in life
3) Be held responsible and accountable
4) Have someone to challenge and encourage you along the way
My main goal is to inspire each client to maximize their personal and professional potential. There are several areas of coaching that I have experience in:
1) Health and Wellness
2) Lifestyle Design
3) Career Planning
4) Finances and Budgeting
5) Business Development
You can choose any area of your life that you would like to work on, and I will be there to support you along the way. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, or want to have a chat to discover if coaching is for you.
