All Your Coaching Questions, Answered
When I tell people I’m a coach, I get all sorts of questions, so I wanted to make a post answering the most common ones.
Coaching, as a field, is growing like crazy (yay), but it is also in its infancy, which means there are a lot of misconceptions about coaching and some confusion about what it is and what it isn’t. I hope this post will provide some clarity so you can get the most out of your coaching experience.
→ What is a Coach?
A coach is a professional who partners with you to get clear on where you are now and where you want to be. They help you get from point A to point B.
A coach listens intently, ties things together to help you build self-awareness, provides encouragement & accountability, and can provide expertise when appropriate and within their skillset.
Most coaches have a specialization (for example, a mindfulness coach, body image coach, business coach)
I work with two different types of people. Those who are 1) stressed, hard on themselves, and feel all over the place. They want to be more present to their lives and let go of unnecessary stress, and 2) those who are in the murkiness of a transition (e.g. job loss, break up, a move, empty nester, etc.) and want to cope better with the uncertainty and gain clarity on their next steps.
→ How is it Different from Therapy?
There is some overlap, but they are two different fields.
A coach is present & future-oriented and can't treat mental illness.
You'll be more suited for a coach if you're not looking to heal past issues and want to work on goals, mindsets, and overcoming the challenges that prevent you from the vision you have for your life.
Oftentimes, coaching is done within a period of time (i.e a 3 or 6 month package) whereas therapy tends to be more open-ended. Sometimes, a therapist is trained in coaching.
→ What Should I Look for in a Coach?
Coaching is a growing field, and because of that, regulations are minimal. Anyone can say they are a coach.
Look for a coach that has a board certification. This means that the coach has undergone schooling somewhere that meets the national (or international) requirements.
If the coach doesn't have a board certification, then make sure they have adequate knowledge in the area they specialize in (for example, university schooling, continuing education, etc).
Check out the coach's website / social media. Social media is great because you can vet a potential coach before you speak with them. Do you resonate with their personality and their message? Are the upfront about how they help people? Are the outcomes they help their clients achieve results you would also like?
Oftentimes, coaches will provide a free consult (sometimes called a 'Clarity Call' or 'Discovery Call'). During this call, they will likely ask you lots of questions, and I urge you to do the same. It's a great opportunity to ask them about their experience level, how they've helped past clients with a similar challenge, and how they take payment. Most importantly, during this call you can gauge your gut feelings about working with them.
My initial consult (I call it a meet-and-greet) generally runs up to 30 minutes, and in it, I ask clarifying questions re: the intake form prospective clients filled out when they scheduled the call (this is to ensure I am qualified to help, and if I’m not, I provide a referral to someone who may be a better fit). I talk about the coaching structure, how I work with clients, what to expect, and I always provide the opportunity for prospective clients to ask any questions their heart desires! I also make a point to not have it feel “sales-y”. This is a no-strings attached conversation; my priority is to have prospective clients feel as comfortable as possible and get a good idea of what coaching with me would be like.
→ How Does Coaching work?
Coaches vary tremendously on how they work with clients. But most coaching has some sort of container (i.e. 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, a year).
Some coaches offer "pure" 1:1 coaching. Others offer a program that is a mixture of 1:1 and group calls. Others offer solely group calls, and some have pre-recorded material that is self-led. It truly is very diverse how coaches share their material to help you get from Point A to Point B.
Make sure during your initial consult that you are very clear on how you will pay as well as the structure of their program / coaching.
Some coaches, particularly health & wellness coaches, take insurance. This is becoming more common as coaching gains legitimacy!
To learn more about my coaching program structure, please click here.
→ Is Coaching Expensive?
Just like program structure, program costs vary widely from coach to coach. Some coaches require money upfront, others allow month to month payment. Some coaches are very affordable, and others require more of an investment. Coaching is usually designed for people who are ready to change - they may have tried many things in the past, are frustrated, or are starting to get concerned and want to avoid getting to a breaking point (for example, my clients are investing in a more mindful existence. They value being present in their lives and have gotten to a point where they know they can’t do it on their own; they know they need help training their minds in order to get there). When deciding whether or not to invest in a coach, it can be helpful to ask yourself “what is it costing me NOT to do this program?” If the answer to that question isn’t compelling enough, it may not be a good time for a coach. But if you have a good answer for what life you would continue to have if nothing changed, and that type of life is not appealing, then it’s worth the money.
I’ve not had ONE client regret spending the money on coaching.
A good coaching program will provide you with techniques you can use long after the coaching program is over so you can, in essence, “coach yourself”. Not to mention, the insights you gain in coaching will be with you for your lifetime!
→ What if I’m Really Busy?
I can’t speak for all coaching programs, but I can speak for mine and for my close coaching friends’ that our programs tend to CREATE more time.
How? Because coaching encourages people to look inward, and in the process of building self-awareness, a necessary element to ANY change, clients begin to
1) understand the root behind their “busy-ness” / overwhelm,
2) discover what truly brings them joy and what doesn’t (I had a previous client call it “good vs. bad exhaustion”), and
3) let go of what doesn’t.
People often come to coaching stressed and overwhelmed or confused. Thinking about adding another thing to the list seems like it would only add to the confusion.
Yet coaching creates more time. And who doesn’t want more time? (Fun fact, as we get older, we perceive time to be moving faster than when we are kids).
More questions about coaching? Just ask.
And if you’d like to have a look at the content I work on with my clients, download the free guide below: “The 3 Skills To Train a Chaotic Mind to Calm”.