Q: What Is a Life Coach?
A Life Coach is someone who works with you to establish what it is that you want out of LIFE and how you are going to achieve this. A coach is not there to give you advice or tell you what to do, you’ve got to do a lot of this work yourself. However, your coach is there with you to provide you with some tools to help you work this out for yourself. The coach is also there to provide motivation, encouragement and support throughout this process.
Q: Who could benefit form seeing a Life Coach?
Anyone who is wanting to make positive changes in their lives. When you are unsure of what you want to do, where you want to go or how you are going to get there, a Life Coach can help. Life Coaching can also help people with more specific issues, such as lack of focus, no goals, low self esteem, lack of confidence, career transition.
Q: What’s the difference between Life Coaching and Counselling?
Life Coaching is about assisting you to establish where it is that you want to go in your Life and providing you with help, guidance, support and encouragement to get you to achieve what you are wanting to achieve. Life Coaching is very much about moving you forward.
Counselling is where a client is able to explore their past in a safe and confidential environment. For many clients this involves exploring parts of their lives that have been distressing, upsetting or painful.
In fact many clients have found it beneficial to see me for some counselling sessions initially before they embark on a Life Coaching programme.
Q: What makes you different to other coaches?
I am a trained Life Coach and Counsellor, which means that I am equipped with a wide range of skills to assist you with what you want to achieve. I am therefore able to meet you at whatever stage you are at with your journey through life.
I strongly believe that where you are now is a direct result of where you have been. Although it is not always necessary to dwell on the past, I believe that everyone is a product of their past and that there are many things in the past that can be preventing you from moving forward. Without ‘shining a light’ and having a look at the past you may never move forward as far as you would like and reach your full potential.
It is this approach of looking back in as much detail as is required that makes my approach fundamentally different to other Life Coaches, many of whom are not trained or have the experience to explore your past with you.
Q: Who are you as a Life Coach accountable to?
I am a member of the International Coaching Federation and am bound by their ethical standards and code of conduct – details available on request.
Q: Will Life Coaching answer all my problems?
Life Coaching will assist you in finding out the answers to your problems for yourself. I’m afraid I don’t have the answers – YOU DO. No one knows you better than you know yourself.
Q: How many sessions will I have to attend?
As many sessions as are required. I work on a session by session basis, so my approach is tailored to you and what you want from each session. (as opposed to signing up for a structured 10 session programme – with you not necessarily benefiting from every stage). Once the initial sessions have been completed, I then recommend monthly or bi-monthly follow up sessions to keep you on track. Obviously you can always make an appointment to see me should you require any additional support in between arranged appointments.
Q: How Frequent are the sessions?
Usually fortnightly to start with, and then monthly check-ins and motivational support after that.
Q: What do I need to do for each session?
The most important thing is that you are focused for each session. You must have the desire to be there in the room and want to make the changes in your life. You only get out of the sessions what you put into them.
