How to Find a Life Coach

HOW TO FIND A LIFE COACH?

So you are thinking about making some changes in your life. You believe you are ready to move into something BIG, but feel you need a little help getting there. Then life coaching can certainly help. Many believe that life coaching is for everyone but not everyone is a successful life coach. So how do you know how to find a coach that is right for you?

The one word answer is "explore."

Many life coaches offer a free, one-time sample session. This is your best way to find out if you connect with your coach. Investigate many coaches and ask lots of questions. Use the sample session to work on an issue that you've been grappling with and see how you feel at the end of the discussion.

Ask yourself,

· Did I feel motivated to take some action?
· Did the coach give me the space and freedom to explore areas that I was interested in exploring?
· Was the coach's style something that I was comfortable with?
· Do I feel that I can trust this person?
· Did the coach push me into areas that I was unsure about? (Although you might be resistant, this is something you want to happen).
· Did the coach ask good, thought-provoking questions?

Not every sample session will give you the time to find all the answers you are looking for, but it will provide you with some initial thoughts. After your sample session, feel free to ask the coach how he works, where she was educated, how many hours/years they have coached for and anything else that is important to you. Rates/fees, availability, time commitments and manner of coaching vary greatly between coaches so it's good to have an idea of your budget, if you would like in-person sessions, telephone coaching, or email capabilities, and have some thoughts about how often you would like to meet, etc. when you talk.

Once you've made a decision about who you'd like to work with, generally, a coach will then do a Discovery or Groundwork Session where you both design an alliance on how you would like to work together. In this 2 + hour session, you will have the opportunity to let the coach know what works best for you in terms of motivation and support. You might discuss how you like to communicate, what you are afraid of, what is off-limits, and a whole slew of other important issues that will be important in the development of your coaching relationship.

Life coaching can be a very rewarding experience so congratulations on taking the first step - learning more about the process. Take the time to explore, learn what you can about the coach and then take the plunge. I wish you much luck in your search!