One of the questions I get asked the most is, “What is a life coach, anyways? Aren’t you, just, like, a therapist?”
Nope. Not a therapist. Therapists are awesome. I’ve had a few of them myself who have helped me through the hardest times of my life. Therapists are able to help you delve into your past and figure out how your behaviors are affected by past traumas. They give you answers about who you are based on the past.
Life coaches also differ from consultants. Consultants have extensive knowledge in their field. A consultant can tell you what next steps to take to move forward, based on trends or research. They give you answers about what you should do in the present and future.
A coach’s expertise doesn’t lie with a “what” with like a consultant, or in the past like a therapist. A coach doesn’t give you answers. They help you find the answers that are already inside you. No one knows you better than you do. Who better to give you all the answers then yourself? This is where a coach’s strengths lie. A coach can help you figure out who you are and will be in the present and the future. A good coach has no preconceived notions about what would be the best course for you. This is for you to figure out through the guidance of a coach.
A professional coach brings four things to the table:
1 – Awareness
2 – Clarity
3 – Motivation
4 – Confidence
Remember that old movie Swiss Family Robinson? I keep thinking of a clip, but I can’t find it on youtube or else I’d add it here. But in this clip, Fritz and Ernst have rescued Roberta and were trudging through a dense jungle to get back to the tree house. Fritz (swoon) has a machete and slices through branches and vines to make way for them.
This is kind of how I envision coaching. Before my client lays a mess of obstacles that seem impassable. I help my client see each of those obstacles and come up with a plan to get through them. I help them find the fight inside of them to dive into the jungle and get back to the tree house safely.
If this resonates with you more…. think of me as the little league coach in the blog image. I can give you some warnings: how to tell when there’s a chance for a double play, for example, and how to handle the situation when it comes. We can practice and run drills so when the time comes you’re already prepared to handle a situation.
Do you have any questions about how coaching works? Reach out to me on my contact page here.
